Section Descriptions and Contacts

81st Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference
Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7, 2024
Hybrid Format: In-Person at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL or Online

All Panels/Paper Sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups will Feature a Hybrid Format (for In-Person or Virtual Participation). Undergraduate Poster Sessions will be In-Person Only.

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2024 Annual Conference Section Descriptions and Contacts

The President-Elect appoints the Program Committee Chair(s), who appoint members to the conference Program Committee. Each committee member serves as chair of a section and is responsible for accepting or rejecting proposals submitted to their section. In addition, committee members/section chairs organize accepted papers into panels and identify chairs and discussants for each panel.

If you are interested in serving as a section chair at a future MPSA conference, please fill out and submit this short form.

Program Committee members are volunteers who do not handle customer service requests and should only be contacted with questions regarding their specific areas of the discipline. Please direct any questions regarding the conference including how to create sessions, how to find someone to serve on their roundtables, etc. to MPSA staff by emailing mpsainfo@mpsanet.org or by calling (812) 558-0588 x 1.

Section 1 – 2024 Program Chairs

The MPSA would like to extend a wholehearted thank you and expression of gratitude to the 81st Annual MPSA Conference Program Co-Chairs, Gisela Sin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and Elizabeth Suhay, American University. Without their leadership, hard work and dedication, the annual conference would not be possible.

Sect. 2 – Representation and Electoral Systems

Papers, panels and roundtable proposals are invited that relate to representation and electoral systems. The section especially welcomes papers that take a comparative perspective (i.e. do not solely draw on US experiences), as well as those examining the intersection between electoral systems and social structures and how electoral systems shape the representation of women, minorities, and other historically underrepresented groups. A focus on electoral system components such as districting, quotas, and election administration are additionally welcomed.  Diverse methodological perspectives are encouraged.

Chair: Michael Sances, Temple University

Sect. 3 – Mass Media

This section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtable proposals on the mass media and its relationship to government and politics. This includes work studying the effect of the mass media on the public, the causes and dynamics of the behavior of the mass media, as well as work considering the mass media as a political institution and its relationship to other institutions and political elites. Research with either empirical contributions, theoretical contributions, or both are welcome. Work examining the media of any country is welcome.

Chair: Adam Enders, University of Louisville

Sect. 5 – Political Communication

This section welcomes proposals that seek to advance our understanding of how communication connects political actors across all government-citizen layers. Proposals that illustrate features of the political landscape and/or advance theories of political phenomena through the study of communication – through all potential pathways –  are of interest. Submissions that employ innovative data and/or methodological approaches are especially welcome.

Chair: Ethan Porter, George Washington University

Sect. 6 – Political Psychology

This section seeks proposals that use a psychological lens to examine political belief and behavior. Additionally, this section seeks proposals that examine political phenomena in the service of developing and enhancing psychological theory. Proposals may focus on the intersection of politics and the following topics (among others): emotions, information-processing, neuroscience, identity, intergroup relations, media effects, personality, and biological processes. Proposals that employ methodological innovations are especially welcome. Empirical tests can be grounded in American politics, comparative politics, or international relations. Finally, both junior and senior scholars are encouraged to consider volunteering as panel chairs and/or discussants.

Chair: Kirill Zhirkov, University of Virginia

Sect. 7 – Political Networks

This section invites proposals that aim to explain the role of relationships between actors, agencies, and institutions in all aspects of politics. We are particularly interested in research that challenges fundamental assertions about independence in order to gain new insight on political processes and behavior. We are open to work that explores old substantive questions through the lens of political networks, as well as development of cutting edge methods and topics based on the concepts of interdependence. Substantive areas of interest include, but are not restricted to, the study of economic and political relationships between nations, policy implementation networks, the impact of political organizations at home and abroad, and the consequences of social discussion on political choices. Proposals that focus on the unique contribution of political science to network analysis, and vice versa, are also welcome.

Chair: Lauren Ratliff Santoro, The University of Texas at Dallas

Sect. 8 – Public Opinion

The section invites proposals that advance our understanding of the theoretical and empirical foundations of public opinion and its effects on democratic politics. Proposals that broaden and deepen our knowledge of the micro-foundations of opinion, the effects of external agents (social and political context, media, and political institutions) on public opinion, the effects of public opinion on political outputs, and the dynamic nature of mass-elite relationships are welcome. Proposals that adopt new research designs for studying public opinion or that employ methodological innovations are especially welcome. Empirical tests can be grounded in American politics, comparative politics, or international relations. And, proposals for roundtables also are welcome. Finally, I invite both junior and senior scholars to consider volunteering as panel chairs and/or discussants.

Co-Chair: Ashley Jardina, University of Virginia
Co-Chair: Julie Wronski, University of Mississippi

Sect. 9 – American Public Opinion

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on research that makes theoretical contributions to the understanding of public opinion, analyses of current public opinion in the United States, research on the ways in which public opinion affects political behavior or democratic processes, research on the sources of attitudes, and examinations of methodological issues in measuring and evaluating public opinion. Topics may include ideological and partisan polarization, stereotypes and prejudice, effects of information, political socialization, and attitudes about inequality, foreign policy, immigration, LGBT issues, feminism, the media, and much more.

