Geschwister-Scholl-Institute of Political Science

Building on its unique legacy, the Geschwister-Scholl-Institute of Political Science (GSI) is one of the most renowned political science institutes across Europe. The GSI is home to over 70 faculty, whose scholarship and teaching span across the main subfields of political science. As a beneficiary of the Federal Government's Excellence Initiative, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, and thus the Geschwister-Scholl-Institute of Political Science, offer a stimulating environment for research and study. Its administration and staff maintains close relations with many leading academic institutions worldwide.

Studying takes mainly place in comparatively small seminars. It distinguishes itself in both the Bachelor's and Master's programmes on two fronts. It is neither a fact-focused knowledge of politics nor purely political philosophy. Instead, its aim is to convey that good political science always requires connecting abstract theoretical hypotheses methodically with concrete empirical reality. Theories can help to understand or explain empirical empirical reality, whereas empirical reality can help to improve theories.

Research at the Geschwister-Scholl-Institute for Political Science is empirical-analytical research. It is neither aimed at the normative evaluation of politics nor at scientific policy advice. Rather, it seeks to adequately understand and explain observable political facts. Political institutions - national, regional and international - are an important focus of research: their emergence, change, functioning, stability, internal dynamics and effects are analyzed. In addition, all professorships situated at GSI have their own thematic research focus.