Why Political Science is Boring

Since 2017, the economics major has surpassed the political science major in popularity—something that last happened 56 years ago in 1961. Only 1.77% of all bachelor’s degrees now are awarded in political science, the lowest level ever recorded. By contrast, economics has experienced continual growth with no ceiling in sight. How did this happen to political science, the “architectonic science,” to use Aristotle’s phrase? Why are students opting for data, numbers, and models rather than the human grip-and-grin and give-and-take of politics?