Association Française de Science Politique
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| Association Française de Science Politique | |
|---|---|
| Name | Association Française de Science Politique |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Headquarters | Paris |
| Region served | France |
| Membership | scholars, students, practitioners |
| Leader title | President |
Association Française de Science Politique is the principal professional association for political scientists in France, connecting scholars across universities, research centres, and public institutions. It fosters scholarly exchange among members linked to Université Panthéon-Sorbonne, Sciences Po, CNRS, EHESS, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and regional universities while interacting with European and global bodies such as European Consortium for Political Research, International Political Science Association and Council of Europe. The association promotes research, publication, teaching and public engagement in relation to major European, transatlantic and Francophone debates involving European Union, NATO, United Nations and various national parliaments.
History
The association was established in the aftermath of World War II amid reconstruction efforts that involved institutions like École Normale Supérieure, Sorbonne University and the French Fourth Republic's policy debates. Early figures associated with its founding circles included scholars linked to René Rémond-era networks, interlocutors with actors from Charles de Gaulle's administrations and academics engaged with comparative studies popularized by exchanges with Harvard University, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and the Max Planck Society. During the Cold War the association cultivated dialogues with researchers from Princeton University, Columbia University, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley while navigating intellectual currents connected to the 1968 protests in France and debates over European integration driven by the Treaty of Rome and later the Maastricht Treaty. In subsequent decades it expanded memberships reflecting ties to Francophone communities in Université de Montréal, Université de Genève and institutions in former colonies such as Université Cheikh Anta Diop.
Organization and Governance
The association operates under statutes ratified by assemblies modeled on academic bodies like the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques and coordinates with national authorities including the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and municipal partners in Paris. It is administered by an elected executive committee, a rotating presidency comparable in structure to committees in the European University Institute and advisory boards drawing on experts from Conseil d'État, Assemblée nationale (France), Sénat (France) and regional councils. Governance includes an ethics commission, a nominations panel and working groups analogous to those in the European Commission research directorates that oversee budgets, grants and collaborations.
Membership and Sections
Membership comprises tenured faculty, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and practitioners from institutions such as Université Lyon 2, Université de Strasbourg, Université de Bordeaux and Université Toulouse 1 Capitole. The association is organized into thematic sections—comparative politics, public policy, political theory, international relations, quantitative methods—mirroring subfields promoted at venues like American Political Science Association, British International Studies Association, German Political Science Association and the Italian Political Science Association. Regional networks integrate scholars from Université de Lille, Université de Rennes 1 and overseas campuses in La Réunion and Guadeloupe while specialist groups liaise with think tanks such as Institut français des relations internationales, Fondation Jean-Jaurès and policy units in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Activities and Publications
The association publishes peer-reviewed journals and book series, coordinating editorial boards that include contributors linked to Presses Universitaires de France, Routledge, Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press. It produces working papers, policy briefs and proceedings featuring research on subjects addressed by European Parliament, Conseil constitutionnel (France), Court of Justice of the European Union and international organizations. Publications often engage scholars connected to research centres like CERI (Sciences Po), CEMOTEV, CNRS Centre for Political Research and cross-disciplinary institutes in collaboration with funds from agencies such as Agence nationale de la recherche.
Conferences and Events
Annual congresses attract delegates from institutions including London School of Economics, Yale University, Princeton University, Freie Universität Berlin and Universidad Complutense de Madrid, featuring panels on comparative electoral systems, public administration reforms and international security. The association hosts seminars, doctoral schools and colloquia held at venues such as Palais du Luxembourg, Maison de la Chimie and university campuses in Grenoble, Nantes and Marseille, and organizes joint events with European University Institute, HEC Paris and regional faculties to discuss topics linked to treaties like Lisbon Treaty and cases before the European Court of Human Rights.
Awards and Recognition
The association confers prizes and recognitions that honor scholarly achievement and doctoral excellence, often coordinated with publishers like Presses de Sciences Po and institutions awarding grants similar to those from the European Research Council. Awards celebrate work on political biography, institutional analysis and methodology, paralleling honors given by bodies such as American Political Science Association and International Studies Association, and they spotlight rising scholars who later receive fellowships at centres like Fulbright Program and memberships in academies such as Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.
Influence and Partnerships
Through networks with European and international partners—including European Consortium for Political Research, International Political Science Association, Council of Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and UNESCO—the association shapes debates on electoral law, public ethics, decentralization and EU governance. It partners with national institutions like CNRS, Ministry of the Interior (France), Conseil d'État and regional authorities to inform policy, advise parliamentary committees in Assemblée nationale (France) and Sénat (France), and collaborate on comparative projects with universities such as Université de Montréal, University of Cape Town and National University of Singapore.