Report by Jonas Bunte

In December 2025, the Institute for International Political Economy hosted an alumni event featuring former WU student Lucie Stiborová, who returned to share her experience of writing her BA thesis at the Institute. The event was primarily aimed at current undergraduate students preparing for their thesis projects and offered a practical opportunity to reflect on topic selection, research design, and the writing process. Lucie wrote her bachelor’s thesis under the supervision of Zack Zimbalist and has since continued her academic path with a strong interest in political economy and China-related research.

In her presentation, Lucie discussed her thesis on the China orientation of Italian right-wing parties. Using a mixed-methods design combining qualitative content analysis with quantitative tools, she examined how party rhetoric toward China changes over time—including the observation that public communication, such as social media posts, often becomes more moderate once parties enter government. She spoke openly about methodological choices, language decisions, and the challenge of developing an original theoretical argument. A central takeaway was that a large share of the work—both intellectually and emotionally—went into writing the proposal, which ultimately shaped the final thesis more than she had expected.

Much of the discussion focused on practical advice for current students. Lucie emphasized the importance of choosing a topic that genuinely sparks interest, setting clear intermediate deadlines, and actively seeking feedback throughout the process. She highlighted the value of regular checkpoints with her supervisor, as well as the benefits of writing in English for future master’s applications and research opportunities. For students in the WUPOL program—and especially those interested in the Politics and Money specialization—the event offered concrete insight into what successful thesis work looks like in practice, from early idea development to the final submission. The discussion made clear that the BA thesis is not only a degree requirement but also an opportunity to develop research skills that extend well beyond the undergraduate program. We are grateful to Lucie for generously sharing her time, experience, and insights with our students.

Read more about Lucie’s thesis in her article for our IPE@WU Theses section: Exploring Italy’s Shifting Stance on China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Lucie Stiborová

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