Chair: Phil Jones, University of Delaware

Sect. 10 – Campaigns and Elections

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on topics related to campaigns and electioneering in the United States and in comparative perspective. Topics include campaign effects writ large, advertising, mobilization and get-out-the-vote efforts, strategy, primary election campaigns, and media coverage of campaigns. Proposals examining the role of fundamentals in relation to campaign efforts are especially welcome, along with studies using novel datasets and/or research designs.

Chair: Mollie Cohen, Purdue University

Sect. 11 – Turnout and Political Participation

The section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals that examine electoral and non-electoral forms of political participation. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): motivations for participation, differences in political participation across groups, changes in patterns of participation over time, place, and political context, the influence of electoral, political, social and economic institutions on political participation; the representational consequences of political participation, and new forms of participation (e.g. online, social media, etc.).

Chair: Hilary Izatt, University of Michigan/SUNY Binghamton

Sect. 12 – Voting Behavior

The section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on topics related to important theoretical, substantive, and/or methodological issues dealing with electoral behavior in the United States and in comparative perspective. Among others, topics could include the basis of electoral choice in national and sub-national elections, inter-election change, campaign effects, election forecasting, campaign finance reforms, alternative voting technologies, voter registration, mobilization, and turnout.

Chair: Libby Jenke, University of Houston

Sect. 13 – Comparative Political Behavior

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on comparative political behavior understood in the broadest possible sense, including, but not limited to, public opinion, voting behavior, and political mobilization and protest. Papers comparing political systems, countries and groups, linking attitudes and behavior to social, political and economic context, and based on new and original data are particularly welcome.

Chair: Giancarlo Visconti, Pennsylvania State University

Sect. 14 – Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence

The section welcomes proposals for papers, panels (including author-meets-critics) and roundtables exploring how politics, institutions, ideas, and arguments shape and constrain the law’s development. Papers may employ normative or empirical approaches, tackle philosophical and jurisprudential questions, offer doctrinal analysis or historical perspectives, focus on institutional design, and/or apply cross-national or cross-disciplinary perspectives. Innovations to traditional approaches to the study of law and jurisprudence are especially welcome.

Chair: Doug Rice, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Sect. 15 – Law and Society

This section welcomes proposals for papers, panels and roundtables exploring the law as a social institution and the interrelationship of legal, social and/or ethical issues.  Proposals exploring the legal implications of policy and decision-making from an interdisciplinary approach are also welcome. Law and society is traditionally an interdisciplinary field and as such this section welcomes submissions that cross disciplinary boundaries or employ diverse theoretical or methodological approaches.

Chair: Joseph Mello, De Paul University

Sect. 16 – Judicial Politics

The Judicial Politics section invites proposals for papers, panels, and roundtables exploring the role of legal actors and legal institutions in American and comparative politics.  I welcome proposals from diverse theoretical and methodological orientations, particularly those that develop novel theory, employ original data, or bring fresh methodological approaches to the study of judicial politics.

Chair: Alicia Uribe-Mcguire, University of Illinois

Sect. 17 – Presidency and Executive Politics

The section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtable proposals that address core questions of executive governance, broadly defined, both in the United States and around the world.  We encourage submissions that employ innovative theoretical and methodological approaches to yield new perspectives on long-standing questions.  These could include, but are not limited to, analyses of the creation, maintenance, and exercise of executive authority; relations with the legislature and judiciary; the internal organization and management of the executive branch; policy implementation; and challenges to executive authority.

Chair: Maria Silfa, Princeton University

Sect. 18 – Legislative Institutions

The section welcomes proposals that address theoretical and empirical questions involving legislatures in the U.S., other national or subnational legislatures, or those in a comparative context. Research questions should focus on the institutional nature of legislatures or parliaments, such as parties, committees, rules and procedure, floor politics, leadership and coalition building, budgeting, advocacy, or representation. The section is particularly interested in original research that features rigorous theory, innovative research designs, and investigations that lead to the evaluation of causal claims. These might include new data, approaches, and methodological innovations. Although both panel and individual paper proposals are invited, individual paper proposals are generally easier to accommodate.

Chair: Jesse Crosson, Purdue University

Sect. 19 – Political Parties and Interest Groups

The section welcomes proposals for papers, panels, and roundtables that examine political organizations, especially parties and interest groups, that operate as intermediary organizations at the subnational, national, or supranational levels. The section encourages proposals that examine parties and political organizations in a single country, across countries, or internationally.  We especially welcome projects that offer new theoretical, empirical or methodological strategies to understanding parties and interest groups.

Chair: Matt Grossmann, Michigan State University

Sect. 20 – State and Intergovernmental Politics

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtables that focus on issues of state politics and American federalism. Of special interest are papers that develop and/or test general theories of political behavior, institutions, or policy making using the methodological advantages arising from the substantial variance found across the U.S.

Chair: Jeff Harden, University of Notre Dame

Sect. 21 – Urban and Local Politics

The section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals with a strong theoretical motivation focusing on various aspects of public policy and politics in local governments, metropolitan areas, and regions. Work using newly collected data on urban areas and local governments and research that examines social movements or interrogates intergovernmental relations are especially encouraged. “Author Meets Critics” and roundtable submissions are welcome.

