Academic interests
Parsons' scholarly work investigates the ideas and institutions that came together to construct today's Europe; comparisons between the European Union and American federalism; how divisive issues like the authority of the EU affect political parties and democratic representation; and some thorny questions in the philosophy of science and qualitative methodology.
His main current research considers how and why the EU has constructed a "Single Market" that has removed many internal barriers that persist in the United States. He is affiliated with ARENA through the project SINGLEMARKETS, which he coordinates, as well as H2020-funded project Differentiation, Dominance, Democracy (EU3D). His other work on European integration, political economy, and political parties includes collaborations with scholars like Matthias Matthijs at SAIS Johns Hopkins, Andy Smith at Sciences Po Bordeaux, Till Weber at Baruch College CUNY, Joe Jupille at the University of Colorado, and Mark Blyth at Brown University.