The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations
The Political Realm is an undergraduate research journal in political science and international relations, published annually by the Xi Xi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha and the faculty of SUNY Geneseo’s Department of Political Science and International Relations. Since 1992, it has featured outstanding student scholarship across subfields in political theory, public policy, and American, comparative and international politics, showcasing the intellectual vibrancy of Western New York’s political science community. Articles published in The Political Realm are student research papers that have been nominated by faculty at SUNY Geneseo and other institutions across the region, including Nazareth University, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher University, and SUNY Brockport.
Current Volume: Volume 35 (2026)
Volume 35 (2026)
This volume of The Political Realm celebrates 35 years of publishing undergraduate research in political science and international relations at SUNY Geneseo. This volume also marks the first digital version of the journal, constituting a meaningful evolution in the journal’s mission and impact. The shift to this digital format dramatically expands the visibility and accessibility of student research, allowing work that once circulated only on Geneseo’s campus to reach readers across campuses, regions, and even international borders. By embracing digital publication, the journal not only preserves its long-standing tradition of showcasing undergraduate scholarship but also aligns with contemporary publishing practices, ensuring that student voices contribute more widely to ongoing scholarly conversations in political science and international relations.
Learn more about the questions that interest our students and their exceptional research in this year’s volume of The Political Realm .
The Equal Pay Act of 1963
Alyssa Dawson
Restrictive Voting Laws in the United States
Brian Kenny
Can Counterterrorism Be Taken Too Far?
Charles Tracy
Final Report: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Chelsea Livingstone
Why Right-Wing Populism Endured in Hungary but Collapsed in Brazil: A Comparative Institutional Analysis
Cooper Fensterstock
The Fall of France and Public Opinion During the 1940 United States Presidential Election
Ethan Moyer