Political studies of courts: subject and research program
The article reviews political science literature on courts in democracy and authoritarianism. Such a review can be useful in two ways. First, we take the classical definition of political science as a science that studies the acquisition and the use of power, and deduce the object of political studies of courts from it. We then check it against the actual empirical studies of courts done in political science. Second, we chart a map of political studies of courts and observe some trends that may later be used to set the agenda for future political research into courts in authoritarian regimes.