European Political Science Association

European Political Science Association
Name	European Political Science Association
Abbreviation	EPSA
Formation	2010
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Brussels
Region	Europe
Membership	Political scientists, scholars
Leader title	President

European Political Science Association The European Political Science Association is a professional association for scholars of European Union politics, NATO, United Nations, Council of Europe, European Commission policy, and comparative politics across France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. Founded to connect researchers associated with institutions such as London School of Economics, Sciences Po, Hertie School, Central European University, and Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the association promotes study of topics relevant to Treaty of Lisbon, Eurozone crisis, Brexit, Schengen Area, and Common Foreign and Security Policy.

History

The association emerged after meetings influenced by conferences at European Consortium for Political Research, American Political Science Association, International Political Science Association, College of Europe, and European University Institute, with early milestones involving scholars from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bologna, and Université libre de Bruxelles. Its formation reflects debates linked to the Maastricht Treaty, Treaty of Maastricht, responses to the 2010 European sovereign debt crisis, and comparative work engaging with research from Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. Key founders included academics who had published in journals such as European Journal of Political Research, Political Studies, Journal of Common Market Studies, West European Politics, and Comparative Political Studies.

Organization and Governance

Governance follows a model with an executive board, advisory council, and specialist committees drawing members connected to European Parliament committees, Committee of the Regions, European Court of Human Rights, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and national academies like the British Academy and Académie des sciences morales et politiques. The presidency rotates and has included scholars affiliated with King's College London, University of Amsterdam, Trinity College Dublin, University of Warsaw, and Stockholm University, while administrative partnerships involve networks such as European Research Council, Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and university presses including Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.

Membership and Chapters

Membership spans individual and institutional affiliates from centers like Bocconi University, Leiden University, University of Zurich, University of Copenhagen, and Universität Wien, with national chapters in countries including Poland, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, and Romania as well as thematic working groups tied to institutes like Chatham House, Carnegie Europe, Bruegel, RAND Corporation, and Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies. Student networks link doctoral candidates at programs such as European University Institute PhD Programme, Central European University PhD, LSE PhD, Sciences Po PhD, and Oxford DPhil.

Conferences and Events

The association organizes biennial congresses and workshops that rotate among venues such as Brussels, Vienna, Prague, Barcelona, and Stockholm, often co-hosted with entities like European Parliament research services, Council of the European Union, European Central Bank, International IDEA, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Events feature panels with contributors from journals including European Political Science Review, Journal of European Public Policy, Party Politics, Government and Opposition, and Political Studies Review, and attract keynote speakers from European Commission, NATO Secretary General, European Central Bank President, and heads of national governments like those from Germany, France, and Italy.

Publications and Research Activities

The association supports peer-reviewed publications and research projects connecting to publishers such as Routledge, Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature, SAGE Publications, and Taylor & Francis, and collaborates on special issues addressing topics linked to Lisbon Strategy, EU enlargement, Mediterranean migration crisis, Russian invasion of Ukraine, and climate policy debates featuring contributors from Universidade de Lisboa, Eötvös Loránd University, University of Belgrade, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and University of Zurich. It runs grant programs for comparative research parallel to funding schemes by European Research Council, Horizon Europe, Wellcome Trust, Erasmus+, and national research councils like DFG and ANR.

Awards and Recognition

The association confers awards recognizing scholarship comparable to prizes from APSIA, Fulbright Program, British Academy, Max Weber Programme, Marie Skłodowska-Curie, and disciplinary prizes such as those by ECPR and ISA. Awardees often include authors of influential books and articles published by Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Princeton University Press, and recipients affiliated with London School of Economics, University of Oxford, Sciences Po, and University of Chicago.

Outreach and Influence

Outreach initiatives engage policymakers in European Parliament, European Commission, Council of the European Union, Nordic Council, and national ministries in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, and foster public engagement through collaborations with media outlets like BBC, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, El País, and Financial Times. The association’s research impacts briefing papers used by think tanks including Bruegel, Centre for European Reform, European Policy Centre, Friends of Europe, and European Council on Foreign Relations.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have targeted perceived Eurocentrism, representation gaps involving scholars from Balkans, Baltic states, Caucasus, Iceland, and Malta, and debates over funding links to European Commission grants, Horizon 2020 contracts, and partnerships with institutions like International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Controversies have also arisen around conference locations, accessibility for researchers from Ukraine and Belarus, and editorial disputes reflecting tensions evident in venues such as European University Institute, Central European University, and national academies.

Category:Political science organizations