Division Calls

Division Chair(s): Inder Marwah, McMaster University and Alex Livingston, Cornell University

The Political Thought and Philosophy: History of Political Thought section welcomes proposals from scholars working in all areas of our field. We are especially interested in proposals that draw on the history of political thought, understood broadly, to reflect on questions of rupture, catastrophe, transformation, dislocation, and change provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic. How might the history of political thought help us understand experiences of global crisis, past and present? What do catastrophic events reveal about the fragility and resilience of political institutions, norms, and practices? What openings might they provide for re-envisioning and reconfiguring political order? How should we think about ordinary politics – voting, campaigning, protesting, etc. – in extraordinary times? What insights do historical encounters with plague, contagion, war, and natural disaster, real or metaphorical, offer for approaching a post-pandemic politics? We welcome papers that extend the category of global crisis to engage topics such as climate change, democratic backsliding, migration, AI and data politics, and so on, as well as those addressing pedagogical and methodological questions raised by teaching and researching during the pandemic. We particularly encourage papers and panels that that shed light on issues of race, class, gender, sexuality and disability. We are committed to promoting intellectual exchange across theoretical and methodological approaches, time periods, texts, traditions, and geographical spaces and invite panel proposals organized around this sort of dialogue. We welcome proposals from scholars at all stages of the profession and also appreciate panel proposals that include scholars from across the ranks.

Division Chair(s): Geneviève Rousselière, Duke University and Melvin Rodgers, Brown University

“The Foundations of Political Theory Section invites papers, panels, and roundtable proposals from all areas of political theory. Building on this year’s theme “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science”, we especially encourage submissions that ask if and how the world crisis we face is transforming, or should transform, the work of political theorists.
The pandemic has exacerbated racial, gender, and economic inequality, showed the weaknesses of social and political institutions in addressing these inequalities, and precipitated already rising political polarization. How should we address these persistent issues in the context of political division? Does “rethinking” political theory imply creating new theories or altering the role of theory in policy making or the formation of public opinion? Do theorists need to consolidate foundations or build theories anew? What role should history play when faced with unprecedented challenges?
The pandemic further exposed our global interconnectedness and interdependence, our vulnerability to common threats as well as the difficulty of coordinated responses to world crisis. Confinement and social distancing increased isolation, yet also accelerated the development of new technologies that transformed daily life. How can post-pandemic political theories think about the social link that unites individuals within and beyond national borders? What is or ought to be the role of law, institutions, citizens’ action, or technology in reconnecting individuals after the isolation of lockdown? What can or should be the role of political theorists in this work of analysis and reconstruction?
The Foundations of Political Theory Section is by no means restricted to these questions and we welcome papers and panels on a variety of political issues in political theory and political philosophy broadly understood.
We are committed to creating a diverse program that reflects multiple theoretical and methodological approaches, textual traditions, elocutionary positions, periods and geopolitical spaces. We look forward to panel proposals including scholars at different stages of their career, and we are especially interested in work by those historically underrepresented in our field. “

Division Chair(s): Alexander Kirshner, Duke University

The Normative Theory Division welcomes papers and panel proposals that use the tools of normative political theory to investigate classic debates in political philosophy and new topics that warrant analysis, including, of course, the pandemic, its ramifications and the issues it has surfaced. The division is open, but not limited, to proposals concerning democracy, race, protest, rights, war, property, gender, inequality, risk, representation, the world of work, borders and class. We welcome proposals from different theoretical and/or methodological perspectives. And we look forward to panel proposals including scholars at different stages of their career. We are especially interested in work by those historically underrepresented in our field.

Division Chair(s): Ryan Hubert, University of California, Davis

The Formal Political Theory division welcomes paper, poster and panel proposals that use or draw on formal theory to provide insight into political questions. The 2022 conference theme asks us to “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect” and we aim to build a program that showcases novel approaches toward integrating formal theory into the study of substantive topics. In doing so, we also hope to highlight the diversity of approaches that already fit under the formal theory umbrella, including (but not limited to) research using game theory, social choice theory, computational modeling, behavioral modeling and combinations of formal theory and other methodologies. In service of these goals, we especially encourage proposals that have potential ties to other divisions and subfields, or that encourage us to rethink traditional approaches to formal theory. We also strongly encourage substantively cohesive panel, roundtable or workshop proposals that help achieve these goals.

Division Chair(s): Julie Wronski, University of Mississippi

The Political Psychology Division invites papers, panels, and round table proposals from all areas of political psychology. We are especially – but not exclusively – interested in receiving proposals that build upon the annual conference’s theme: “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science.” We look forward to receiving proposals that explore how individuals, groups, institutions, and states will rethink, restructure, and reconnect in a post-pandemic politics—questions that political psychologists seem uniquely qualified to address.

Our division embraces diversity in terms of our backgrounds, our areas of expertise, our experiences, and our abilities. Therefore, we welcome proposals that utilize our subfield’s various theoretical perspectives (e.g. information processing, social and political identities, personality traits, etc.) to grapple with questions related to the global pandemic, deepening political polarization, and mass protests for social justice. We also welcome proposals that are diverse in methodological approach (i.e. quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method approaches). Finally, we strongly encourage the submission of well-organized panel proposals. In particular, we are interested in panels that consider research designs rather than completed work and/or include scholars from different subfields of political science and who are at different career levels. Scholars are also free to submit other proposal formats such as round tables, semi-structured debates, and short courses. Given the interdisciplinary nature of political psychology, we actively seek opportunities to co-sponsor with other divisions as well.

Division Chair(s): Mai Hassan, University of Michigan and Carlo Prato, Columbia University 

The Political Economy division invites submissions on political economy, broadly defined. We especially welcome contributions that tackle elements of this year’s theme — including the global COVID-19 pandemic, deepening political polarization, mass protests, and the growing demand for social justice and systemic change — through a political economy framework. How have institutions addressed the above challenges? How have institutions evolved in response to these challenges? And with what implications for our understanding of political behavior? We will pay particular attention to proposals for substantively cohesive panels and mini-conferences, as well as paper submissions that highlight the diversity of approaches, identities, and topics that have historically characterized this division.

Division Chair(s): Karl Orfeo Fioretos, Temple University and Emily Zackin, Johns Hopkins University

The Politics and History Division invites panel and paper submissions on topics related to politics and history broadly conceived, including political development, state building, and international order formation. The Division encourages submissions related to the conference theme of  “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science,” including papers that consider how historical approaches can help researchers and students better understand the challenges to civic engagement, democratic governance, and international cooperation that the Covid-19 pandemic presents. Panels and papers addressing theoretical and conceptual issues are welcome, as are empirical papers using qualitative and/or quantitative approaches to the study of history. The Division is committed to pluralism – of approach, of perspective, and in the scope of subject matters – within political science and within the study of politics and history. We especially value proposals that maintain and strengthen the Division’s commitments to an inclusive and diverse discipline.

Division Chair(s): Adeline Lo, University of Wisconsin, Madison and Aya Kachi, University of Basel

The Political Methodology division welcomes proposals addressing all aspects of empirical methodology. The division has an established tradition of encouraging and featuring proposals dealing with measurement, statistical modeling, causal inference, research design, computational methods, survey methodology, and theory development and testing. We likewise continue the enthusiastic call for not only proposals that develop new techniques but also innovating applications of existing tools to any substantive subfield of political science. And, continuing on the previous (2021) conference theme, “Promoting Pluralism”, the division also welcomes proposals addressing epistemological aspects of research and/or teaching in the field of political methodology. This year’s conference theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect,” is an opportunity for individual researchers and groups of scholars to engage in methods that tackle high priority post-pandemic issues including but not limited to the study of diversity, inequality/inequity, and inclusion. Proposals that contribute to understanding how multiple methodological approaches can strengthen and support such studies, that generally address the conference theme, and/or have potential ties to other divisions are especially welcome. We encourage scholars from underrepresented groups and those who don’t typically consider the section to apply. We will consider not only individual paper presentations, but also panel, roundtable, and workshop proposals.

