The International Studies Association West region is pleased to announce our 2018 annual conference, September 21st-22nd, in Pasadena, California, USA. ISA-West invites paper, panel and roundtable proposals on any subject related to international studies, broadly defined.
We strongly encourage paper, panel and roundtable proposals on subjects related to this year’s conference theme: Breaking Down Barriers, Dismantling Walls.
In recent years, increased connectivity and globalization have seemingly reversed. Across both the developed and developing world, we have observed a spike in nationalism and anti-immigrant rhetoric. In our classrooms and on our campuses, we have observed heightened tensions and divisions as well as opportunities to bridge the divides and offer refuge during confusing and turbulent times. Thus, as international relations scholars, we are tasked with posing questions and fostering climates that help us better understand a divided and contentious world.
As such, our conference theme is Breaking Down Barriers, Dismantling Walls. We are interested in projects that explore the role that barriers and borders play in international politics, in the academy, and in our pedagogies as well as projects that explore breaking them down. In keeping with this theme, research that breaks down disciplinary barriers and walls is also welcomed.
ISA-West continues to have limited travel grants available to ISA members only. To apply for a Travel Grant, please submit a short outline of your current funding sources, your university affiliation, the location you will be traveling from along with your proposed abstract and paper title to Thorin Wright at Thorin.Wright@asu.edu. Preference will be given to members of the ISA-West region. Travel Award Application Deadline: June 20th.
Questions about submissions should be sent to the program chair, Dr. Amy Skonieczny, San Francisco State University, at ISAWest2018@isanet.org.
The Ole Holsti Distinguished Scholar Award will be presented at the 2018 conference to Dr. Laura Sjoberg. The Ole Holsti Distinguished Scholar Award is given annually to a scholar who has significantly influenced the ISA-West region through an outstanding record of research, teaching and mentorship, as well as service to the International Studies Association West region.
ISA-West will continue its Emerging Scholars Forum (ESF). Senior graduate students and junior faculty are encouraged to apply when submitting paper proposals for the program. Similar to ISA's Junior Scholar Symposium, this is a valuable opportunity to receive in-depth feedback from a senior scholar at a regional conference.
This forum, to be held on the morning of the first day of the ISA-West conference, will place four small groups of three to four emerging scholars with a senior person in the field. The junior scholars and their senior scholar mentors will be grouped together with similar papers into four panels, oriented around themes such as international security, international political economy, international ethics, and international relations theory. The final composition of the panels will reflect the actual proposals received. The selection process is competitive and limited to sixteen senior graduate students and junior faculty. To be considered, indicate interest during the paper submission process.
As an incentive to arrive early and participate, senior scholars will receive a full night at the conference hotel, and junior scholars will receive a half a night (but may cover one or more full nights by sharing rooms). Once the emerging scholars are selected, ISA West will make a contact list available to facilitate finding roommates. To be eligible, all participants must be ISA members and registered for the 2018 ISA-West conference.
ISA West is pleased to announce its 2nd annual regional Pay It Forward-West program. Pay It Forward -West is a mentoring program designed for female-identifying graduate students and junior faculty within the International Studies profession. Established female-identifying scholars serve as mentors for the early career scholars through a group mentoring luncheon held the first day of the ISA West Conference and a roundtable panel held on Saturday morning. The purpose of PIF is to create enduring connections among West members that benefit both mentors and mentees, professionally and personally. This year's programming will consist of two components:
A limited amount of funding is available for PIF participants through the ISA West Travel Grant program. To apply, female-identifying advanced graduate students and early career faculty should submit a current CV to ISA West Program Chair Amy Skonieczny at ISAWest2018@isanet.org. We also ask that applicants describe (on a ten-point scale, 1 being none and 10 being excellent) their existing support system (at your current institution or otherwise). Finally, mention whether you have previously participated in any ISA PiF program. Preference is given to those from the West region and to those who have not been selected for ISA PiF in the past, though others may apply. The deadline to apply is June 20, 2018.
Sorry, the submission period for ISA West Pasadena 2018 has closed. For more information, please contact the program chair. Even if you did not submit, anyone is welcome to register and attend the conference.