|
|
The Formal Rules Governing IPSA Research Committees
|
I. Definition
1. The IPSA executive committee shall, in accordance with article 5(e) of the
IPSA constitution, make provision for the establishment and monitoring of research
committees to conduct and propagate the results of research within the various subfields
of political science.
2. Research committees are groups of scholars conducting research into a, particular
problem or in a particular area of political science approved by the committee on research
and training and the IPSA executive committee as part of a broad research framework within
the discipline of political science.
II. Objectives
3. Research committees should:
(i) develop research in political science, especially work based on international cooperation;
(ii) organize and maintain personal contacts among political scientists with common interests;
(iii) disseminate information and publish scholarly research; and
(iv) provide a framework for cooperation between individuals and organizations concerned
with teaching and research in political and other social sciences.
III. Membership
4. Membership of research committees is open to political scientists who are members of
national associations affiliated to IPSA, and to individual members of IPSA.
5. Research committees should be as representative as possible of the different approaches
in their special fields, and of the countries and regions of political scientists who conduct
research in these fields. They should also make appropriate provision for the inclusion of women,
young scholars (including doctoral students) and other disadvantaged groups.
6. Research committees may require their members to pay a small fee to assist in defraying
running costs, subject to any maximum fee that may be prescribed by the IPSA executive committee
on the recommendation of the committee on research and training.
7. Research committees are required to ensure that their activities are adequately publicized
by forwarding to the IPSA secretariat material for publication in Participation on a regular basis.
They are required to make a prompt and positive response to persons applying for membership.
In the event of an application for membership not being accepted, any eligible person may forward
an appeal to the committee on research and training.
IV. Organization
8. The affairs of each research committee shall be directed by an elected board consisting of
no fewer than seven and no more than twelve members. The board shall be elected every three years
and shall include at least two new members at each election. No officer of a research committee may
remain on as an officer in any capacity for more than six years. If possible, board members should
represent different countries and approaches in their fields of interest.
9. The board shall have a chair assisted, if necessary, by a vice-chair and a secretary. The chair
shall be the primary contact point for IPSA and shall be regarded as the convenor of the research
committee, unless the board designates another officer as convenor.
10. No-one may be a board member of more than one research committee. All board members must be
individual members of IPSA.
V. Activities
11. Research committees are entitled and expected to organize two sessions at the IPSA world congress.
12. Between congresses research committees should organize meetings, conduct research and publish
its results, and circulate news and information about their activities. All research committees are
expected to organize at least one academic meeting between congresses, and are required to organize
at least one such meeting during any two consecutive inter-congress periods.
13. In the event of a charge being made on participants at any academic meeting organized by a
research committee, this shall be set at such a level as to ensure that participation at the meeting
is not discouraged, subject to any maximum fee that may be prescribed by the IPSA executive committee
on the recommendation of the committee on research and training.
VI. Recognition
14. The committee on research and training may recommend the recognition of a new research committee
on the basis of a request signed by at least 15 political scientists from at least seven different countries
and two continents; the signatories must include both men and women.
15. Any application for the formation of a research committee must be accompanied by a statement outlining:
(i) the subject of the proposed committee;
(ii) the main analytical perspectives and empirical fields to be considered;
(iii) a list of prospective members; and
(iv) a plan of activities and goals, and particularly future meetings and conferences, publications
and newsletters.
VII. Review
16. Research committees are recognized on a probationary basis for an initial three-year period.
Their organization and activities shall subsequently be reviewed every six years by the committee on
research and training.
17. Research committees should make every endeavour to keep the IPSA secretariat informed of their activities.
In particular, each research committee is required:
(i) to provide a report within six weeks of the world congress; this must include a summary of
activities during the previous three years, including a list of meetings held, and papers presented,
publications and newsletters issued; and
(ii) to provide an updated list of the names and full coordinates of office holders and board
members after each election of a new board.
18. The committee on research and training may recommend the continuation of a research committee
for a further six-year period if in its view it satisfies the following conditions:
(i) the organizational requirements in rules 8-10;
(ii) the academic requirements in rules 11-13;
(iii) the reporting requirements in rule 17; and
(iv) such other requirement as the committee may impose to satisfy itself of the bona fide activity
of the research committee.
19. The committee on research and training may at any time recommend to the executive committee
withdrawal of recognition of a research committee that is in breach of the rules.
VIII. Committee on Research and Training
20. The committee on research and training shall consist of members appointed by the IPSA executive committee.
21. The duties of the committee are:
(i) to consider proposals for new research committees, and to recommend whether or not they should be accepted;
(ii) to review the activities of existing research committees on a six- yearly basis, and to
recommend whether or not they should be continued;
(iii) to monitor the scope and activities of research committees as a whole, to encourage their
work, and to recommend ways in which its quality might be improved;
(iv) to encourage the systematic development of research on a planned basis by identifying gaps
and areas of overlap in the overall pattern of research committees; and
(v) to report its recommendations and conclusions to the IPSA executive committee and, where
appropriate, to the IPSA council.
IX. Interpretation
22. The committee on research and training shall rule on any ambiguities in these rules, subject
to a right of appeal to the IPSA executive committee.
(Initially adopted by the IPSA executive committee at its meeting no. 42 in Zurich in 1981; since
amended several times; text approved by the executive committee at meeting no. 78, Krakow, 25-26 April 1999)
Source: International Political Science Association, Handbook of the International Political
Science Association (Dublin: IPSA, 2000).
Return to C&M The Committee
|
|
C&M
The Committee on Concepts and Methods
International Political Science Association (IPSA)
Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas (CIDE)
Carretera Mexico-Toluca 3655
Col. Lomas de Santa Fe
CP 01210 Mexico, DF
Mexico
Phone +52/55/5727-9800
Copyright (c) 2004 Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas.
All rights reserved.
Credits
|
|
