International Association for Political Science Students

International Association for Political Science Students
Name	International Association for Political Science Students
Abbreviation	IAPSS
Formation	1997
Type	International non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Maastricht, Netherlands
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	Students and young professionals
Language	English

International Association for Political Science Students The International Association for Political Science Students is a global non-governmental organization connecting undergraduate and graduate students in political science, comparative politics, international relations, public policy and related fields across universities in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. It provides networking, research, training and advocacy platforms for early-career political scientists, fosters collaboration with academic institutions such as United Nations University, European University Institute, London School of Economics, and engages with intergovernmental organizations including the United Nations, the European Commission, and the African Union. The association convenes annual conferences, supports publications and organizes capacity-building programs in partnership with bodies like the Council of Europe and the World Bank.

History

The association was founded in 1997 by student activists inspired by networks such as International Federation of Liberal Youth, Model United Nations, European Students' Union, and movements emerging after the Cold War and the expansion of the European Union. Early milestones include establishment of regional chapters in Central and Eastern Europe with collaborators from Charles University, University of Warsaw, and Humboldt University of Berlin, and the adoption of a constitution influenced by non-governmental frameworks used by the Red Cross and Amnesty International. Over time it developed ties with professional organizations like the International Political Science Association and academic publishers including Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press, enabling student-led research exchanges and internships with think tanks such as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Brookings Institution.

Structure and Governance

The association operates under an elected Executive Board and a Secretariat based in Maastricht, adopting governance practices modeled after organizations like the European Youth Forum and the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations. The Executive Board collaborates with a Supervisory Board and regional coordinators representing continents and subregions—reflecting organizational structures akin to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Organization of American States. Annual General Assemblies convene delegates from national chapters, mirroring procedural rules used by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and the League of Nations historical precedent for multilateral deliberation. Advisory roles often include former members who later worked at institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme, European Parliament, and the International Monetary Fund.

Membership and Chapters

Membership comprises individual students, student associations, and institutional partners from universities like University of Cape Town, University of São Paulo, Peking University, Yale University, and University of Melbourne. National and local chapters mirror the campus-based societies at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Sorbonne University, and other higher-education institutions, engaging with regional bodies such as the Asian Development Bank and the African Union Commission for localized programming. Membership categories often parallel those used by the International Bar Association and include student members, alumni members, and institutional affiliates.

Activities and Programs

Core activities include capacity-building workshops, research fellowships, policy simulation exercises, and training modules patterned after programs run by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the European Centre for Development Policy Management. The association runs summer schools with curricula influenced by syllabi at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and practical internships in collaboration with think tanks like Chatham House and research centers such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It administers mentoring schemes connecting students with practitioners from the International Criminal Court, the World Health Organization, and national ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands).

Conferences and Events

Annual global conferences often take place in partnership with host universities—past locations have included conferences at Trinity College Dublin, University of Bologna, National University of Singapore, and McGill University—and feature panels with speakers from institutions such as the European Commission, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and leading academic departments like Harvard Kennedy School and Princeton University. Regional conferences and thematic workshops echo formats used by the Asia-Europe Meeting and the African Union summits, incorporating simulation events inspired by Model United Nations and policy labs akin to those at the London School of Economics.

Publications and Research Initiatives

The association publishes peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and working papers managed by student editorial teams and reviewed with guidance from scholars affiliated with Columbia University, Sciences Po, Johns Hopkins University, and the Australian National University. Research initiatives have examined topics drawing on frameworks from the Bretton Woods Conference legacies, United Nations Development Goals, and studies produced by the OECD. Collaborative projects include comparative case studies with university presses and co-authored pieces with researchers from institutions such as Stanford University and Yale Law School.

Partnerships and Impact

Strategic partnerships span intergovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and non-governmental actors including the European Commission, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank Group, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and NGOs like Transparency International and Human Rights Watch. Alumni have advanced to roles at bodies such as the European Parliament, International Monetary Fund, Interpol, and national diplomatic services including those of Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Japan, demonstrating the association's influence on career pathways and policy discourse. The association's collaborative outputs have informed consultations at venues like the United Nations General Assembly and regional policymaking forums such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Category:International student organisations