How political analysis is built, applied, and written
Political analysis is not a matter of opinion, commentary, or ideological positioning.
It is a structured, case-based process aimed at explaining political outcomes through evidence, theory, and causal reasoning.
This page presents the applied political analysis method used throughout PoliticLab. It explains how political scientists move from a real-world case to a coherent analytical explanation, and how that explanation is translated into clear, rigorous analytical writing. The methods outlined here provide the common framework that connects all case studies and thematic categories across the site.
What this page is (and is not)
This is not a general overview of political theory.
It is not a writing style guide detached from analysis.
And it is not a collection of abstract methodological debates.
Instead, this page explains how analysis actually works in practice:
- how to define an analytical problem
- how to select and apply theoretical lenses
- how to identify causal mechanisms
- how to structure an argument
- how to write analysis without turning it into opinion
Analysis as a process, not a shortcut
In PoliticLab, political analysis follows a clear logic:
- A political outcome raises a question that requires explanation
- A theoretical lens is chosen to identify the dominant mechanism
- Supporting tools refine and contextualize the explanation
- The reasoning is translated into structured analytical writing
Each step builds on the previous one.
Skipping steps produces description or opinion—not analysis.
How this page fits into PoliticLab
This page works together with:
- Theories — which explain what analytical lenses are available
- Case Studies — which show how those lenses are applied in real cases
- Writing & AI — which supports the production and refinement of analytical text
If the Theories page tells you what tools exist,
this page shows you how to use them correctly.
How to use this page
You can read this page sequentially to learn the full method,
or jump directly to the section that corresponds to the step you are working on.
Each section focuses on one stage of the analytical process and builds toward applied political writing.
The Analytical Method (Steps)
Step 1 — Defining the Analytical Problem
From description to explanation
Step 2 — Choosing and Applying Theoretical Lenses
Primary and supporting lenses in practice
Step 3 — Analytical Tools and Causal Mechanisms
Institutions, incentives, power, and strategy
Step 4 — Writing Political Analysis
From reasoning to structured argument
Step 5 — AI as an Analytical Assistant
Using AI without outsourcing thinking
Step 6 — Practice & Application
Learning by doing