Division Chair(s): Bobbi Gentry, Bridgewater College and Laura Roost, Newberry College

COVID impacted, and at times, disrupted political science learning communities in a variety of ways. As faculty re-engage in these new learning conditions, new questions about teaching and learning emerge, such as access, inclusiveness, building communities in classrooms and online, exploring new ways to connect with other teacher scholars. We are particularly interested in papers that are going to help explore the real challenges that students face in this time, and the real challenges as well as the exciting possibilities that faculty, staff, students, and off-campus community members have in re-engaging as a political science learning community in 2022. Political science education helps students learn to analyze politics, and critically engage with politics. As political science educators we are involved in a process that helps students become engaged citizens and community members who are knowledgeable about the political process, who can interact as active members in political community, and may become community leaders themselves. How we model re-engagement for our students at this time, and how we re-engage with our own professional colleagues and community members helps us turn this potential challenge into a possibility. Reflecting the focus of the APSA 2022 meeting theme, the Political Science Education Section makes a special call for papers that think about post-pandemic experiences in political science education. Papers on other topics within political science education are also accepted.

Division Chair(s): Karrie Koesel, University of Notre Dame and David Steinberg, Johns Hopkins University

The Comparative Politics section invites submissions on all aspects of comparative politics. Proposals may focus on any substantive area of comparative politics, including but not limited to comparative political behavior, identity politics, political institutions and regimes, political conflict, political economy, and state-society relations. We welcome submissions that examine single countries as well as those that focus on regional and cross-national comparisons. In line with this year’s conference theme, we particularly encourage submissions that explore the politics and political implications of pandemics. We strongly encourage well-organized panel proposals, especially those that bring together diverse groups of scholars into dialogue and promote different approaches to the study of comparative politics.

Division Chair(s): Gabrielle Kruks-Wisner, University of Virginia and Santiago Anria, Dickinson College

The Comparative Politics of Developing Countries Division welcomes paper and panel proposals focused on the politics of low- and middle-income countries. We especially encourage submissions related to the annual meeting’s theme: “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post Pandemic Political Science.” Many topics related to this theme, on the politics of the pandemic and pandemic response, are central to the field of comparative politics, and have particular resonance in low and middle income settings. Topics of particular interest in the context of the ongoing pandemic and in considering a “post-pandemic” world include: global, regional, and sub-national inequality and polarization; social policy and the role of the state; and civil society and citizen mobilization, including mass and local protest and demand-making. We particularly welcome scholarship that engages and is accessible to broad public audiences outside of the academy. We encourage substantively cohesive panel proposals that bring together scholars from within and across subfield lines from a wide-ranging collection of researchers, and welcome research based on a diversity of methodological and disciplinary approaches.

Division Chair(s): Elizabeth Plantan, Stetson University and Aleksandra Sznajder Lee, University of Richmond

Division 13 invites submissions that contribute to Communist or post-Communist studies. This year, we are particularly interested in proposals that speak to the conference theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science” and examine the multifaceted impact of the global pandemic on the politics of Communist and former Communist countries. How has the pandemic affected the relationship between states and societies? How did it influence the stability of various political regimes in these regions? How have civil societies in post-Communist or Communist countries reacted to the shifting political atmosphere during this uncertain and tumultuous period? How have marginalized populations been affected? How has the pandemic impacted the political economies of these countries and their responses to challenges such as climate and demographic change, inequality, and global competition? We also encourage proposals that reflect on the evolving nature of research within our field of study in a post-pandemic world. How might the study of Communist or former Communist countries change in response to shifting access to on-the-ground fieldwork and can remote technologies improve our research, teaching, or outreach related to this region? How can we, as a division, respond to discipline-wide calls to restructure and rebuild in order to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive field of study? To enhance diversity and inclusion within our field, we are especially interested in submissions that examine intersectionality, race, ethnicity, gender, accessibility, or LGBTQ politics. In addition, we strongly encourage well-organized panel proposals and other formats such as roundtables and author-meets-critics sessions that bring together scholars diverse in theoretical and methodological approaches, gender, rank, and nationality, including scholars in these regions.

Division Chair(s): Carolina Plescia, University of Vienna and Kyriaki Nanou, Durham University

The division welcomes paper and panel proposals that focus on important questions in the study of advanced industrial societies. In accordance with this year’s theme, ‘Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science’, we welcome papers that engage with emerging themes and innovative approaches in this age of political uncertainty and flux accentuated by the Covid-19 situation, which has affected politics in advanced industrial societies in a multi-faceted way. What are the implications of the pandemic and post-pandemic context for democratic representation and political institutions, including electoral competition and citizen participation, and for pressing issues of public policy, including the economy, inclusion and social justice? We encourage a diversity of approaches: comparative and single-country, descriptive and causal, and quantitative and qualitative analyses. We encourage proposals from women, people of color, non-binary, and early-career scholars. Our objective is to create high-quality panels that are inclusive but also balanced and diverse. We encourage those who want to submit complete panels to have this in mind when they select papers, discussants and chairs. 

Division Chair(s): Mareike Kleine, London School of Economics

We invite proposals related to European politics and society, broadly defined. We welcome proposals on the 2022 meeting theme “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect” but we will consider any proposal related to Europe. We are open to diverse approaches, methods, and subjects. The section supports a variety of formats, from traditional paper-based panels to roundtables, author meets critics, and extended panels.

Division Chair(s): Vincent Arel-Bundock, University of Montreal and Ida Bastiaens, Fordham University

The section on International Political Economy welcomes paper, panel, and roundtable proposals on a broad range of topics, including (but not limited to) trade, finance, taxation, money, and migration. Submissions that address or incorporate the meeting theme — Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science — are especially welcome. We also encourage cohesive panel proposals that bring together scholars from within and across subfield lines.

Division Chair(s): Nikolay Marinov, University of Houston and Leah Windsor, University of Memphis

The International Collaboration Division welcomes papers and panel proposals for the 2022 APSA Annual Convention. All proposals relating to international collaboration will be considered. This broad subject area includes, but is not limited to, international organizations, international law, diplomacy, economic coordination, conflict resolution, transnational advocacy and democracy-promotion. Proposals that address either international conflict or political economy are welcome, as are proposals from different theoretical and/or methodological perspectives.

Division Chair(s): Sumit Ganguly, University of Indiana and Charles Boehmer, University of Texas, El Paso 

The world has witnessed the human and material ravages of a global pandemic, the growth of populist nationalism and increasing demands for social and racial justice in the past year. Of these, the pandemic has truly scarred both the industrialized as well as the developing world. It has laid bare extant social inequities, highlighted the shortcomings of public health care systems and has spawned an interest in some quarters in pseudo-scientific strategies to combat this threat. Some security studies scholars, who have since the 1990s, argued for a more expansive conception of security, whether national or international, have argued that questions of health and human well-being constitute a legitimate focus of inquiry within the sub-field. Those inclined to take this more broad view of the subject, without a doubt, would argue that the horrific consequences of the pandemic yet again have underscored the need for a more eclectic approach to the study of international security. This, indeed, may well be the case. That said it is also equally evident that more conventional issues of international security have hardly receded. From the possibilities of renewed civil war in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the American withdrawal, great power competition in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere between the United States and an increasingly assertive People’s Republic of China (PRC), the recent flare-up of the Sino-Indian rivalry, Russia’s growing assertiveness in Europe, persistent tensions in the Korean peninsula and the uncertainty surrounding a revived and revised nuclear arms control agreement with Iran, and renewed arms control attention more broadly, all underscore the continuing significance of more traditional international security issues. Given this backdrop the International Security and Arms Control section welcomes submissions of individual paper and poster proposals, as well as roundtables and panel proposals, on a range of international security issues based upon diverse interdisciplinary, epistemological, and methodological approaches. 

