From the Department Chair

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Department of Political Science was founded just after the establishment of the State of Israel, in the 1949/50 academic year. Today our department is among the top 50 departments of Political Science in the world and is ranked first in Israel. Our department is regularly ranked among the top dozen departments of political science where the language of instruction is not English.

The department's faculty publishes research of the highest quality. Many of our faculty are at the forefront of their fields, including Israeli and comparative politics, electoral systems, political communication, political thought, political institutions, public policy and public management, political psychology, political economy, social and political discourse, and more.

Our departmental activities are wide-reaching. We regularly host conferences, speakers, and other events, inviting our students to participate. In collaboration with the Department of International Relations and the School of Public Policy, the department hosts an annual international student conference, which exposes our students to a variety of researchers from institutions across the world. In addition, the department hosts weekly lectures, including departmental seminars, lectures from the various Jerusalem forums, and other talks as part of our ongoing series that engage our student body.  

The department typically hosts 50 - 60 doctoral students as well as about 50 MA students. Our graduate students are comprised of the best, most creative and successful Political Science research students in Israel. The department takes great pride in our students and in their ongoing success.

Departmental graduates go on to leadership positions in Israel and across the world. Our graduates have served and are serving as elected officials at the national and local level, including as government ministers and Members of Knesset. Many also serve in management positions in government ministries, in local government, in education and security institutions, and in the private sector. Graduates of our department can also be found in key positions in civil society, including in non-governmental organizations and non-profits. And, of course, many of our graduates have pursued academic careers; they continue to enrich Israeli society through teaching, research, and political and social entrepreneurship.

Today our department is continually advancing both our research and teaching. We enjoy what we do and we are proud of all our students. Feel free to contact us and come visit!