Best Political Science Scientists 2026 in Brazil

Scope of Research and Ranking Criteria

This ranking comprehensively examined 279,971 scientist profiles drawn from a variety of bibliometric sources across all academic disciplines. Specifically, within Political Science, the analysis focused on 3,000 scientist profiles identified as relevant. To qualify for inclusion in the Political Science-specific ranking, researchers were required to have a D-index of at least 20. Additionally, a majority of the researcher’s tier publications had to be explicitly categorized in the field of Political Science. The evaluation also considered significant awards and achievements within the discipline as supplementary factors.

The threshold for the D-index is dynamically set in increments of 10, calibrated against the estimated total number of scholars in each discipline. This approach ensures that the top 1% of leading scholars are consistently incorporated into the list. An important qualifier for eligibility is that there must be no more than a 30% difference between a scientist’s general H-index and their discipline-specific D-index, ensuring a close alignment between overall impact and disciplinary focus.

Verification and Methodological Rigor

Recognizing that raw bibliometric data cannot serve as an absolute measure of scholarly output or influence, the Research.com team has undertaken meticulous manual verification of all scientist profiles. These profiles have been cross-checked against publications indexed in a broad array of reputable and trustworthy sources to validate accuracy and relevance.

While the ranking position is fundamentally determined by the D-index, the volume of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings serves as an important secondary indicator of a scientist’s contribution to Political Science. The primary ranking metric—position in the list—is established using data sourced exclusively from OpenAlex and CrossRef, which are among the most prominent and authoritative bibliometric databases available to the research community worldwide.

Further details regarding the methodology deployed in assembling this ranking can be found on our methodology page, providing transparent insight into the scientific rigor underpinning this effort.

The Research.com Mission

The overarching mission behind the creation of the Research.com rankings is to motivate researchers, companies, and policymakers worldwide to closely observe the trajectories and contributions of leading experts. Equally important is to provide the global scientific community with a transparent, reliable means of identifying top scholars by discipline, country, and institution. By highlighting thought leaders in Political Science and other fields, Research.com seeks to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and informed decision-making across academia and beyond.