Division Chair(s): Jacqueline Hazelton, Naval War College

The Foreign Policy section invites paper, panel, and roundtable submissions that investigate the multiple facets of foreign policy making and foreign policy analysis. This includes exploring a range of theoretical, methodological, epistemological, and empirical approaches. Research questions responding to this year’s theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science” are particularly welcome. Responses might touch on issues such as: the foreign policies of non-state actors malign and benign; comparative questions of state and non-state foreign policy; whether the practice of foreign policy making and execution is fundamentally changing because of the pandemic; whether the drivers of foreign policy – domestic and international – are changing and thus restructuring how we analyze foreign policy choices; and whether shifting international power relationships change how big and small states use the tools of foreign policy. The section recognizes the importance of multiplicity in approach and interdisciplinarity from a wide-ranging collection of scholars. For those submitting panels and roundtables, please make every effort to ensure a diversity of participation across gender, institutional type, geographic location, and career stage.

Division Chair(s): Jakana Thomas, Michigan State University and Neil Narang, University of California, Santa Barbara 

“The global pandemic has had a profound effect on international conflict and cooperation. It has brought renewed attention to the discontents of globalization; states have restricted their borders and limited immigration, while the legitimacy of international institutions have been questioned. The global health crisis has also fueled dissatisfaction within states, emboldening opposition actors to pose new challenges to established governments.

The pandemic has served as a powerful reminder that adverse global shocks may upend existing institutions – forcing political actors to rethink, restructure and (re)form connections with one another. This division welcomes proposals examining how adverse global shocks or international health crises, such as the global pandemic, influence political conflict within and between states, how social, political and economic institutions mediate the consequences of global shocks and how global shocks polarize or reify existing identities and preferences. Finally, we look forward to proposals that examine how global health crises deepen or level inequalities within and across states.”

Division Chair(s): Stefanie Bailers, University of Basel and Antoine Yoshinaka, University at Buffalo, SUNY

The Legislative Studies Division welcomes paper, panel, and roundtable proposals on a wide range of topics related to legislatures at the state, national, or supranational level, in the United States or any other countries and regions in the world. Research advancing new theories, analyzing original data, or employing innovative methods are especially welcome. In keeping with the conference’s core theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science,” we encourage proposals that address the various ways in which legislatures have responded to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, but we welcome any compelling proposals. Proposals for substantively cohesive panel and roundtables are also welcomed. We recommend to those submitting panel proposals to consider including panelists from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, we especially encourage submissions from women, scholars of color, and other underrepresented groups.

Division Chair(s): Donna Hoffman, University of Northern Iowa

“As scholars of presidents and executive politics, how are we rethinking, restructuring, and reconnecting, not only in a world still reeling from a global pandemic, but also as authoritarian currents rise in the United States and globally? Do the challenges to democracy (pandemic, insurrection, inequality) prompt a fundamental rethinking of how we approach executive power in our research, with our students, and with the public?

The Presidents and Executive Politics section welcomes proposals that take up the conference theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science.” We also welcome paper and panel submissions that explore enduring questions surrounding executive power related to democratic transitions, public policy, communications, inter-branch relations, and electoral politics. Perennial questions of executive power can also benefit from being approached in innovative ways, and we are particularly interested in proposals that utilize diverse theoretical and methodological approaches. Finally, as executive power is often key in broad areas of political science inquiry, proposals that have a connection to other sections are also welcome.”

Division Chair(s): Jiaqi Liang, University of Illinois, Chicago

Over the past two years, the global pandemic, political polarization, and social justice movements have profoundly shaped our world and society. In many ways, these events and phenomena have elevated the challenges constantly facing public organizations and administrators. The Covid-19 pandemic reveals uneven impacts of a public health crisis on different social groups, particularly in terms of access to public services and distribution of policy benefits. Political polarization intensifies the long-standing debates revolving around administrative accountability and the relationship between bureaucracy and democracy. Social justice movements underscore the ongoing tensions beneath many citizen-state interactions in policy implementation. In this context, for the 2022 annual meeting, the public administration section invites paper and panel proposals focused on (1) rethinking the role of bureaucracy in promoting democratic values and social wellbeing, (2) restructuring political and administrative institutions and approaches to advance governmental performance in a way that better aligns with diverse expectations for bureaucratic accountability, and (3) reconnecting different groups of citizens and stakeholders, in particular those who have been long marginalized, in government’s decision making process. We seek theoretically grounded and methodologically robust proposals that examine a broad range of questions, including but not limited to: How can public bureaucracy strengthen its legitimacy and reputation in a hostile political environment? How do the increasingly contentious intergovernmental relations affect policy implementation outcomes? To what extent does public bureaucracy mitigate or reinforce the effect of policy design across different client groups? How does administrative burden relate to bureaucrats’ preferences and discretion, clients’ policy attitudes and political efficacy, and social equity? How do bureaucratic diversity and representation fully achieve their potential in promoting social equity? How can the public’s trust in government be restored amid crises? We also welcome proposals that engage research from other subfields.

Division Chair(s): Chris Koski, Reed College

The Public Policy section serves a large, diverse community of researchers studying policy to address central questions of political science: who governs, and to what ends?  The section welcomes proposals on all aspects of the policy process and the causes and consequences of government decisions (and non-decisions).  These submissions could involve policy development and change, policy feedback, policy diffusion, agenda setting, historical and comparative perspectives on policy, and more.

Proposals addressing this year’s conference theme – “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science” – are particularly welcome.  The American Political Science Association asks conference participants to think about the influences that the pandemic has had on political science as a discipline as well as a more critical look at the role that political science can play in society. The Public Policy section of APSA can offer particular insights regarding linkages between government decisions and the politics they generate. While it is certainly true that leadership selection continues to be consequential to the outcomes of governments, the current and future political landscape has been altered by significant direct and indirect policy responses to the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created incredible challenges for governments not just in responding to the substantive policy challenges associated with a pandemic, but also in the heightened politicization of expert-driven policymaking. Public policy scholars are well positioned to draw lessons from massive policy and institutional changes that have resulted from this pandemic. Theories of the policy process may help us understand to what extent policy changes will manifest in permanent institutional change, the impacts of which have far reaching consequences beyond the pandemic.

In addition to the conference theme, the section welcomes a broad range of proposals addressing substantively, theoretically, and methodologically important questions. How can policy theory help the discipline of political science understand the impact of unprecedented government interventions in the economy, society, and democratic institutions themselves? How has the pandemic and resulting policy changes contributed to changes in policy beliefs among stakeholder groups?

Reponses to the pandemic overarch policy decisions worldwide, but the work of government continues in other important areas. How have shifts in the relative power of groups targeted by public policy affected the design of solutions to other issues such as climate change, racial (in)equality, policing, and education during this time? Have broader narratives used to describe these problems and solutions shifted to produce new politics?

Institutional design is critical to understanding government decision-making and government institutions are changing at a rapid pace as a result of social movements and anti-democratic forces. How will institutional changes affect the efficacy and legitimacy of public policy?

The Public Policy section is open to all methodological and theoretical perspectives.  While paper proposals are welcome, we strongly encourage well-organized panel proposals.

Division Chair(s): Rorie Solberg, Oregon State University and Mark McKenzie, Texas Tech University

We seek proposals that address how our section’s scholarship supports rethinking, reconstructing, and reconnecting our discipline in light of the needs of society and governance in the post-pandemic era. We encourage a broad range of proposals that highlight the diversity of our field in terms of subject, approach, methodology, data, and/or presentation. Examples of proposals that encompass the theme might include rethinking our definition, conception, or measurement of long-held concepts; reconstructing our lens on law and courts to include courts and processes across the globe; or reconnecting the field of law and courts to other subfields.

