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Global Policy and Development Dissertation Titles
Info: 1557 words(1 pages) Global Policy and Development Dissertation Titles Published: 29th November 2025 in Global Policy and Development Dissertation Titles
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Introduction
Global Policy and Development Dissertation Titles
1. Bridging the Power Gap: Integrating Perceptions and Capabilities in Middle-Tier State Foreign Policy
Present research on the foreign policy performance of middle-tier states mostly either homes in on the material capabilities or the cognitive power perceptions of these states, but integration of both is quite rare. This analytical division is a hindrance to the full comprehension of the “Power Gap Paradox,” which refers to the difference between the perception of power by middle-tier states and the actual foreign policy outcomes. The currently available models do not provide a good enough explanation as to what causes some countries to overrate their influence while others undervalue it, and in addition, they do not clarify how these differences in perception affect policy performance, institutional efficiency, and recognition by the international community.
Research Gap:
While recent studies have begun to explore the role of status, identity, and hierarchy in middle-tier state behaviour, there remains a critical gap in the literature: no integrated model currently exists that simultaneously accounts for psychological self-assessments, quantifiable capability indices, and outcome-based evaluations of foreign policy success. Most analyses either treat perception and capability as independent variables or focus on great powers, leaving the dynamics of middle-tier states underexplored. This lack of a unified approach hinders both theoretical advancement and practical policy recommendations for middle-tier states seeking to bridge the gap between perceived and actual power.
Research Question:
In what ways do the cognitive views of power vary from the measurable capability indicators in middle-tier states, and what are the implications of this variation for foreign policy effectiveness and global power?
Outcome:
The study will create a theoretical and methodological system that integrates the psychological variables, the capability rankings, and the outcome assessments. This system will provide a basis for the systematic examination of the Power Gap Paradox and will also furnish practical recommendations for both researchers and policy-makers who are interested in the perception-reality power discrepancy in middle-tier states.
Reference:
Jude, O., & Onyemekeihia, P. M. (2025). Power Gap Paradox: Analysing the discrepancies between how middle-tier states perceive their power and their actual success in foreign policy. Nigerian Journal of Social Development, 12(1), 45–62. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ngjsd/article/download/309527/291056/710633
2. Integrating Psychological, Material, and Institutional Indicators: A Multi-Dimensional Framework for Assessing Middle-Power Performance
Understanding of the performance of middle-tier states in international relations abstracts a unified assessment that goes beyond the separate measurements of power. Current scholarly writing often isolates the psychological, material and institutional aspects, but the integrated analytical model combining cognitive perceptions, empirical capabilities, and outcome-based measures is very much needed in today’s studies. This newly published paper by Jude and Onyemekeihia in the Nigerian Journal of Social Development (2025) fills this void by suggesting a multi-dimensional approach to the evaluation of middle-power performance. Their research provides a basic framework for other researchers who want to investigate the interaction between cognitive biases, material strength, and the effectiveness of foreign policy in countries that play a middle-tier role.
Problem Statement
The existing indicators of middle-power performance are still disparate, lacking the integration of psychological factors, material resources, and outcome-oriented measures into one coherent analytical model. Such a fragmentation leads to limitations in interpretations of cases like overconfidence or underperformance and leaves researchers without a powerful tool to gauge the real impact and effectiveness of middle-tier states.
Research Question
How can psychological factors, capability indicators, and outcome measures be integrated into a unified framework for the evaluation of middle-power performance?
Outcome
The development of a multi-dimensional model that incorporates cognitive biases, material and institutional strength, and foreign policy effectiveness, providing a comprehensive tool for assessing middle-tier state performance in global affairs
Reference:
Jude, O., & Onyemekeihia, P. M. (2025). Power Gap Paradox: Analysing the discrepancies between how middle-tier states perceive their power and their actual success in foreign policy. Nigerian Journal of Social Development, 12(1), 45–62. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ngjsd/article/download/309527/291056/710633
3. Mechanisms of Misalignment: Tracing the Causal Pathways Behind Middle-Power Overreach and Underperformance
Understanding the causes of misalignment between perceived and actual power in middle-tier states is essential for explaining patterns of overreach and underperformance in foreign policy. While existing research identifies disparities between self-perception and outcomes, it has not systematically connected cognitive perceptions with structural and institutional limitations, leaving the underlying mechanisms poorly understood. This recent paper by Jude and Onyemekeihia, published in the Nigerian Journal of Social Development (2025), addresses this gap by analysing the causal pathways behind these misalignments. Their work provides a comparative model for researchers seeking to understand the emergence and magnitude of the Power Gap Paradox in middle-tier states.
