Sections Description

Congress, the Presidency & Courts

All aspects of legislative studies, presidential research, constitutional law and the courts including the intersection of and relationships among the three branches.

State and Metropolitan Politics

All aspects of state, metropolitan and neighborhood politics, federalism and intergovernmental relations. Sub-federal work in the field of American political development is welcome.

Parties, Interest Groups, Social Movements, & Electoral Behavior

All aspects of U.S. parties, interest groups, social movements, political behavior, elections, and public opinion.

Public Policy and Public Administration

All topics in public policy and public administration.

Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy

All aspects of Ancient (Greek, Roman) and Medieval (Jewish, Christian, Islamic) political thought.

Modern Political Theory

Machiavelli to Harriet Taylor Mill, including but not limited to normative political theory and the history of ideas. We welcome proposals on political thinkers between 1500-1850 from outside the Western tradition.

Continental Political Thought

Includes but not limited to German idealism, phenomenology, hermeneutics, existentialism, post-structuralism, post-modernism, critical theory, French feminism, Nietzsche and Marxism.

Democratic Theory

All topics in contemporary democratic theory including deliberative democracy, identity politics, group rights, and citizenship.

American Political Thought

We welcome paper and panel proposals which contribute theoretically, conceptually, and empirically to our understanding of history and politics, covering the broad scope of the study of politics, policy, and institutions using historical perspectives to address issue areas of contemporary concern. We are especially interested research that cuts across American and comparative perspectives and on different parts of the world.

International Relations

Topics in international studies broadly defined, including international relations theory, international law and organizations, foreign policy, globalization, human rights, human security, international development, conflict resolution, military/strategic studies, feminist theory/gender studies, and international political economy.

Comparative Politics

All areas of comparative politics, including the politics of advanced industrial, post-communist, or developing countries; cross-regional studies; broad theoretical issues such as democratization, economic development, globalization, and ethnic and nationalist conflict are welcome.

Identity Politics

Gender, race, and ethnicity in relation to power both within and outside political institutions. Of particular interest are papers focusing on how these factors (and possible intersections) impact political leadership, representation, and public policies in American and comparative contexts. All methodological perspectives are welcome.

Environmental Politics & Policy

Topics may include, environmental movements; environmentalism, its variants or rivals; environmental policy formation and implementation; environmental regimes; management of common pool resources; environmental policy analysis; and sustainable development. Interdisciplinary approaches are especially welcome.

Teaching, Learning, and the Profession

All aspects of undergraduate and graduate teaching, especially in the areas of integrating technology into the curriculum, the use of cooperative and collaborative learning techniques, and experiential learning. Proposals are also welcome on the future of the profession and on professional education in political science, including approaches to preparing new professionals for academic and non-academic positions.

Popular Culture & Politics

All works that explore the intersection of popular culture and politics. Especially relevant are papers that examine the ways in which film, television, literature, and music depict political institutions, affect political socialization, shape public opinion and serve as a tool for explaining concepts and fostering debate. Papers that explore popular culture as an instrument for providing context and diverse perspectives are also welcome.

Politics & History

We welcome paper and panel proposals which contribute theoretically, conceptually, and empirically to our understanding of history and politics, covering the broad scope of the study of politics, policy, and institutions using historical perspectives to address issue areas of contemporary concern. We are especially interested in research that cuts across American and comparative perspectives and on different parts of the world.

Undergraduate Research

An opportunity for promising undergraduate political science students to experience a professional academic conference and to contribute to our understanding of politics while showcasing outstanding student research. Individual and collaborative papers in any area of political science are welcome. Proposals should include contact information of the faculty sponsor of the research.

French Language Panels

Since the conference is in Montreal, our Canadian colleagues and students are invited to submit papers and panels that will be written and presented in French in any of the topics covered by the above sections.

Panels en Langue Française

Du fait que notre conférence aura lieu à Montréal, les collègues et étudiants canadiens sont invités à soumettre des communications,  panels ou tables rondes dans les sous-filières sus-indiquées.