Division Chair(s): Terri Peretti, Santa Clara University and Thomas Keck, Syracuse University

Division 27, Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence, invites proposals for papers and panels that advance our understanding of the foundations, principles, and practice of constitutional governance around the world. Proposals relating to the conference theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science,” will receive preference. Panel proposals should include scholars at various stages of their careers who additionally reflect the diversity of our profession. We also welcome proposals for panels that can be cross listed with other APSA Sections/Divisions, reflecting the multiple ways that Constitutional Law intersects with various disciplinary subfields, including Race and Ethnicity, Gender Politics, Political Theory, International Law, Law & Courts, and Comparative Politics. Potential topics for papers and panels include the role of constitutions in structuring political conflict and power; social movements and the mobilization of constitutional law inside and outside of courts; the relationship between constitutional law and democratic politics across varied institutional contexts; and cross-national or historical comparisons of courts and constitutions more generally. We encourage proposals that pose new questions, employ innovative methods, promote critical perspectives, and offer new insights. We hope that the Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence panels will advance our collective understanding of the role of law in enabling and constraining demands for social justice and systemic change, the impact of the pandemic on national and global legal orders, and the capacity of constitutionalism to withstand the ongoing crisis of democratic backsliding.

Division Chair(s): Mikhail Filippov, Binghamton University

The Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations Section invites proposals for panels , roundtables and papers that aim to promote a deeper understanding of politics and policy in federal systems both in the United States and around the globe. We welcome studies that examine questions of federalism and intergovernmental relations from multiple theoretical and methodological perspectives, including interdisciplinary work. We welcome proposals from individuals of various racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities, as well as from various institutions, professions, disciplines, and career stages.

Division Chair(s): Anna Gunderson, Louisiana State University 

APSA 2022 considers how political science will adapt and learn from the COVID-19 era. State politics offers a unique perspective on this crisis, as each state developed its own approach to pandemic mitigation and vaccine distribution. What does state politics tell us about responses to the pandemic and variation in these policies? Not only that, but COVID-19 has encouraged political science as a discipline to reconsider how issues of equity influence how we research, publish, teach, and interact with the political world around us. How can new (or renewed) research agendas and instructional pedagogy produce leaders and accountability and prepare an informed, engaged citizenry to (re-)emerge into society? What is the new “normal” for a post-pandemic political science? We invite proposals that engage with these questions, alongside timely issues or policies related to state politics and policy. We also recognize that our knowledge and understanding of state politics and policy depends on fostering diversity and inclusion among scholars. We encourage proposals from individuals of various racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities, as well as from various institutions, professions, disciplines, and career stages.

Division Chair(s): Veronica Herrera, University of California, Los Angeles and Justin De Benedictis-Kessner, Harvard University

“The Urban and Local Politics section welcomes proposals on the politics, policies, and governance of local governments. This year’s conference theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect,” prompts scholars to reconsider the ways in which our research can promote equity and social justice as we re-emerge from a year of challenges. Such a call is especially apt for the study of urban and local politics in the US and globally. Emerging from a year that highlighted crises both local and global – COVID-19, racial injustice and police violence, migrant and refugee crises, climate change catastrophes, housing shortages, economic shutdowns, widening polarization – cities and localities are faced with mounting challenges around the world. Local governments are well poised to impact policy change both locally and globally, yet they may lack the resources or support to effectively do so alone. Cities and their residents offer opportunities to inform best practices and test innovations in addressing governing challenges, for example when collaborating with other actors such as NGOs, state or regional governments, or through global partnerships. In addition, citizens most frequently interact with arms of local government—as opposed to national—whether through issues related to policing, ordinances, zoning, housing, public services, or business permitting. Thus, local institutions are a critical site for the study of civic engagement, citizen participation, the impact of social movements on policy change, and the struggle for inclusive citizenship. We welcome proposals that draw on a vast array of institutions and citizen action to influence social and political change within cities.

A year after George Floyd’s murder, cities continue to be important sites for contestation over racial injustice within policing, our justice system, and the myriad institutions with which citizens interact. We invite research on all aspects of the local and urban political experience, including research examining equity issues along intersecting dimensions of race, gender, ethnicity, and class. We especially welcome perspectives and voices that have historically received insufficient attention in political science, as we “rethink” knowledge creation within our discipline. Papers that use qualitative, ethnographic, quantitative, and multi-method approaches are all welcome, as is research that is policy relevant and interdisciplinary.

The Section will accept proposals for cohesive panels, roundtables, author-meets-critics, or short courses. For those submitting complete panels, roundtables or author-meets-critics proposals, please be sure to submit a chair and at least one discussant for all panel proposals and where possible highlight how the proposed session connects with the theme of rethinking, restructuring, and reconnecting.”

Division Chair(s): Priscilla Yamin, University of Oregon and Keisha Lindsay, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Women, Gender and Politics Research Section invites panel and paper submissions that engage themes of women, sex, gender, sexuality and intersectionality across the fields of comparative politics, international relations, American politics, political theory and research methods. We especially encourage submissions that build on the conference theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science.” We invite paper or panel proposals that use a feminist perspective to explore, elucidate and re-vision political questions in the shifting landscape of the current and post-pandemic era. Submissions that show how using a feminist analysis leads to reinterpreting political questions, conventional theories and methods in political science are welcome. Themes and topics of proposals could include, but not limited to, social movements, public policies, elections, reproduction, economic inequality, and representation that critically examine the category of gender and how it intersects with race, masculinity, sexuality, ethnicity, national identity, physical and intellectual ability, family status, and carework. We are open to papers and panels that use explore themes across subfields using a gender and race lens and that are interdisciplinary and methodologically innovative, as well as those proposals that foreground transnational feminism, indigenous feminism, black feminism, post-colonial feminism, eco feminism, disability studies, and transgender studies. In keeping with APSA’s goals of increasing diversity, inclusion, and access throughout the profession, we welcome diversity of approach and interdisciplinarity from a wide-ranging collection of researchers. APSA offers many different presentation formats and we welcome a variety proposals that take advantage of those options.

Division Chair(s): Kassra Oskooii, University of Delaware and Jessica Carew, Elon University

The APSA Section on Race, Ethnicity, and Politics (REP) invites proposals for the 2022 APSA Annual Meeting.  The theme for the upcoming annual meeting is “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science.”  As REP scholars, we frequently center our examinations around understanding the ways in which systems, structures, and institutions influence political behavior, as well as how behavior and opinion can influence political systems. Further, we also frequently push our discipline of political science to consider innovative ways to approaching the study of the sociopolitical world.  As scholars, we currently find ourselves in a critical moment in which we have the opportunity to combine these aforementioned realities in order to continue asking and working toward answering important questions: What has the pandemic illuminated about the importance of our work? Are we still asking the right questions, and to what degree do our methods for answering them remain relevant?  How might we re-envision our academic approaches to ensure an intersectional and multifaceted understanding of power and hierarchy, both within political systems and within our discipline as a whole?  

We seek proposals that will deepen our understanding of the ways in which race and ethnicity influence political realities throughout the world, as well as in the United States.  We encourage proposals in which the research centers upon empowering marginalized and underrepresented peoples and communities.  In addition to the traditional quantitative approaches that have characterized some REP work in recent years, we are also interested in qualitative, mixed methods, and theoretical approaches that can inform a post-pandemic dialogue around race, ethnicity and the future of democratic norms and political science.  We also invite political theorists, comparativists, and women and politics scholars to submit proposals to the REP section, to encourage dialogue and disciplinary growth in the context of the conference’s theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science.”

We encourage both paper submissions and organized panel submissions. Panel submissions must include at least four papers, a discussant and a panel chair. Where appropriate, the program co-chairs may add papers to these panels. Scholars are also welcome to submit roundtable, workshop, and “Author meets Critics” proposals. Given the multidisciplinary nature of race, ethnicity, and politics, we actively seek opportunities to co-sponsor with other divisions as well.