Problem Statement
The cause-and-effect relationship between a country’s self-perception, its domestic restrictions, strategic culture, and foreign policy results is insufficiently understood and has not been adequately compared across similar cases. This lack of comparative analysis leaves the mechanisms behind overextension or underutilization of power vague and limits actionable insights for policymakers and scholars.
Research Question
What cause-and-effect mechanisms are responsible for the patterns of overreaching or underperforming in foreign policy by countries that self-perceive themselves as middle-level powers?
Outcome
A comparative model of causal mechanisms that informs when and why misalignment occurs, assisting in the understanding of the emergence and magnitude of the Power Gap Paradox.
Reference
Jude, O., & Onyemekeihia, P. M. (2025). Power Gap Paradox: Analysing the discrepancies between how middle-tier states perceive their power and their actual success in foreign policy. Nigerian Journal of Social Development, 12(1), 45–62. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ngjsd/article/download/309527/291056/710633
4. Enhancing Sustainability for Independent Palm Oil Smallholders: Productivity, Certification Barriers, and Climate Vulnerabilities
Independent palm oil smallholders are indeed a crucial part of the global production chain; however, they are still confronted by a series of obstacles that are impeding their long-term sustainability, like low yield, difficulties in obtaining certification, and increased climate vulnerability. Such a dilemma has been acknowledged by different researchers, but their work has not been able to properly make the intertwined nature of all these aspects a primary consideration when building a sustainability model, thus creating a big gap in understanding the smallholder’s resilience in terms of these factors. The recently released article by Judijanto (2025), published in the Journal on Political Sciences & International Relations, is an attempt to fill this gap by conducting a thorough examination of the relation among yield, certification, and climate risks. Their research has brought forth a strong tool that scholars and government representatives can use in their quest to make independent palm oil smallholders more sustainable amid the ever-changing global scenario.
Problem Statement
The linkage between productivity gaps, certification, and climate change has not yet been thoroughly investigated, thus making the overall picture still unclear regarding the sustainability of small-scale farmers. The piecemeal nature of the research has resulted in limited practical insights for the enhancement of the resilience and sustainability of smallholder farming to a large extent.
Research Question
What is the collective effect of certification issues, lack of resources, and climate-related risks on the productivity and long-lasting sustainability of independent palm oil smallholders?
Outcome
A comprehensive model that identifies the primary limitations faced by smallholders and assesses the potential of large-scale solutions, such as cooperatives, hybrid seeds, and digital traceability tools, to enhance their productivity and sustainability.
Reference
Judijanto, L. (2025). Bridging the gap—The role of palm oil in shaping global trade and international relations: A review. Journal on Political Sciences & International Relations, SRC-JPSIR/25-142, 2–13. https://doi.org/10.47363/JPSIR/2025(3)124
5. Climate-Induced Yield Declines and Global Palm Oil Trade: Modelling Future Geopolitical and Economic Shifts
Climate-related reductions in yield are going to be a major economic burden for the countries that produce the most palm oil, but still, the long-term political and economic ramifications of these changes are not clear at all. The present literature does not provide an integrated model that links climate impacts to trade realignments along with shifts in the geopolitical position of the major producer and consumer countries. This new paper by Judijanto (2025), which has been published in the Journal on Political Sciences & International Relations, fills this gap by discussing the importance of palm oil in the global trade and international relations panorama. The authors’ work thus not only contributes to the research literature but also offers a powerful tool for those working on modelling future geopolitical risk and trade movement in the palm oil industry.
Problem Statement
There is a lack of integrated models that connect climate impacts on palm oil yields It is one of the significant limitations that no integrated models define the impacts of climate change on palm oil yield and subsequently, trade realignments and shifts in major producer and consumer countries’ geopolitical locations. This situation seriously hampers our possibilities of predicting and thus preparing for the future risks and opportunities in the international palm oil trade.