Co-Chair: Meghan Wilson, Michigan State University
Co-Chair: Nathaniel Wright, Rutgers University

Sect. 22 – Comparative Political Institutions

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtables on a broad range of topics, including the study of institutions (institutional effects, endogenous institutions, and institutional weakness), processes of democratic transition and consolidation, political behavior (participation, voting, and social movements), and political economy. Research addressing class, race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality (including intersectionality) is particularly welcome, as is qualitative research.

Chair: Lucia Motolinia, Washington University

Sect. 23 – African Politics

This section invites papers, panels and roundtable proposals on all Africa-related subjects. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, democratization, economic development and reform, identity politics, and political violence. All theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome. Proposals using newly collected data, whether quantitative or qualitative, are especially encouraged.

Chair: Jacob Lewis, Washington State University

Sect. 24 – Politics of the Middle East

The Middle East Politics section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable on the comparative politics and international relations of the broader Middle East region.  Possible comparative topics include, but are not limited to, economic development, political economy, Islamist mobilization, democratization and authoritarianism, the resource curse, civil and ethnic conflict, civil society, gender and politics, and contemporary issues like the Arab Uprisings.  Possible IR topics include, among others, the dynamics of war and peace, domestic and systemic security, terrorism and counter-terrorism, democracy promotion, foreign policy analysis, human rights, international law, nation-building, and more thematic topics like the Arab-Israeli conflict and Iraqi War.  All theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome, including but not limited to comparative-historical work, case-oriented research, ethnographic analysis, large-N and econometric studies, and game-theoretic modelling.

Chair: Noa Balf, Indiana University

Sect. 25 – Asian Politics

This section invites paper, panel, and roundtable proposals on a broad range of subjects related to the politics and international relations of Asia. All theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome. Papers with a comparative scope (within country, within-region, or across regions) and those offering original theoretical insights and/or utilizing new data sources, methods, and methodological approaches  — qualitative and quantitative — are especially welcome.

Chair: Seo-Hyun Park, Lafayette College

Sect. 26 – Politics of South Asia

This section invites proposals on all subjects related to South Asia. We are especially interested in research related to electoral politics, democratic consolidation, economic development and reform, responses to globalization, minority incorporation and subsequent nationalist reactions, among other topics. Proposals using original data and applying rigorous methodologies are especially encouraged.

Chair: Adam Ziegfeld, Temple University

Sect. 27 – Politics of China

This section invites proposals for papers, panels, and roundtables on any aspects of the politics of China. We encourage proposals with comparative politics and international relations focus, in addition to those focused on the multidimensional aspects of internal politics. Theoretically innovative, empirically grounded, and methodological diverse papers that bring different scholarly perspectives into dialogue and push broader debates forward are welcomed. Themes of interest include party state-society relations, social mobilization, center-local interactions, formal and informal institutions, dissent and repression, authoritarianism, foreign policy, global security and economic relations, environment and health, and political economy of development.

Chair: Yujeong Yang, University of Illinois

Sect. 28 – European Politics

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on various aspects of European politics. Papers both with a comparative and an international relations focus are encouraged. Themes of interest include such topics as institutional development, public policies, party competition, public opinion, European integration, political economy and responses to current crises.

Chair: Lauren Perez, Francis Marion University

Sect. 29 – Latin American and Caribbean Politics

This section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtable proposals on all subjects related to Latin American and Caribbean Politics. Scholarship appropriate for this section includes – but is not limited to – work focused on issues of democracy and authoritarianism, formal and informal institutions, governance, political behavior and public opinion, economic development and policy, collective action, human rights, equality/equity, and justice. Papers with a comparative scope (within country, within-region, or across regions) and those offering original theoretical insights and/or utilizing new data sources, methods, and methodological approaches are especially welcome.

Chair: Santiago Alles, Universidad de San Andres

Sect. 32 – Transitions to Democracy

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on democratic transitions in all geographical regions of the world. Topics include but are not limited to transitions to democracy, democratic breakdowns and backsliding, democratic consolidation and institutional development, transitional justice, as well as authoritarian breakdowns and consolidation. We are open to both theoretical and empirical research and welcome proposals of all methodologies.

Chair: Sam Handlin, Swarthmore College

Sect. 33 – (Post) Communist Countries

This section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtable proposals on political issues relevant to all post-communist countries, as well as countries that remain communist in name or in practice. Work engaging broader theoretical debates in the discipline is especially encouraged, as is work that embraces methodological and/or epistemological pluralism. Papers and panels involving comparisons between communist and post-communist politics and politics in other regions of the world are welcome. Topics can include but are not limited to: democratization, democratic consolidation, authoritarian consolidation, electoral revolutions, state building and state capacity, political economy, poverty and inequality, elections and voting, parties and partisanship, legislatures, courts and judicial independence, social movements, nationalism and ethnicity, public opinion formation, and methodological considerations in studying communist and post-communist politics.

Chair: Nora Webb Williams, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Sect. 34 – Economic Development

This section invites proposals on various topics concerning economic development and policy. We encourage submissions that delve into the nuanced relationships between economic development, political institutions, and voting behavior. We invite papers examining economic development as the dependent or independent variable. Additionally, we encourage submissions that explore this inquiry at both the local and national levels.

Chair: Andrea Junqueira, Arkansas State University

Sect. 35 – Politics of Developing Countries

This section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtables exploring the politics of economic development across the world. We are particularly interested in research that addresses socioeconomic inequalities and the ways that government policies and development strategies affect groups disadvantaged by race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Submissions of rigorous quantitative and qualitative work are encouraged.