Division Chair(s): Esen Kirdis, Rhodes College and Eric McDaniel, University of Texas, Austin

For the 2022 APSA Conference Theme “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science,” the Religion and Politics Section invites scholars to “rethink” how discussions on religion and politics intersect with conversations about rising political polarization and mass mobilization, discuss how they “restructure” their research and teaching agenda given the increasing unfeasibility of fieldwork in the near future, and to “reconnect” across disciplines, theoretical approaches, and geographic regions. We invite submissions of individual papers, panels, posters, roundtables, and other innovative program formats within APSA guidelines. We encourage panels that are inclusive of all gender identities, races and ethnicities, academic positions/ranks, and types of institution.

Division Chair(s): Cynthia McClintock, George Washington University and Emily Beaulieu Bacchus, University of Kentucky 

The Representation and Electoral Systems Division welcomes paper and panel proposals on a broad range of topics related to the origin, character, and impact of electoral rules. What are the relationships among distinct electoral rules, on the one hand, and democratic institutions, democratic stability, and democratic representation, on the other? In particular, how do distinct rules promote or impede the inclusion of previously marginalized groups? We especially encourage proposals that address the 2022 meeting’s theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science;” with the human and economic toll of the global pandemic and the increase in political polarization and mass protests, are there newly apparent advantages or disadvantages of particular electoral systems? We welcome research using qualitative or quantitative methodological approaches and research that is focused on a single country or cross-national (or cross-sub-national). Furthermore, we encourage substantively cohesive panel proposals that bring together scholars with a spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives.

Division Chair(s): Robin Kolodny, Temple University and Anthony Nownes, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The Political Organizations and Parties (POP) section invites proposals for papers, panels, roundtables, and alternative formats on topics related to political parties and organizations, including interest groups and social movements. The 2022 conference theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science,” encourages us to examine the relevance of the frameworks we traditionally use in the study of political parties and organizations. To this end, we encourage submissions that embrace this challenge. Submissions might take up issues such as current elite/mass divides in political parties and group movements around the world; how demographic and technological shifts have affected the ways parties and groups approach their likely supporters; and whether traditional conceptions of parties and interest groups accurately explain how political organizations form linkages between the state and civil society. The POP section welcomes research on a range of contexts connected to parties and organizations, including elections, legislatures, bureaucratic agencies, courts, and policy-making institutions at the sub-national, national, and supranational levels. We especially welcome proposals that engage with diversity in the subjects studied and methods used in the discipline. POP invites proposals in every category of submission encouraged by APSA, including Café outreach panels and 4-hour workshops (either during the conference or as pre-conference panels).

Division Chair(s): Nathalie Giger, University of Geneva

The section welcomes proposals on a wide range of topics related to elections and voting behavior, including political participation and electoral choice, electoral polling and forecasting as well as party influence and competition and campaigns, studied from any national or comparative perspective (Note that proposals focused on public opinion and attitude formation should be directed to Division 37). In keeping with APSA’s goals of increasing diversity, inclusion, and access throughout the profession, the section welcomes diversity of approach and interdisciplinarity from a wide-ranging collection of researchers.
Proposals addressing the conference’s core theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science” are encouraged, but we welcome all proposals that are empirically and/or theoretically innovative, and that analyze original data in a rigorous and creative way. For example are we interested in research exploring the viability of elections in a changing context, studying the limitations of democracy’s efficacy and the related challenges of diversity and inequality, or that employ innovative methodological approaches.
Scholars are encouraged to provide thorough, concise abstracts to improve the quality and cohesiveness of the panels. In addition to independent paper proposals, the submission of substantively cohesive panel and roundtable proposals that bring together scholars with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives is especially welcome.

Division Chair(s): Rune Slothuus, Aarhus University

The section welcomes proposals on a wide range of topics related to public opinion, such as micro-level foundations, macro-level dynamics, effects of elite communication and social influence, connections between political institutions and individual opinion formation, and the role of public opinion in the political system, studied from any national or comparative perspective, and employing a diverse range of methods. (Note that proposals focused on elections, campaigns, and political participation should be directed to Division 36.) In keeping with APSA’s goals of increasing diversity, inclusion, and access throughout the profession, the section welcomes diversity of approach and interdisciplinarity from a wide-ranging collection of researchers. Paper proposals addressing important long-standing or new research questions, seeking to develop or refine theory, employing creative and rigorous research designs, and/or illuminating timely substantive issues are encouraged. We welcome substantively cohesive panel proposals and are especially interested in proposals for roundtable discussions (e.g., to take stock on a scholarly debate, launch new perspectives on an important topic, or connect different strands of work or perspectives) and other formats. If this year’s conference theme inspires paper, panel or roundtable proposals that rethink, reconstruct and/or reconnect any aspect of the study of public opinion, they would be most welcome too.

Division Chair(s): Israel Waismel-Manor, University of Haifa

“The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged every aspect of our lives. It affected our health and the health of loved ones, it forced us to keep a distance from colleagues and students, and through it all we had to do our best to continue our research and teaching while tending to the needs of our partners, parents, children and our own wellbeing. Now, as we begin the transition towards a post-pandemic world, we must learn as political communication scholars to rethink, restructure, and reconnect. It is an opportunity to rethink what are the most pressing problems facing the world and the ways through which we can harness our knowledge and expertise to help. For example, how should governments, national health agencies and the media best communicate with the public in a way that foresters trust and compliance with safety regulations? How can we restructure and apply all we learned about electoral disinformation to explore and reduce the spread of fake news and conspiracies about vaccines? Finally, if we are to tackle a global pandemic that is indifferent to national borders, it is only logical that many of the remedies will have to come from cross-national team efforts. We must reconnect with old colleagues and connect with new ones to tackle these challenges together.
With APSA’s goals of increasing diversity, inclusion and access through profession, the Political Communication section especially welcomes diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches and interdisciplinary work from scholars with a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds. We invite papers, panels, and roundtable submissions that are theoretically developed and empirically detailed and rigorous. Proposals should not exceed one page in length and should clearly state research questions, theoretical structure, methodological approach, and overall implications for the field of political communication.”

Division Chair(s): Geoboo Song, University of Arkansas

In line with this year’s APSA conference theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science,” the Science, Technology, and Environmental Politics (STEP) division welcomes proposals that can enrich our understanding of policy processes and related political dynamics of various science, technology, and environmental domains and offer the kind of wisdom needed to move into a better society in the post-pandemic era. From public health controversies pertaining to the science and efficacy of coronavirus vaccine development and implementation, to political tensions arising from a restructuring of the political economy sparked by the advancement of artificial intelligence technology, to political conflicts attributed to differences in perception of, and ideal solutions for, the climate crisis, including climate justice for vulnerable populations, there is no doubt that the STEP research agenda will constitute some of the most critical topics for many political scientists in the post-pandemic era. As such, we seek theoretically robust and methodologically innovative proposals that can contribute to societal problem-solving in relevant areas during this time of turbulence. The STEP division respects ontological, epistemological, theoretical, and methodological diversity and recognizes the value of multiplicity and interdisciplinarity in research. We strongly encourage researchers from historically under-represented groups, broadly construed, to submit their proposals.

