Contemporary political sociology involves, but is not limited to, the study of the relations between state, society and citizens. Where a typical research question in political sociology might have been: "Why do so few American or European citizens choose to vote?" or even, "What difference does it make if women get elected?" political sociologists also now ask: "How is the body a site of power?", "How are emotions relevant to global poverty?" or "What difference does knowledge make to democracy?" The opening up of political sociology does not mean that old topics have been discarded. Traditionally there were four main areas of research:

1. The sociopolitical formation of the modern state;
2. "Who rules?" How social inequality between groups (class, race, gender, etc.) influences politics;
3. How public opinion, ideologies, personalities, social movements and trends outside of the formal institutions of political power affect formal politics;
4. Power relationships within and between social groups (e.g. families, workplaces, bureaucracy, media, etc.).