Chair: Christian Houle, Michigan State University

Sect. 36 – Comparative Political Economy

This section invites papers, organized panels, and roundtable proposals on any topic related to the interaction of domestic political institutions and economic policies and outcomes. The section encourages a varied mix of proposals, but papers that develop theoretically-driven propositions or subject propositions to empirical testing are particularly welcome.

Chair: Eric Chang, Michigan State University

Sect. 37 – International Political Economy

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on the broad range of topics related to the politics of international trade, investment, money, finance and migration. The section encourages papers that develop new theories or subject theoretically-driven propositions to rigorous empirical testing. Substantively, the section encourages papers that explore the interactions between global movements of goods, money and people as well as those that examine the complex interaction of domestic and international factors in shaping outcomes in the international political economy.

Chair: Andrew Kerner, Michigan State University

Sect. 38 – IR and Domestic Politics

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals that address the internal-external linkages of international relations. Papers may focus on any subfield of international relations, including (but not limited to) international organizations, international security, foreign policy, and international political economy. A broad mix of papers is encouraged, including those informed by any of the major theoretical approaches in international relations as well as papers using a variety of methodologies to approach important questions.

Chair: Bradley Smith, Vanderbilt University

Sect. 39 – Foreign Policy

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on the broad range of topics related to the study of foreign policy. Some examples of topics include foreign policy decision making, the role of leadership and beliefs, the impact of national and international institutions on foreign policy behavior, domestic versus international sources of foreign policy; and the integration of the studies of foreign policy and international politics. Different methodological and theoretical approaches are welcome, as are mixed-methodological approaches.

Chair: Andy Owsiak, University of Georgia

Sect. 40 – (Im)migration and Citizenship

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals which address issues related to the movement (immigration or migration) and/or incorporation processes (such as settlement and political acculturation) of migration groups.  Given that migrations occur across the globe, this section welcomes papers on any region and invites papers that offer insights into how responses to migration streams differ across countries or contexts.  Papers may consider questions related to the creation of institutions or policies as well as those that focus on the experiences of immigrants, refugees and other migration groups.  This section also encourages papers that consider how immigration and migration inform our understandings about a country’s racial, ethnic and religious diversity, class stratification, or issues related to gender and sexuality.

Chair: Els de Graauw, Baruch College

Sect. 41 – Peace Science

The Peace Science section invites proposals having to do with the balance of peaceful and conflictual interactions between states, or between governments and citizens. Topics include but are not limited to civil conflict, insurgency, interstate conflict, conflict management, repression, dissent, human rights, and development. Diverse theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome.

Chair: Sunhee Park, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Sect. 42 – International Organizations and Cooperation

When does cooperation occur across borders? Do cooperative arrangements influence state behavior? The International Cooperation and Organization section welcomes proposals on all aspects of international cooperation and organizational dynamics.  The section is especially interested in proposals concerning when cooperative arrangements occur transnationally, the particularities of these arrangements, and their effects on  political behavior.  Proposals are welcome on all types of international organizations, including formal and informal intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and public-private partnerships.

Chair: Calvin Thrall, Columbia University

Sect. 43 – Human Rights

This section encourages theoretical and empirical submissions that advance our understanding of human rights. We are particularly interested in submissions on human rights organizations, human security, transitional justice, and work that addresses new directions and methodological challenges in human rights research.  We encourage both junior and senior scholars to submit their research and volunteer to serve as panel chairs and discussants. In your submission, please indicate your areas of expertise as well as roundtable topics you might find interesting.

Chair: Michael Voss, University of Toledo

Sect. 44 – International Conflict Processes

The International Conflict Processes section invites paper, panel, and roundtable proposals on a broad range of topics advancing conflict research. Topics may include – but are not limited to – strategic, operational, and tactical dimensions of interstate, civil, and intrastate warfare, civil-military relations, burdensharing, coalition warfare, alliances and defense agreements, nuclear security, and economic statecraft. Diverse theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome.

Chair: Robert Carroll, University of Illinois

Sect. 45 – Political Violence, Terrorism and Resistance

The Political Violence, Terrorism, and Resistance Section invites paper, panel, and roundtable proposals on a broad range of topics exploring political violence, terrorism, and resistance.  Topics may include – but are not limited to – the causes and consequences of political violence, terrorism, insurgency, rebellion, and violent and non-violent resistance. Diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives are welcome.

Chair: Carly Wayne, Washington University in St. Louis

Sect. 46 – Conflict Processes

The Conflict Processes section invites paper, panel and roundtable proposals broadly related to the dynamics of violent and nonviolent political conflict.  Submissions may focus on topics including but not limited to the dynamics of war and peace, civil conflict, nonviolent civil resistance, terrorism, insurgency, rebellion, militarized disputes, and crisis bargaining.  We welcome papers and panels from a broad array of theoretical perspectives, empirical approaches, and levels of analysis.

Chair: Liana Eustacia Reyes, University of Pennsylvania/Purdue University

Sect. 47 – International Security

This section encourages theoretical and/or empirical submissions that advance our understanding of any area of international security. Topics include, but are not limited to, the causes and consequences of militarized inter-state conflict, insurgency, terrorism, and other forms of threats to international security and cooperation. All methodological and theoretical approaches are welcome.

