Separate Tables: Thematic and Methodological Divisions in Brazilian Political Science,,

Abstract

This study delves into the thematic and methodological configuration of Brazilian Political Science. Through the study of the relational dynamics between different research agendas and their specific approaches, we identified the centrality of certain themes and the methodological density within Brazilian Political Science. We conducted an analysis of 1,849 PhD theses and Master dissertations completed between 2013 and 2020 in eleven Postgraduate Programs. Our examination encompassed titles, abstracts, and keywords in these works, with data sourced from the CAPES theses and dissertations Catalog. The thematic network showed the emancipation of this academic field, revealing the consolidation of five distinct thematic communities. These communities encompass the major canonical themes of mainstream Political Science: 01. political theory, 02. State, government, and international relations, 03. social actors, participation, and public policies, 04. political institutions and State powers, and 05. parties, elections, and legislative studies. The methodological network revealed a semantic structure that mirrors this thematic division, with each community exhibiting unique styles, research methods, and investigative techniques. These findings are in line with assessments emphasizing the institutionalization of Brazilian Political Science. This institutionalization is manifested in the predominance of research themes intricately linked to politics (and not to the economy, society, etc.) and greater methodological refinement.