His teaching interests include comparative politics (e.g., democratization, African politics, and Middle East politics), international relations (e.g., globalization), and political methodology. His research interests include democratic theory and measurement, socioeconomic development, academic performance, and Ethiopian political history. Dr. Tiruneh has published several journal articles and is the author of the book, When is Democracy Normal? The Relation to Demography, Market Economy, and Globalization (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2008). He has also published a memoir, On the Run in the Blue Nile/Nefis Adin Rucha BeAbay Sheleko/ነፍስ አድን ሩጫ በዓባይ ሸለቆ, about his political persecution during the military/communist regime of Ethiopia. His memoir is published in both English and Amharic languages (Create Space, U.S.A., 2014; Afro Printing Press, Ethiopia, 2015).