Chair: Michael Joseph, University of California San Diego

Sect. 48 – Political Philosophy

All social-scientific inquiry depends upon an appeal to concepts and values that are contestable in principle, and that are often contested in fact. It follows that the intelligent conduct of social scientific inquiries depends, among other things, on sustained reflection about the concepts and values that guide, or that should guide, these inquiries. This is the principal function that political theory serves within the broader discipline of political science. I therefore welcome paper and panel proposals from a wide variety of methodological and substantive approaches which encourage the reader to think critically about the concepts and values that we bring to the study of political life. I especially welcome proposals which, in addition to drawing connections within and across theoretical debates, draw connections between these debates and real-world political events and controversies.

Chair: Tom Merrill, American University

Sect. 49 – Political Theory in International Relations

The conduct and study of international relations is shaped by fundamental political theory concepts, such as sovereignty, territory, democracy, autocracy, legitimacy, and warfare, among others.  The realm of political theory is similarly served by the development, practices, and concepts of international relations and institutions.  This section welcomes proposals on any aspects of political theory pertinent to international affairs and international considerations.

Chair: Victoria Tin-bor Hui, University of Notre Dame

Sect. 50 – Critical and Normative Political Theory

How is political theory done in times of crisis? And what sort of thinking is called for by the crises of the present? This section welcomes paper, panel, and roundtable proposals that reflect on the ideas, concepts, practices, and discourses that political theorists employ to think about power and its discontents. Of particular interest are proposals engaging: the challenges posed by the resurgent far right; the politics and sources of neoliberalism; social and material conditions for political action; comparative and trans-disciplinary engagements with subaltern voices inside and outside the West; race, gender, and class as critical/normative lenses; the contemporary crisis of liberalism; and what questions should take precedence in times of social crisis, among other themes.

Chair: Michael Feola, Lafayette College

Sect. 51 – Liberalism and Democratic Theory

This section invites papers, panels and roundtable proposals that explore democratic theory and/or liberalism. We welcome critical engagements with theorists of democracy in the history of ideas; with contemporary problems of democratic theory and/or liberalism; and with particular models of democracy. We encourage submission of critical treatments of democracy through the lens of gender and race, and the examination of democracy and difference in general. Explorations of tensions between democracy and liberalism, genealogies of liberalism, and the challenges to democracy brought about by neoliberalism are all welcome. We also invite submissions that consider the joint trajectories of liberalism and empire. Finally, we welcome proposals that theorize democracy along migration, transnational activism, and cosmopolitanism.

Chair: Emma Saunders, Ohio State University

Sect. 52 – Foundations of Political Theory

What questions, concepts, categories, works, and figures are foundational to political theory (Western or non-Western), and how and why do they matter?  This section invites papers and panels that explore specific themes, texts, and thinkers throughout the history of political philosophy, as well as work that grapples with the question of how we should envision and discuss the history or genealogy of political thought: through engagement with perennial debates, by way of comparisons between historically and culturally disparate epochs, or by focusing on specific thematic and conceptual perspectives.

Chair: Susan Collins, University of Notre Dame

Sect. 53 – Contemporary Political Theory

This section welcomes submissions in contemporary political theory, broadly defined.  Submissions that are especially welcome will address:  late twentieth and twenty-first century political thinkers from within political science and beyond; comparative political theory; contemporary issues of global political thought and practice; the connection of contemporary political theory to political action; the status of critical theory; contemporary framing of such political problems as justice, environmental change, forms of domination, and so forth; the role of political theory in the contemporary formation of the discipline of political science.  Single paper proposals are welcome.  Panel proposals are also welcome and should include participants from multiple institutions and who are at different levels of their careers (e.g., graduate students and faculty).

Chair: Diego Rosello, UAI Adolfo Ibáñez University, Chile

Sect. 54 – Politics and History

The section welcomes proposals for papers, panels and roundtable proposals covering the broad scope of the study of politics and institutions using historical perspectives to address issue areas of contemporary concern. In particular, the section encourages submissions from scholars whose work focuses on themes related to major political processes and concepts, such as institutional development, idea formation and political culture, state building, party building, democratization, historical political economy, citizenship, political identity, and representation. We encourage research in the traditions of American political development (APD), Comparative-Historical Analysis (CHA), Historical Political Economy (HPE), and historical-institutionalism more broadly.

Chair: Susanne Schwarz, Swarthmore College

Sect. 55 – Politics and Religion

The section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals that address the interaction between religion and politics from all subfields in political science using diverse methodological approaches, especially submissions that use religion to address broader theoretical questions in political science that would be of interest to non-specialists.

Chair: Nazita Lajevardi, Michigan State University

Sect. 56 – Health, Education and Social Policy

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals for any aspect of health, education or social policy. Studies may focus on the United States, but comparative investigations are also welcome. We welcome studies that examine how theoretical questions in political science apply to these policy areas, or how policy in these areas can contribute to our theoretical understandings of how politics works. Applied work and analyses are also welcome, as are “author meets critics” and roundtable submission.