Research Question
To what extent will the palm oil industry be affected by climate change, both regarding trade patterns and geopolitical relationships?
Outcome
A simulation approach to develop a framework for predicting future geopolitical risks and possible trade shifts within major producing countries, enabling policymakers and stakeholders to anticipate and respond to climate-induced changes in the palm oil sector.
Reference
Judijanto, L. (2025). Bridging the gap—The role of palm oil in shaping global trade and international relations: A review. Journal on Political Sciences & International Relations, SRC-JPSIR/25-142, 2–13. https://doi.org/10.47363/JPSIR/2025(3)124
6. Blockchain and EUDR Compliance in the Palm Oil Supply Chain: Analysing Trade Leakage, Traceability, and Regulatory Adaptation
The palm oil supply chain is being changed by blockchain technology as well as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), but at the same time, there is no common standard that evaluates all of those issues in one analysis: blockchain-based traceability, EUDR-caused trade losses and policy simulations. This new paper of Judijanto (2025), which is published in the Journal on Political Sciences & International Relations, points out the changing role of palm oil in world trade and international relations. The paper is set to be a starting point for further research regarding the interconnection of blockchain technology, regulatory adherence, and supply chain resilience in the case of palm oil.
Problem Statement
Currently, there is no single framework that covers the palm oil industry and assesses blockchain-based traceability, EUDR-driven trade losses, and policy simulations in a unified manner. This fragmentation limits our ability to quantify leakage risks and develop effective compliance strategies.
Research Question
What are the possible applications of blockchain-based traceability and policy modelling in the detection and prevention of trade leakage resulting from EUDR in palm oil supply chains?
Outcome
The development of a joint traceability-trade modelling framework that enables the quantification of leakage risks and the proposal of effective compliance strategies, supporting policymakers and industry stakeholders in navigating regulatory challenges.
Reference
Judijanto, L. (2025). Bridging the gap—The role of palm oil in shaping global trade and international relations: A review. Journal on Political Sciences & International Relations, SRC-JPSIR/25-142, 2–13. https://doi.org/10.47363/JPSIR/2025(3)124
of effective compliance strategies.
7. Evaluating the Ethics Turn: Examining Reporting Practices and Accountability Gaps in Political Science and International Relations
In the field of political science and international relations, the issue of ethical accountability has gained great attention and has been accompanied by ethical reporting practices, which are being adopted more and more by researchers. Even so, these practices are still quite under-researched, with a poor understanding of their similarity or the possible inequalities that might exist between the various groups of researchers. The new paper by Knott and Kostovicova (2025), published in the American Political Science Review, tackles this matter directly by scrutinising reporting patterns and bringing to light a previously unknown aspect of gender-based disparity in research ethics. The researchers’ efforts provide a solid ground for others to follow who want to conduct evaluations and to make their work more transparent and fair in terms of the ethical reporting aspect in the discipline.
Problem Statement
The “ethics turn” has not yet been subject to systematic evaluation by the profession, hence creating a blind spot concerning the reporting of ethical practices and the potential for such reporting to vary across different research groups.
Research Question
To what extent has the “ethics turn” affected the reporting of ethical practices in political science and IR journals, and is this reporting a reflection of hidden inequalities?
Outcome
A systematic evaluation of ethics-reporting practices that uncovers trends, inconsistencies, and possible inequities, together with recommendations for improving the fairness and transparency of academic research ethics.
Reference
Knott, E., & Kostovicova, D. (2025). To report or not to report on research ethics in political science and international relations: A new dimension of gender-based inequality. American Political Science Review, 119(2), 603–620. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055424000546
8. Building Global Standards: Addressing Inequities in Ethics Reporting Across Political Science and IR
Political science and international relations ethics reporting is still treated as an option, which varies widely and rarely occurs even in the same journals or countries. It is not very clear how much the researchers have to disclose and thus the differences in the ethics of research continue. The nonexistence of a global standard has been a reason for the sustaining of the current practices which already discriminated against the female scholars and the male ones getting more covered in the ethical transparency issue. The recent article by Knott and Kostovicova (2025) which appeared in the American Political Science Review, brings into the spotlight the issue of non-uniformity in reporting as a factor promoting inequality, and it goes on to advocate for an international standard. Through this, the authors make an important yet needed step for those researchers who want to tackle imbalances and at the same time, increase the credibility of ethics reporting in political science.
