Introduction to the Joint Sessions
The ECPR Joint Sessions of Workshops have taken place
annually for the last 35 years and are now one of
the major events in European political science, with
500-600 people participating most years. Workshops
are designed to be a forum for substantive discussion
on research in progress and collaboration among scholars.
In order to emphasise the need for real interchange
during these sessions, the large conference model
was rejected, as was that of the round table. The
workshops are gatherings of approximately 15-20 participants
from different institutions, lasting about five days.
The topics of discussion are precisely defined, and
only those scholars currently working in the workshop's
field are invited. The main aim of the workshops is
to produce a feeling of participation and of equality
of endeavour between advanced students, younger members
of the profession and well-established professors.
Each participant presents a paper or research document
for discussion as well as taking part in the discussion
of the other papers presented. It is hoped that some
of these workshops will lead to the creation of permanent
research groups and standing groups as well as to
continuing collaboration between members.
Who can direct a workshop?
Any scholar belonging to an institution that is a
full member of the European Consortium for Political
Research may propose to direct a workshop. Please
note that co-directors cannot be from the same institution,
and should be from a different country. Associate
members may propose to co-direct a workshop with a
scholar belonging to a full ECPR member institution.
Workshop proposals should cover
the following points:
- Outline of the topic: Explain why there is a
need for a workshop on the subject, bearing in mind
that the topic should not have been covered by another
workshop during the past two years.
- Relation to existing research: Explain how the
workshop topic relates to existing research/publications
in the area.
- Participants: Indicate who the likely participants
are to be. Note that all workshops should be open
rather than confined to an existing closed group
of specialists.
- Type of paper: Try to indicate the type of paper
you wish to attract, e.g. empirical, case study,
comparative, theory.
- Funding: Give an indication of foundations or
research councils to which you would apply for funding
the workshop. Note that workshop directors are strongly
urged to seek such financial support before depending
on hard-pressed ECPR funds.
- Biographical note: Please outline (in 60-80 words)
your current research interests, most recent publications,
academic affiliation and status.
Deadline for proposals:
Proposals should be submitted to the ECPR Central
Services by 15 February each year. Proposals are considered
by the ECPR’s Executive Committee at its meeting
during the Joint Sessions in the year preceding. Proposers
will be informed whether their workshop has been accepted
for inclusion in the academic programme within one
month of the meeting of the Committee.
Proposal form:
You may submit your proposal online via web forms
or as an attached document via email.
To submit your proposal via email, please send the
following information along with your proposal (which
should be typed using 1.5 line spacing on two/three
A4 pages covering the points outlined in the guidelines
above):
- Title of Proposed Workshop
- Name(s) of workshop director(s) [maximum of two
persons]
- Name and address of institution(s)
- Telephone Number(s)
- Fax Number(s)
- E-mail address(es)
Please make sure the above information is accurate
as it will be used in all future correspondence and
printed in the academic programme.
This email should be sent to ecpr@essex.ac.uk
For further information about the actual running
of a workshop please also see 'General Information
for Workshop Directors'.
For further information about the Joint Sessions
in general please contact the ECPR central services
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