Co-Chair: Tabitha Bonilla, Northwestern University
Co-Chair: Matt Nelsen, University of Miami

Sect. 57 – Crime, Policy and Social Control

This section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtables that examine how public policies impact, and are impacted by, the processes of control, use and restriction of force, marginalization, and punishment in society. We especially welcome papers that examine the intersections between a variety of policy issues in this broad domain. We are open to quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Chair: Jose Atiles Osoria, University of Illinois

Sect. 58 – Institutions, Politics and Environmental Policy

The section invites papers, panels and roundtable proposals that focus on how political institutions address (or fail to address) environmental problems. The section welcomes proposals on both formal and informal institutions, from all subfields of political science.

Chair: Erin Lin, Ohio State University

Sect. 59 – Environmental Politics and Policy

The section invites papers, panels and roundtable proposals that focus on the politics of environmental problems and/or the processes by which they are addressed. Proposed papers and panels that emphasize comparative environmental politics are encouraged, as are papers that emphasize theory building and empirical testing with cutting-edge political methodology. Of particular interest are papers that use environmental policy as a critical research setting to address core questions in political science and public policy.

Chair: Todd Eisenstadt, American University

Sect. 60 – Public Policy

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals on the broad range of topics related to public policy. The section encourages papers that advance on theoretical and empirical questions in public policy research across all major theoretical and methodological approaches. Papers that leverage variation across time, institutions, or policy fields are especially welcome. Both panel and individual paper proposals are invited.

Chair: E.J. Fagan, University of Illinois Chicago

Sect. 61 – Bureaucratic Politics

The Bureaucratic Politics section concerns the behavior of individual bureaucrats in their organizational environment; the interaction of public bureaucracies with external stakeholders such as courts, interest groups, legislatures, the executive branch, other bureaucracies and governmental units, and society at large; the role and legitimacy of bureaucracies in the policy process; the antecedents and design of bureaucratic structures; and the effect of bureaucratic structure on behavior and performance. The section welcomes submissions from any theoretical creed or methodological persuasion in social science, including but not limited to organizational behavior, social psychology, rational choice, game theory, historical institutionalism, case narratives, comparative case studies, statistical models, ethnography, and laboratory experiments.

Chair: Mary Kroeger, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Sect. 62 – Public Administration

The public administration section welcomes submissions from all areas and traditions of the field, broadly construed. The section is especially interested in submissions that are theoretically innovative and methodologically rigorous. Submissions that focus on a particular national or sub-national political system are welcome, as are submissions that are comparative in their orientation.

Co-Chair: Ricardo A. Bello-Gomez, Rutgers University-Newark
Co-Chair: Danyao Li, University of Southern California

Sect. 63 – Information, Technology and Politics

This section welcomes paper, panel, and roundtable session proposals that contribute to our understanding of how information technology shapes politics and policy (and vice versa). Substantive areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the consequences of information technology on the capacity of political actors, digital governance and regulation, cyberspace and international security, comparative perspectives, and the theories and methods most useful for the study of information technology and elections.

Chair: Jeffrey Ding, George Washington University

Sect. 64 – Gender, Race and Policy

This section seeks proposals for papers, panels, and roundtables on various aspects of race and/or gender-related social and policy issues. Proposals can pertain to any political geography or “stage” of the policy process. This section welcomes an array of types and methods of research, including rigorous interdisciplinary, applied or community-engaged research, while especially encouraging empirically and theoretically grounded scholarship that contributes creatively to public conversation about how race and/or gender-related issues should be addressed.

Chair: Laura Antkowiak, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Sect. 65 – Class and Inequality

This section invites papers, panels, and roundtables on the political causes and consequences of economic inequality and social class stratification. The section welcomes proposals from all subfields and methodological traditions and is interested in work on economic inequality’s relationship with institutional and social contexts, public policy, social identity, and intergroup relations. “Author Meets Critics” and roundtable submissions are welcome.

Chair: John Kuk, University of Oklahoma

Sect. 66 – Gender and Politics

This section welcomes papers, panels and roundtable proposals dealing with the gender dimensions of a broad range of topics. I am particularly interested in papers and panels that explore the diverse facets of women’s political participation and representation in various institutions (i.e., legislative, executive, or judicial branches of politics) as well as in local, regional, national, and transnational levels, the interplay between descriptive and substantive representation, the development and use of innovative data, theories, and empirical strategies to further gender research, the evolving role of women’s groups and the women’s movement in society, the role of gender in the formation of political identities, and the development of social policies related to women in both developing and developed countries.

Chair: Jamil Scott, Georgetown University

Sect. 67 – Race, Ethnicity and Politics

This section is interested in producing rigorous empirical and theoretical knowledge of the roles that race, class, and ethnicity–or the intersection of any of these categories–play in U.S. politics or in comparative perspective. The section invites papers, panels and roundtable proposals that aim to develop and/or refine appropriate theoretical models in the study of race, class, and ethnicity. Especially welcome are papers that emphasize new theoretical insights and those that represent innovative methodological approaches to relationship between race, class, ethnicity, and politics.

Chair: Michelangelo Landgrave, University of Missouri

Sect. 68 – LGBTQ+ Politics

The LGBTQ+ Politics section invites papers, panels, and roundtables that investigate LGBTQ+ people and policies in the United States and other locations. Papers can be quantitative, qualitative, multi-method, or theoretical. Particular importance will be placed on examinations of current policy developments that show some locations adding protections to LGBTQ+ people while others adding restrictions, the rise of extremism in anti-LGBTQ politics, and topics that cross-cut disciplines and subfields. Theme panels are encouraged to be methodologically diverse, and graduate students are especially encouraged to submit proposals.