Division Chair(s): Filippo Trevisan, American University

Program Chair: Filippo Trevisan, American University What will be the pandemic’s legacy on digital politics? The Information Technology & Politics (ITP) section invites paper, panel, and roundtable proposals relating to research on any forms of political activity revolving around, or shaped by, digital media and information technologies, broadly construed. We particularly encourage proposals connecting to the APSA 2022 theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science.” The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare fundamental issues of (in)equality across different political systems. As we emerge from this crisis, information technologies and their uses will have profound implications for the politics of the future. Here, the stakes are especially high for marginalized and under-represented people. Thus, proposals that examine the role and experiences of groups that are traditionally discriminated against because of their race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, economic status, nationality, and their intersections are particularly important. The ITP section welcomes proposals that tackle questions centered around, but by no means limited to, these issues: • What opportunities and/or challenges to “democratize” digital politics have emerged during the pandemic? • How do specific affordances of digital and social media facilitate or counter the circulation of ideas about race, sexuality, gender, disability, nationality, class, culture, and their intersections? • What have political organizations such as campaigns, activist networks, and local and national governments learned from pivoting online and how might that affect their work long term? • What is the role of information technology in spreading or countering misinformation and false information about health and related policy measures, politics, and elections across different political and cultural systems? • How are calls for more regulation and changes in internet governance reshaping digital politics, both nationally and internationally? • How are attitudes toward technology and its uses that emerged during the pandemic – including in relation to digital tracking and surveillance practices – going to affect future politics, both in democratic and authoritarian contexts? • How can we innovate information technology and politics scholarship to make it more inclusive and representative of voices traditionally excluded from research? The ITP section embraces a wide variety of methods and welcomes proposals informed by quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research designs, as well as innovative and interdisciplinary approaches. Ambitious proposals that blend theoretical significance with empirical and methodological detail are particularly encouraged.

Division Chair(s): Katherine Robiadek, Hood College

Division Chair(s): Nikol G. Alexander-Floyd, Rutgers University and Lucrecia Garcia-Iommi, Fairfield University

English:

We are delighted to announce the call for papers for the 118th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association to be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from September 14-18, 2022. New Political Science invites you to submit composed panels and individual papers exploring how the conference theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science,” intersects with our mission to make the study of politics relevant to the struggle for a better world. As we contemplate the lessons we have learned from this historic moment and our path forward, we welcome work that speaks to the multiple socio-economic, domestic, and geopolitical challenges that have been highlighted during current the public health and political crises. In the tradition of New Political Science, we are particularly interested in work that embodies theoretical, epistemological, and methodological diversity across subfields from underrepresented perspectives. We understand that a multiplicity of perspectives and approaches will be necessary to grapple with the varied, complex challenges presented in the post-pandemic world. We strive to see this moment represent a post-pandemic “turn,” that is, an aggressive, concerted commitment to political and scholarly organizing rooted in social justice. We remain especially concerned about materialist politics, as well as environmental, gender, and racial justice, among other imperatives. We encourage submissions from individuals of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, gender, sexual orientation, and gender expression, as well as diverse career trajectories. In line with the general call, we strongly suggest that panel and paper submissions reflect how we can “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect” moving towards a “Post-Pandemic Political Science.” This process of rethinking, restructuring, and reconnecting will, of course, extend to the operation of political science, how we produce and disseminate knowledge, specifically with an eye toward impacting the future for positive change and equity. While New Political Science welcomes proposals that engage the themes and issues described above, any submission that engages with understanding how the study of politics is relevant to the struggle for a better world will be considered. New Political Science is interested in supporting student work and featuring junior scholars’ research. To apply please review the full submission guidelines as outlined by APSA and make sure to select Section 42.

Spanish:

Nos complace anunciar la convocatoria de ponencias para la 118ª Conferencia Anual de la Asociación Estadounidense de Ciencias Políticas (American Political Science Association) que se celebrará en Montreal, Quebec, Canadá, del 14 al 18 de septiembre de 2022. La sección Nueva Ciencia Política (New Political Science) invita a nominar paneles y artículos individuales que exploren la intersección entre el tema de la conferencia, “Repensar, reestructurar y reconectar: ​​hacia una ciencia política pospandémica” y nuestra misión de hacer que el estudio de la política sea relevante en la construcción de un mundo mejor. Considerando las lecciones que hemos aprendido de este momento histórico y reflexionando en nuestro camino a seguir, la sección invita especialmente el envío de propuestas enfocadas en los múltiples desafíos socioeconómicos, domésticos y geopolíticos prevalecientes en la actual crisis política y de salud pública. En la tradición de Nueva Ciencia Política, estamos particularmente interesados ​​en trabajos que encarnan la diversidad teórica, epistemológica y metodológica en las distintas áreas de la disciplina, particularmente aquellos que ofrecen perspectivas subrepresentadas, entendiendo que para afrontar los variados y complejos desafíos que se presentan en el mundo pospandémico será necesaria una multiplicidad de perspectivas y enfoques. Nos esforzamos para que este momento represente un “giro”, específicamente un compromiso concertado y agresivo con iniciativas políticas y académicas basadas en el principio de justicia social. Nueva Ciencia Política continua especialmente interesada en el materialismo político, así como en la justicia ambiental, de género y racial, entre otros imperativos. Alentamos las propuestas de personas de diversos orígenes raciales y étnicos, nacionalidades, género, orientación sexual y expresión de género, así como de diversas trayectorias profesionales. En línea con la convocatoria general, sugerimos que las propuestas de paneles y artículos reflexionen sobre cómo podemos “repensar, reestructurar y reconectar” para avanzar hacia una “ciencia política pospandémica”. Este proceso de repensar, reestructurar y reconectar se extiende al funcionamiento de la ciencia política, al cómo producimos y difundimos conocimiento, específicamente en relación al objetivo de crear un futuro mejor y mas equitativo. Si bien Nueva Ciencia Política promueve el envío de propuestas que involucren los temas y problemas descritos anteriormente, cualquier propuesta comprometida con la comprensión de cómo el estudio de la política es relevante para la creación de un mundo mejor será seriamente considerada. Nueva Ciencia Política también está interesada en apoyar el trabajo de los estudiantes y presentar la investigación de los jóvenes académicos. Para postularse, revise las pautas de presentación completas según lo describe APSA y asegúrese de seleccionar la Sección 42.

Division Chair(s): Kyle Lascurettes, Lewis and Clark University

The International History and Politics section invites paper, panel, and roundtable proposals that engage in historically rich comparisons to illuminate contemporary international challenges. We welcome proposals that analyze how historical legacies and/or temporal sequencing elucidate contemporary problems, puzzles, and processes in world politics. We also welcome proposals that make use of fine-grained historical evidence gleaned from archival materials, oral histories, or close readings of the historiographies in the issue area(s) under study. In keeping with the APSA 2022 theme encouraging us to rethink our discipline in light of the global pandemic, we especially welcome proposals that challenge traditional historical narratives and/or move to restructure enduring debates around new cases and perspectives off the beaten path. We are thus particularly interested in projects that draw from non-traditional historical eras, regions, and actors in making grand comparisons across time and space. 

Division Chair(s): Paul Schuler, University of Arizona

“The Democracy & Autocracy section seeks papers, panels, and other session formats focusing on democratization, de-democratization, democracy and autocracy in the modern world. In keeping with the theme of the 2022 APSA Meeting to “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect,” we encourage submissions focusing on evergreen issues of importance as well as work exploring important new issues. Some areas of continued interest include but are not limited to the determinants of democratization, democratic backsliding, and authoritarian durability; military-civilian relations; bureaucratic appointments; elections and quasi-democratic institutions; social movements and protests; repression and censorship; ideology; comparative economic and social policy performance in democracies and autocracies; and international democracy and autocracy promotion. Some potentially timely areas of interest include authoritarian and democratic responses to economic or health crises as well as the impact of crises on democratization and de-democratization.

We encourage proposals at different levels of analysis, including cross-national, regional, subnational, and the individual-level. We also welcome primarily theoretical work, including proposals using formal theory. Finally, we seek to attract a diversity of methodological and theoretical approaches covering any region or country (including the US). We also encourage submissions from scholars from a range of diverse backgrounds, ranks, and academic institutions.

The section welcomes work defined by either its theoretical insights (e.g., new definitions of key ideas, formal-theoretical work, theories of regime change) or methodological innovations (e.g., in measurement, estimation) and research on any region or country, including the US. The section especially encourages submissions of organized panels and other session formats that include scholars of diverse backgrounds, ranks, academic institutions, and whose work focuses on different world regions.”

