Political science research has historically centered on North America and Western Europe. While "globalization" brings increased attention to other regions today, this geographical imbalance remains notable.
Historical Pattern: Studies from 1890-2023 reveal a strong focus on select countries in these continents.
Recent Changes: There is evidence of growing interest beyond traditional centers, though unevenly distributed across subfields and nations.
Understudied Regions: Many countries receive minimal scholarly attention despite the push for more inclusive research.
Key Findings:
- Unequal Attention: Geographical emphasis shows systematic variation based on country characteristics.
- Subfield Differences: International relations publications show greater focus on large Western European nations and the US compared to comparative politics journals.
- Correlates of Focus: Factors including language, income, population size, democracy level, and conflict experience influence geographical concentration.
Implications for Research: This unequal coverage challenges assumptions about the generalizability of findings. It limits our understanding by constraining where theories are developed.
