The 21st century has seen the emergence of several new branches or areas of focus within the field of politics, reflecting changing global dynamics, technological advancements, and evolving societal trends. These provide great ideas for relevant and insightful dissertations into topics with little research as they are so new. Some of these new branches of politics include:
Digital Politics: With the increasing influence of the internet and social media, digital politics examines the role of digital technologies in political communication, mobilization, and participation. It encompasses topics such as online activism, digital campaigning, and the regulation of digital platforms.
Data/AI Politics: Data politics explores the use of data, algorithms, and artificial intelligence in political decision-making, governance, and surveillance. It examines issues related to data privacy, surveillance capitalism, and the impact of big data on democracy.
Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare: With the rise of cyber threats and cyber attacks, cybersecurity and cyber warfare have become critical areas of concern for governments and international organizations. This branch of politics focuses on strategies for protecting critical infrastructure, countering cyber threats, and regulating cyberspace.
Global Health Politics: Global health politics examines the intersection of health and politics at the international level, addressing issues such as pandemic preparedness, health diplomacy, and the governance of global health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). This grew massively after the COVID-19 pandemic and brought a new additional branch of politics known as vaccine politics.
Humanitarian Politics: Humanitarian politics focuses on the politics of humanitarian aid, intervention, and human rights protection in conflict zones and humanitarian crises. It explores debates around humanitarian intervention, refugee protection, and the role of international organizations in providing humanitarian assistance.
Identity Politics: Identity politics examines how social identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion intersect with political dynamics and shape political behaviour, mobilization, and policy outcomes. It explores questions of representation, equality, and social justice.
Climate Politics: Climate politics focuses on the governance of climate change and environmental sustainability, addressing issues such as climate policy, carbon emissions reduction, and international climate negotiations. It encompasses debates around climate justice, adaptation, and mitigation strategies.
Space Politics: With the growing commercialization and militarization of space, space politics explores the governance of outer space activities, including satellite deployment, space exploration, and space debris management. It examines questions of space law, security, and international cooperation in space exploration.
Surveillance Politics: Surveillance politics examines the politics of surveillance, privacy, and civil liberties in the context of modern surveillance technologies such as CCTV cameras, facial recognition, and mass surveillance programs. It addresses concerns about state surveillance, corporate surveillance, and the erosion of privacy rights.
Bioethics and Biopolitics: Bioethics and biopolitics explore the ethical, legal, and political implications of developments in biotechnology, genetics, and reproductive technologies. They examine debates around issues such as genetic engineering, cloning, stem cell research, and reproductive rights.
These new branches of politics reflect the evolving nature of political dynamics in the 21st century and highlight the interconnectedness of politics with emerging technologies, global challenges, and social transformations.