Problem Statement
The lack of universal ethics-reporting requirements results in varying practices across journals and countries, which reinforces disparities and undermines the global integrity of research ethics in political science and IR.
Research Question
What role does the nonexistence of uniform ethics-reporting rules play in making political science and IR research unequal, and which framework could be put in place to authorize the creation of global standards for reporting?
Outcome
A proposed international framework for unified ethics reporting, based on a comparative analysis of existing practices and evidence of inequalities fostered by voluntary disclosure systems, to promote fairness and transparency in research ethics.
Reference
Knott, E., & Kostovicova, D. (2025). To report or not to report on research ethics in political science and international relations: A new dimension of gender-based inequality. American Political Science Review, 119(2), 603–620. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055424000546
9. Digital Knowledge Inequalities: Examining Systemic Biases in Wikipedia’s Coverage of International Relations
Wikipedia is considered a vital source of worldwide information; however, its presence in the International Relations (IR) area still has major biases, such as gender underrepresentation, uneven topic coverage, and a lack of Global South perspectives, amongst others. Such discrepancies lower the trustworthiness of the platform not only for the IR researchers but also for the general public who see it as a reliable source. A recent study by authors Prasetyo, Wiswayana, and Fattiya (2025) published in PROIROFONIC, looks into the effects of gaps in the knowledge of Wikipedia on IR scholarship. The researchers’ findings serve as a critical starting point for their colleagues who wish to objectively identify and eliminate the digital knowledge biases systematically.
Problem Statement
There have been no large-scale studies that link the representation of International Relations content to the gender disparities, uneven topical coverage, and the Global South’s marginalisation, even though Wikipedia is widely used around the world. Because of this ignorance, it becomes difficult to see the whole picture of digital knowledge inequalities affecting the discourse of International Relations.
Research Question
How do gender, system and geographical biases influence the amount of coverage and the representation of International Relations topics on Wikipedia?
Outcome:
A chronological and regional overview illustrating the transformation and spread of economic ideas throughout the Islamic world.
Reference
Prasetyo, K. C., Wiswayana, W. M., & Fattiya, A. N. (2025). Knowledge Democratisation and Inclusion: The Role of Wikipedia and Its Implications for International Relations Scholars. PROIROFONIC, 1(1), 536–545. https://proirofonic.upnjatim.ac.id/index.php/proirofonic/article/view/106
10. Representation in Digital Knowledge Platforms: Evaluating Political Science and IR Scholar Visibility on Wikipedia
Over the years, Wikipedia has provided an uneven and rather unequal coverage of Political Science and International Relations, among which the inequalities represented by the gender and regional disparities of the scholars’ lives, a very limited focus on the specific state politics, and huge differences in content are the major ones. These problems indicate that there are already existing biases in the global knowledge production process. The authors of a recent article, Prasetyo, Wiswayana, and Fattiya (2025), in PROIROFONIC, call our attention to the issue and ask to take these gaps in representation a bit deeper as they impact the visibility, recognition, and access to IR and political science. Their work provides critical support to the researchers who aim to tackle the structural barriers in the digital knowledge platforms.
Problem Statement
While previous studies have identified biases in the representation of political scientists on Wikipedia, there is no thorough examination of how these inequalities impact visibility, academic recognition, and knowledge accessibility for scholars from underrepresented groups and Global South regions.
Research Question
To what extent do the gaps in the representation of political scientists’ biographies and topic coverage on Wikipedia impact their visibility, especially for those from underrepresented groups and Global South regions?
Outcome
A toolkit that assesses representation inequality, uncovers structural barriers in the Wikipedia editing ecosystem, and proposes strategies for a more equitable visibility of scholars in political science and IR.
Reference
Prasetyo, K. C., Wiswayana, W. M., & Fattiya, A. N. (2025). Knowledge Democratisation and Inclusion: The Role of Wikipedia and Its Implications for International Relations Scholars. PROIROFONIC, 1(1), 536–545. https://proirofonic.upnjatim.ac.id/index.php/proirofonic/article/view/106
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