History & Purpose of ISA

History of ISA

The International Studies Association (ISA) was founded in 1959 by a group of academics and practitioners seeking to pursue mutual interests in world affairs through the organization of a professional association. The ISA’s interdisciplinary focus, worldwide membership, and vigorous promotion of international research and education have made it the most respected and widely known scholarly association in the field of International Studies.

The Association’s Executive Offices have previously been headquartered at the University of Denver, the University of Minnesota, the University of South Carolina, and Brigham Young University. Currently, the Executive Offices are headquartered at the University of Arizona.

Purpose of ISA

The International Studies Association, in order to promote international understanding, supports the following goals:

I.    Provide opportunities for communications among educators, researchers, and practitioners in order to continually share intellectual interests and meet the challenges of a changing global environment

II.    Develop contacts among specialists from all parts of the world in order to facilitate scientific and cultural change

III.    Provide channels of communication between academics and policy makers to promote a successful link between the production of knowledge and its utilization

IV.    Improve the teaching and dissemination of ideas, concepts, methods, and information in the field of International Studies

V.    Maintain a World Wide Web Page on the Internet at: http://www.isanet.org   

The International Studies Association currently has more than 4,000 members from over eighty (80) countries and every state of the United States. There is no substitute for the knowledge and insight brought to ISA by its international members, who ensure that the conventions and deliberations are truly global in scope.

Countries where ISA Members reside:

Argentina    Cuba    Israel    Netherlands    Slovakia
Armenia    Cyprus    Italy    New Zealand    Slovenia
Australia    Czech Republic    Jamaica    Nigeria    South Africa
Austria    Denmark    Japan    Northern Ireland    South Korea
Azerbaijan    Ecuador    Jordan    Norway    Spain
Bangladesh    Estonia    Kazakhstan    Pakistan    Sweden
Barbados    Finland    Kenya    Peru    Switzerland
Belgium    France    Korea    Philippines    Taiwan
Botswana    Germany    Lebanon    Poland    Thailand
Brazil    Greece    Lithuania    Portugal    Turkey
Bulgaria    Hong Kong    Macedonia    Romania    United Kingdom
Cameroon    Hungary    Malaysia    Russia    Ukraine
Canada    Iceland    Malta    Saudi Arabia    United Arab Emirates
Chile    India    Mexico    Scotland    USA
China    Indonesia    Moldova    Serbia and    Venezuela
Colombia    Iran    Morocco       Montenegro   
Croatia    Ireland    Nepal    Singapore   

Presidents of ISA

The Presidency of the ISA changes annually and has been held by the distinguished scholars listed below:

Nils Petter Gleditsch, 2008 - 2009
International Peace Research Institute, Oslo

Jack S. Levy, 2007 - 2008
Rutgers University

J. Ann Tickner, 2006 - 2007
University of Southern California

William Thompson, 2005 - 2006
Indiana University

Jacek Kugler, 2004 - 2005
Claremont Graduate University

Steve Smith, 2003 - 2004
University of Exeter

John A. Vasquez, 2002 - 2003
Vanderbilt University

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, 2001 - 2002
Stanford University

Craig Murphy, 2000 - 2001
Wellesley College

Michael Brecher, 1999 - 2000
McGill University

Margaret G. Hermann, 1998 - 1999
Ohio State University

James A. Caporaso, 1997 - 1998
University of Washington

Davis Bobrow, 1996 - 1997
University of Pittsburgh

Susan Strange, 1995 -1996
University of Warwick

Ted R. Gurr, 1994 - 1995
University of Maryland

Charles Kegley, Jr., 1993 - 1994
University of South Carolina

Hayward R. Alker, Jr., 1992 - 1993
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Maurice East, 1991 - 1992
The George Washington University

Helga Haftendorn, 1990 - 1991
Free University of Berlin

Charles F. Hermann, 1989 - 1990
Ohio State University

Robert Keohane, 1988 - 1989
Harvard University

Harold Guetzkow, 1987 - 1988
Northwestern University

Kal J. Holsti, 1986 - 1987
University of British Columbia

J. David Singer, 1985 - 1986
University of Michigan

James N. Rosenau, 1984 - 1985
The George Washington University

Bruce Russett, 1983 - 1984
Yale University

Harold K. Jacobson, 1982 - 1983
University of Michigan

Henry Teune, 1981 - 1982
University of Pennsylvania

Dina Zinnes, 1980 - 1981
University of Illinois

Ole K. Holsti, 1979 -1980
Duke University

Chadwick F. Alger, 1978 - 1979
Ohio State University

Herbert Kelman, 1977 -1978
Harvard University

Vincent Davis, 1976 - 1977
University of Kentucky

Richard Rosecrance, 1975 -1976
Cornell University

Kenneth Boulding, 1974 - 1975
University of Colorado

Alexander George, 1973 - 1974
Stanford University

William T.R. Fox, 1972 - 1973
Columbia University

Richard Snyder, 1971 - 1972
Ohio State University

Norman Palmer, 1970 - 1971
University of Pennsylvania

Robert North, 1969 - 1970
Stanford University

William Olson, 1968 - 1969
American University

F. Field Haviland, Jr., 1967 - 1968
Tufts University

Vernon Van Dyke, 1966 - 1967
University of Iowa

John Grange, 1964 - 1966
University of Oregon

Ross Berkes, 1963 - 1964
University of Southern California

Fred Sondermann, 1962 - 1963
Colorado College

Wesley Posvar, 1961 – 1962
University of Pittsburgh

Minos Generales, 1959 - 1961
San Diego State College

Executive Directors of ISA

The office of ISA Executive Director has been held by the following:

Thomas J. Volgy, 1995 - 2010
University of Arizona

W. Ladd Hollist, 1990 - 1995
Brigham Young University

William A. Welsh, 1985 - 1990
University of South Carolina

James A. Kuhlman, 1979 - 1984
University of South Carolina

Carl Beck, 1973 - 1978
University of Pittsburgh

John E. Turner, 1968 - 1973
University of Minnesota

Vincent Davis, 1959 - 1968
University of Denver