Division Chair(s): Bethany Barratt, Roosevelt University

Division Chair(s): Chloe Thurston, Northwestern University

The Organized Section on Qualitative and Multi-Method Research invites panels, papers, and roundtable submissions on qualitative and mixed methods approaches broadly defined. This call includes conventional methodological topics, as well as associated issues regarding epistemology, ontology, and the philosophy of science. Topics of interest include conceptualization, measurement, causal mechanisms, process tracing, case selection, counterfactuals, comparative historical analysis, comparative area studies, set theoretic approaches and qualitative comparative analysis, archival research, field research and interviews, focus groups, content analysis, data transparency and replication, interpretivism, discourse analysis, and ethnography. The section also welcomes panels, papers, and roundtables that explore the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of multi-method research designs. Submissions may be methodological or substantive; substantive papers should emphasize how they innovatively harness qualitative or mixed methods. In addition, papers, panels, and roundtables that engage the 2022 conference theme, “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science,” are particularly welcome.

Division Chair(s): Jerry Thomas, University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh

The Sexuality and Politics division invites paper and panel proposals in connection with the APSA theme to rethink, restructure, and reconnect in a post-pandemic political science. At this moment in time, amid a pandemic that has caused us to reconfigure many of our processes, we invite proposals that cause us to engage in similar reconfigured activities in our subfield. Sexuality and politics considers sexuality broadly to include but not limited to LGBTQIA groups, and we encourage proposals representing the theoretical, methodological, geographical, and substantive diversity of our subfield. In keeping with APSA’s goals of and respect for diversity, inclusion, and access throughout the profession, we encourage respect for diversity and recognize the importance of multiplicity in approach and interdisciplinarity from a wideranging collection of scholars.

Division Chair(s): Tim Callaghan, Texas A&M School of Public Health and Ashley Fox, University at Albany, SUNY

The organized section on Health Politics and Policy invites submissions for the APSA 2022 conference. Proposals may be submitted in the form of individual papers, complete panels of up to four papers, roundtables, and author-meets-critics sessions. In line with the theme of the 2022 Annual Meeting— “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science”—the section welcomes research that uses quantitative or qualitative methods; that focuses on the United States or on other countries; that involves case studies or comparative approaches; that studies a range of populations, time periods, and policy venues; and that comes from both established and emerging scholars. In keeping with the theme statement – which emphasizes understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ‘new normal’ it has created for the field and the world at large, we seek insights from disparate perspectives focused on lessons learned about the intersection of health and politics during the pandemic and how those lessons can be applied to future health politics and policy research. We are particularly interested in connecting with our APSA colleagues, and are eager to receive proposals that lend themselves to be “theme” panels. This call’s focus on working towards a ‘post-pandemic’ political science is a unique opportunity to investigate challenging questions at the intersection of health, politics, policy, and countless other subfields in political science. The Health Politics and Policy section is particularly well poised to contribute to these discussions. Panels addressing the conference theme are welcome, and could include (but are not restricted to) research on the following kinds of questions: 1. What factors help explain the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income communities and communities of color both in the United States and globally? 2. How is attention to long-standing health inequities likely to change due to COVID-19, if at all? Is attention to health inequities in the case of COVID-19 similar to or different from attention to inequities connected to other public health threats, such as climate change? 3. What can we learn about how political systems can effectively respond to future public health crises by studying national or sub-national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis, or other previous public health challenges in the United States or globally? 4. When policymakers make plans to address future crises, what factors determine which lessons are “learned” (or not learned), and why? 5. How do approaches to race comparatively (such as French “color-blind” policymaking) or past US debates around the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid or Medicare ease or intensify health and healthcare disparities? 6. How do budgetary pressures in times of crises (nationally or cross-nationally) impact national health systems, elites, and those most in need of help? 7. What are the politics around the development and administration of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19? What factors—such as perceptions of safety, past vaccination debates, and political divisions—have shaped or will shape vaccine uptake, vaccine mandates, and future vaccination efforts? 8. How has the politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic shaped individual health and political behavior, both in the United States and globally? 9. How did public health, health care, or the COVID-19 pandemic influence the 2020 elections in the US and elections globally either in terms of voter participation, electoral outcomes, public opinion, and/or partisanship? What changes, if any, are likely to persist in the future? 10. What are the distributive politics around COVID-19 responses? How have the benefits and burdens of policy responses to COVID-19 been distributed across different “target groups”? (How) has the pandemic reshaped our understanding of care work and “work” in general? The above questions are examples only. The section welcomes proposals that broach a broad range of topics in health politics and health policy, including proposals that do not examine COVID-19.

Division Chair(s): Loleen Berdahl, University of Saskatchewan

The Canadian Politics section invites papers, panels and roundtable proposals from all areas of Canadian politics. We encourage submitters to consider the ways in which their research might speak to contemporary political, policy and social issues such as decolonization, systematic racism, climate change, and gender and social inequalities. We are especially interested in receiving proposals that build upon the APSA 2022 conference’s theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science” within the Canadian political and higher education context. Methodological and theoretical pluralism is welcomed, as are participants from a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Division Chair(s): Will Hobbs, Cornell University

Political actors rarely legislate, govern, or participate independently. Instead, politicians lobby each other to support policies, leaders forge international agreements only after considering their prior commitments, and potential protesters consult their compatriots before deciding whether to march. The political networks section invites proposals that entail research in any substantive domain of political science that explicitly accounts for such interdependence. Specifically, we invite original research that addresses the relationships among a set of units, be they politicians, countries, voters, organizations, political texts, or otherwise. We welcome papers making empirical, theoretical, or purely methodological contributions. We encourage single-paper proposals as well as organized proposals for thematic panels, short courses, workshops, and non-traditional formats.

Division Chair(s): Melissa Michelson, Menlo College

Division Chair(s): Allan Colbern, Arizona State University and Kelsey Norman, Rice University

In light of the overall theme for 2022—the ways that our discipline has to rethink, reconstruct and reconnect as a result of the pandemic—we especially welcome submissions that theorize and assess how COVID-19 has affected migration and citizenship broadly constructed. This can include, but is not limited to:

• Developments in institutions, laws and practices of inclusion or exclusion at all levels of governance (global, transnational, national, and local),
• How pandemic-related border closures have impacted migration patterns and the lives of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers,
• Actors and social movements’ ability to respond to exclusionary regimes and to advocate for migrant protections and rights,
• How identity politics have exacerbated or redefined citizenship or immigration controls,
• How the intersections between racial justice and immigrant justice reshape our understanding of citizenship or migration.

We encourage a wide range of submissions from graduate students, junior and senior scholars, from women and scholars of color, and submissions based on research that uses a multiplicity of epistemological, empirical and theoretical approaches. 

Division Chair(s): Ken Opalo, Georgetown University and Lisa Rakner, University of Bergen

The African Politics Conference Group (APCG) invites submissions for proposals that focus on the politics of Africa. We welcome proposals that reflect all areas of inquiry in the study of African politics, as well as a wide range of methodological approaches.
We encourage submissions that speak to the theme of the 2022 Annual Meeting, “”Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards a Post-Pandemic Political Science””

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the politics of democracy, governance, and development across the African continent. As the developed world shifts focus towards post-pandemic life, it brings sharply into focus the impact of global inequality on health outcomes in Africa where access to vaccines and critical health care equipment remain extremely low. The pandemic has exacerbated the challenges states face in delivering goods and services and enabled autocratic governments to restrict civic space through emergency powers. Amid these conditions, the continent has seen the sustained popularity of charismatic and populist leaders, democracy’s foothold continue to erode, and an ever-changing landscape of how power is exercised by local, national, and international actors. We invite proposals that address these factors and their implications for governance, democracy, and development in Africa. We particularly welcome submissions from groups underrepresented in political science, especially African scholars. 

