ISA Working Groups

What is a Working Group?

Several years ago, ISA sponsored a small slate of working groups as a part of a pilot project. Since then, we’ve been sponsoring a few working groups at our annual conference each year to offer attendees a forum for dialogue and interaction around designated issue areas within the association. By participating in a working group, conference attendees discuss the most thought-provoking issues in their sections as well as their own research through an extended and focused discussion. Such dialogue may stimulate new research questions and project ideas, and contribute to development of new communities of scholars.

Working groups are sponsored by ISA Headquarters on a competitive basis. In addition to the quality of the proposal itself, we consider diversity of section representation, thematic integration across sections, and linkages to the program theme. Typically, the deadline for working group proposals is mid-June.

We are pleased to sponsor two working groups at the 2011 conference:

Public Diplomacy: Interdisciplinary Research, Teaching, and Practice

Interrogating the Use of Norms in International Relations

How Does a Working Group Work?

Participants meet within their working group on three separate occasions during the conference. The first meeting will occur in advance of the start of the panels and provides an opportunity for participants to create a framework to guide their interactions. Working group participants then also meet towards the middle of the scheduled conference and again at the end of the conference. Participants commit to attend a small group of related panels throughout the course of the meeting to discuss during their group meetings. Because of the scheduling of other events at the conference, please note that participants will not all attend the same panels. A working group coordinator for each working group crafts the group theme and schedule. In addition, the working group coordinator will facilitate communication with participants and relevant ISA Sections and facilitate assessment surveys.

Working groups consist of approximately 20-25 participants. Participants join working groups on a first come-first served basis and must be committed to attending all of the group sessions. Group coordinators strive for balance in terms of seniority and expertise in each group. Participants will receive a certificate of recognition for their participation. 

Working Groups 2009 Archive

As part of our pilot project in 2009, ISA sponsored three working groups at the annual convention in New York. Please see the Working Groups 2009 links menu to the left to review the group schedule.

Working Groups 2010 Archive

As a continuation of our pilot project, ISA sponsored three Working Groups at the 2010 Annual Convention in New Orleans. Please see the Working Groups 2010 links menu to the left to review the group schedule.