Chair: Andrew Flores, American University

Sect. 69 – Experimental Research

This section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtable proposals in any area of experimental research in political science, using any type of ethically-sound experimentation (e.g., field, laboratory, survey, natural, or hybrid experiments), and from any geographical region of the world. Especially welcome are carefully designed experiments that seek to shed light on important substantive, ethical, or methodological questions. Experiments from underrepresented subfields (e.g., political theory) or using underrepresented country samples are welcome. No proposal will be discounted simply because of the magnitude or statistical significance of its findings, or because its experiments are replications.

Chair: Ryan T. Moore, American University

Sect. 70 – Formal Modeling

The section welcomes submissions covering the entire range of political science scholarship, distinguished by approach rather than topic. Theoretical and empirical analyses of substantive political science questions based on game theory, social choice theory, decision theory, behavioral decision theory, laboratory experimentation, agent-based or other computational techniques, and other formal methods — or papers advancing the frontiers or critiquing the use of these approaches — are especially appropriate.

Chair: German Gieczewski, Princeton University

Sect. 71 – Methodology

The Methodology section welcomes papers, panels, and roundtable proposals that highlight areas where political science has made distinctive methodological contributions. We are also interested in applied methodological papers focusing on the practical challenges in empirical political research. In all cases, we seek to keep the scope and epistemology of political methodology as broad and inclusive as possible. We particularly welcome full panel proposals around these or any other relevant themes that fit into the sub-discipline.

Chair: Gustavo Diaz, McMaster University (Canada)

Sect. 72 – Research on Teaching and Learning

The section welcomes paper, panel and roundtable proposals on all topics related to educating both undergraduate and graduate students. Proposals could explore such topics as: assessment, civic engagement, curriculum development, diversity within the classroom, experiential learning, internships, service learning, simulations, teaching strategies, and technology. Papers that use empirical evidence (broadly construed) to make and assess claims about the effectiveness of teaching practice are particularly encouraged. Qualitative, interpretive, quantitative, theoretical, or philosophical approaches will all be considered.

Chair: Carly Schmitt, Indiana State University

Sect. 73 – Professional Development

The professional development section aims to facilitate open conversations and informational sessions around specific topics related to career advancement, publishing, teaching, public engagement, and graduate school, as well as the political science profession and its place in the broader educational, cultural, and political environment. Roundtable proposals on all topics related to professional development are welcome. Individuals may also volunteer to participate as panelists on a select number of professional development roundtables. Additional information can be found here.

Chair: Lewis Hoss, MPSA

Sect. 76 – Subfield: Institutions and Theory

This section welcomes Lightning Talk proposals presenting innovative and creative research on political institutions and political theory, whether it be formal theory or normative theory.

Chair: Leah Rosenstiel, Vanderbilt University

Sect. 77 – Subfield: Public Policy and Administration

The Policy and Administration Lightning Talks section invites submission from theoretically motivated research on public policy process, policy analysis, and public administration, defined broadly. The section welcomes submissions from a wide range of theoretical and methodological perspectives that extend our understanding of the political, institutional, and social influences on policy-making, offer insights into the nuances public policy analysis and evaluation, or which contribute new approaches to public policy research. The section also invites submissions from papers that engage historical or current debates across a range of national and international policy areas.

Chair: Jeongyoon Lee, University of Kentucky

Sect. 78 – Subfield: Behavior and Methods

This section welcomes proposals for Lightning Talk presentations in the area of Political Behavior, defined very broadly.  Projects that focus on voting, attitudes and activism of various forms are welcome, as are studies of more foundational political beliefs and orientations. We invite scholars who study American political behavior as well as scholars who study behavioral dynamics in other countries (or who compare across countries) to apply.  Research that devotes attention to various levels and types of context in shaping political behavior and its outcomes will be particularly well received.

Chair: Christopher DeSante, Indiana University – Bloomington

Sect. 79 – Subfield: American Politics

This section welcomes proposals for Lightning Talk presentations in American Politics.

Chair: Ben Bishin, University of California, Riverside

Sect. 80 – Subfield: International Relations

This section welcomes proposals for Lightning Talk presentations on topics in international relations. Submissions may focus on any subfield of international relations, including (but not limited to) peace and conflict studies, international security, foreign policy, international political economy, and international organizations. A broad mix of papers is encouraged, including those informed by any of the major theoretical approaches in international relations, interdisciplinary approaches to international relations questions, and papers using a variety of methodologies to approach important international relations questions.

Chair: Frederick Chen, Ohio State University

Sect. 81 – Subfield: Comparative Politics

This section welcomes proposals for Lightning Talk presentations in Comparative Politics. Submissions may focus on topics such as political regimes, comparative political economy, political institutions, and political behavior, among others.

Chair: Emilia Simison, Tulane University

Sect. 82 – Undergrad: Institutions and Theory

This section welcomes proposals from undergraduate students researching Institutions and Theory, broadly defined. Presentations will be made in a poster format. Please note that posters are limited to in-person participation only; there is no online participation option for posters.

Chair: Annelise Russell, University of Kentucky

Sect. 83 – Undergrad: Public Policy and Administration

This section welcomes proposals from undergraduate students researching Public Policy and Administration, broadly defined. Undergraduate proposals from any theoretical or methodological approach addressing comparative or domestic public policy or administration are encouraged. Presentations will be made in a poster format. Please note that posters are limited to in-person participation only; there is no online participation option for posters.