Division Chair(s): Jeffrey Friedman, Harvard University 

The aim of the Ideas, Knowledge, and Politics (IKP) division is to promote research and dialogue on the nature and significance of ideas and knowledge in political action. Thus, we welcome papers from any subdiscipline that seek to investigate empirically, or evaluate normatively, the sources and/or accuracy/inaccuracy of political actors’ ideas; the causal significance of ideas for political action; or the empirical conditions that may lead political actors to “rethink or restructure” their ideas (accurately or inaccurately). Alternatively, submissions might critically investigate the epistemological problems faced by empirical and normative researchers when exploring, describing, and evaluating political actors’ ideas.

For 2022, in line with the APSA program theme, we particularly encourage submissions on the ability of citizens, journalists, scientists, or social scientists to update their beliefs accurately in light of controversy or evidence.

As one of the IKP’s key objectives is to promote interdisciplinary cross-fertilization, panel and roundtable proposals that include both normative theorists and empirical researchers will be especially welcome. We encourage potential panel proposers to consult with the IKP program chair in advance of organizing your panel. 

Division Chair(s): Amber Wichowsky, Marquette University and Simon Weschle, Syracuse University

The Section on Class and Inequality supports scholars of politics who study the political causes and consequences of economic inequality, social class stratification, and mobility and opportunity. Founded in response to concerns about democratic legitimacy and responsiveness in the context of rising inequality around the world, the Section welcomes papers from every disciplinary and methodological perspective that deal with these important and timely issues. For 2022, we especially welcome proposals that speak to the conference theme and focus on class and inequality in a post-pandemic context. For example, has the pandemic led us to rethink how we study class and inequality? How, why, and with what effects did countries reconstruct social safety nets during the crisis? And as we reconnect, have new coalitions and organizing strategies emerged to address economic inequality? In addition, we encourage proposals that take a comparative perspective and that foster greater engagement between scholars, themes, approaches, and perspectives that may not typically be in conversation with one another.

Division Chair(s): Bryan Garsten, Yale University and Ines Valdez, The Ohio State University

The American Political Thought division invites individual paper and complete panel proposals from diverse political, disciplinary, and methodological approaches that explore the conference theme of “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science” as it relates to American political thought in the past or present. The pandemic has tested societal ties and political trust and brought into relief disparities of experience along social and racial lines. This moment thus prompts us to reconsider how long-standing institutional and constitutional traditions face challenges and evolve in response to them, and how protests and other political actions at the grassroots level interact with elite politics and institutions. Proposals that open a dialogue among these different perspectives and engage with a variety of traditions of American political thought are especially welcome. All complete panel proposals will be given serious consideration, but the strongest consideration will be given to panel proposals that exhibit a high degree of intellectual coherence and feature participants from a diverse range of intellectual approaches and perspectives, career stages, and backgrounds.

Division Chair(s): Marwa Shalaby, University of Wisconsin, Madison and Nadav Shelef, University of Wisconsin, Madison

The COVID-19 pandemic interacted with existing politics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in myriad and varied ways, both reinforcing existing disparities and disrupting well-worn processes in the region. It has also created new barriers and exacerbated existing challenges for political scientists studying the region. In the new COVID reality, challenges to field research have affected the knowledge produced as well as scholars’ careers and research agendas. Researchers based in MENA are in a further precarious position, as budget cuts to the already scarce research funds and increased regime scrutiny will have substantial effects on their research output. While the ongoing health crisis will have enduring effects both on politics and society in MENA and on scholarship on the region, it simultaneously provides an opportunity to reimagine how we study the region, the kinds of issues that we address, and the lenses that we apply to them. With this in mind that the Middle East and North Africa Politics section welcomes submissions that engage with the 2022’s main theme of “Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science.” We seek individual papers and full panel proposals that engage with post-pandemic politics and political science from diverse methodological and theoretical standpoints. We particularly welcome proposals that engage with the myriad ways in which our field has to rethink, reconstruct, and reconnect in the post-pandemic era and address the following questions within the context of the MENA region: What are the most pressing issues facing the MENA region in the post-pandemic era? In what ways have the recent changes to scholars’ research designs impacted their questions and findings? What opportunities does the pandemic and the response to it provide to ask new questions or question old assumptions? What have we learned about the region from the pandemic and the response to it? What are the effects of the pandemic on mass mobilization, social welfare, conflict, and political contestation in the region? How has the pandemic and its aftermath interacted with pre-existing social, political, and economic disparities? In an effort to increase the diversity of our presenters and attendees, we strongly encourage proposals from traditionally underrepresented institutions, MENA-based scholars, and racial minorities. We also welcome proposals that are interdisciplinary, reflect diverse methodological and analytical approaches, or explore comparisons between the MENA and other regions.

Division Chair(s): Leah Murray, Weber State University and Diana Owen, Georgetown University

The APSA section on Civic Engagement invites proposals for papers and panels that address the conference theme of embracing pluralism and diversity in the discipline in terms of methods, behavior, institutions, and perspectives. We encourage submissions that: 1) explore methodological pluralism in research on civic education and civic engagement; 2) enhance our understanding of how civic education and engagement is experienced across diverse populations; and 3) fosters conversations about civic education and engagement that bridge disciplinary boundaries. Research in the field has been anchored by established methodologies that are employed routinely, including survey research, interview techniques, ethnographic research, and classroom assessments. The field is ripe for innovative methodological approaches that will lead to fresh findings and insights. In keeping with the conference theme, the section will explore the broad question: How can established and novel research methodologies be considered in concert to deepen our understanding of civic education and engagement? Submissions might examine the benefits and limitations of well-established research methodologies in the field, how these approaches have contributed to our understanding of civic engagement, and how these methods might be employed productively going forward. Studies advancing innovative methodological approaches that have the potential to take the research agenda on civic engagement in new directions are especially welcome. In addition, the section encourages submissions of research on the civic education and engagement of diverse communities, including those based on racial and ethnic background, nationality, gender, sexuality, gender expression, and social class. The section welcomes proposals taking a cross-disciplinary approach, including those that consider the field in cultural, historical, and comparative perspective. Panels will provide the opportunity to share exemplary research and provoke discussion that encourages thinking beyond existing methodological and sub-disciplinary boundaries.

Division Chair(s): Leslie Finger, University of North Texas

The APSA Education Politics and Policy Section invites submissions on the theme of APSA 2022: “Rethink, Restructure, and Reconnect: Towards A Post-Pandemic Political Science.” This theme, which focuses heavily on training the next generation of leaders, speaks directly to the politics of education and education policy. Moreover, the theme touches on leadership accountability, which has been front and center in debates over post-pandemic education. We believe this theme offers rich directions for education politics and policy scholars, and we invite scholars to submit papers, panels, or posters that address questions such as the role of education in producing future citizens, how education impacts political attitudes and beliefs, how people have held school leaders, policymakers, and interest groups accountable, what drives the nationalization of curricular debates, and how schooling and education politics have changed as a result of the pandemic. These are just a few research question ideas. We encourage research that utilizes qualitative, quantitative, or political theory methods. We also encourage research from political science as well as from similar disciplines, like sociology and education. Submissions can focus on any region or country.

Division Chair(s): Jennifer Mitzen, The Ohio State University, Sebastian Rosato, University of Notre Dame and Inea Valdez, The Ohio State University

In its inaugural year, the IR Theory section builds on the conference theme, “Rethink, Re-structure and Reconnect,” to call for proposals that think theoretically about world politics, structure a new space for theoretical exchange at the intersection of theory and international relations, and connect previously siloed areas of inquiry. The section embraces all theoretical approaches to the study of IR, including but not limited to, constructivism, liberalism, realism, critical race, feminist, and formal theory. Our goal is to foster scholarship that thinks theoretically, across the regional, topical, and methodological spectrum. We encourage single paper submissions, Author meets Critics panels about published or in progress book manuscripts, and complete panel proposals. All proposals will be given serious consideration, but the strongest consideration will be given to panel proposals with a high degree of intellectual coherence and feature a diverse range of intellectual approaches and perspectives, career stages, and backgrounds. The section is committed to respecting diversity and recognizing the importance of multiple and interdisciplinary approaches from a broad range of scholars.