Chair: Marty Jordan, Michigan State University

Sect. 84 – Undergrad: Behavior and Methods

This section welcomes proposals from undergraduate students researching Behavior and Methods, broadly defined. Presentations will be made in a poster format. Please note that posters are limited to in-person participation only; there is no online participation option for posters.

Chair: Angela McCarthy, University of Notre Dame

Sect. 85 – Undergrad: American Politics

This section welcomes proposals from undergraduate students researching American Politics, broadly defined. Presentations will be made in a poster format. Please note that posters are limited to in-person participation only; there is no online participation option for posters.

Chair: Elizabeth Dorssom, Lincoln University of Missouri

Sect. 86 – Undergrad: International Relations

This section welcomes proposals from undergraduate students researching International Relations, broadly defined. Undergraduate proposals from any theoretical or methodological approach addressing the study of international politics. Presentations will be made in a poster format. Please note that posters are limited to in-person participation only; there is no online participation option for posters.

Chair: Margaret Frost, University of Rhode Island

Sect. 87 – Undergrad: Comparative Politics

This section welcomes proposals from undergraduate students researching Comparative Politics, broadly defined. Undergraduate proposals from any theoretical or methodological approach addressing the study of the comparative or domestic politics of states other than the United States , or the study of the United States in comparison to other countries, are encouraged. Presentations will be made in a poster format. Please note that posters are limited to in-person participation only; there is no online participation option for posters.

Chair: Malliga Och, Denison University

Sect. 88 – Midwest Women’s Caucus for Political Science

The Midwest Women’s Caucus for Political Science is a regional caucus affiliated with the Women’s Caucus for Political Science of the American Political Science Association. The Midwest Caucus promotes professional equity for women in the discipline of political science by sponsoring sessions at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, working with the Association to promote the interests of women in the discipline, encouraging research that acknowledges and investigates the presence and activities of women in political life, and serving as a network for members between annual meetings.

Co-Chair: Amy L. Atchison, Middle Tennessee State University
Co-Chair: J. Cherie Strachan, The University of Akron

Sect. 89 – Midwest Latino/a Caucus

The Latina/o Caucus Section of the MPSA serves as a venue for scholars to showcase their research on the U.S. Latina/o/x diaspora, including but not limited to individuals of Hispanic, Afro-Latino/a/x, indígeno/a/x origins, and other Latin American ancestral origins. We welcome studies that broadly investigate the presence and activities of the Latina/o/x diaspora in all aspects of U.S. political life.

Chair: Ali A. Valenzuela, American University

Sect. 90 – Society for Greek Political Thought

The Society for Greek Political Thought is an interdisciplinary organization devoted to the study of classical political thinking in all of its forms. We welcome paper, roundtable, and panel proposals on the political philosophy, politics, and politically-relevant poetry of the ancient Greeks.

Chair: Mark Lutz, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Sect. 91 – Caucus for New Political Science

Chair: TBA

Sect. 92 – Midwest Caucus for Public Admin

Chair: Brian Daniel Libgober, Northwestern University

Sect. 93 – Non-Profit and NGO Administration

Chair: Tamara Speelmon, MPSA

Sect. 94 – Leadership and Politics

Chair: Heather McDougall, Leadership exCHANGE

Sect. 95 – Politics, Literature and Film

This section invites papers, panels, and roundtable discussions from a wide variety of disciplines regarding the connection between politics and the arts (literature, film and television, visual art, poetry, theatre and performance, etc.). Multiple methodological and theoretical approaches are welcome; topics may vary widely but must focus on how a chosen piece of media relates to political questions.

Chair: Catherine Craig, Arizona State University

Sect. 97 – Working Groups

Working group participants agree to attend, as audience members, a small group of related sessions at the conference. A volunteer coordinator for each working group proposes a topic or theme, selects the sessions for the group to attend, promotes the working group, recruits participants, and facilitates communication among participants. A working group may also organize sessions of their own and/or hold a meeting for additional discussion and interaction.

Individuals holding a Ph.D. may submit a proposal to convene a conference-within-a-conference, or multiple organized sessions related to a single theme, topic, or area of study. Proposals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The convenor(s) are responsible for recruiting participants, organizing them into sessions, and facilitating communication and cooperation within the group. If you are interested in organizing a Working Group or Conference-within-a-Conference, please contact MPSA Professional Development Manager, Lewis Hoss, Ph.D. at hoss@mpsanet.org.

Chair: Lewis Hoss, MPSA

Sect. 98 – Meetings and Receptions

MPSA intends to hold some networking sessions, meetings and receptions. Attendees are also invited to propose meetings, receptions and networking events for the conference. If your group needs to arrange for a meeting, reception, or catered meal in conjunction with the 2024 MPSA Annual Conference, complimentary meeting and reception space is available to our professional colleagues on a first-to-ask, first-to-receive basis. If your group needs to arrange for a function at the conference, please complete this form email it to MPSA Conference Administrator, Bonnie Van Deventer at vandeventer@mpsanet.org by February 2, 2024. Meeting rooms will be assigned on or before February 29, 2024.

Chair: Bonnie Van Deventer, MPSA

 

Information is subject to change.