The American Political Science Association is meeting in Washington, DC, the epicenter of American government, for the 2014 Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Washington, DC, is always an exciting meeting for the association, bringing together academics and practicing political scientists.
Program cochairs Melanie Manion, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Simon Jackman, Stanford University, have framed the meeting around the theme “Politics after the Digital Revolution” that asks “political scientists to consider politics and the study of politics in an age now long characterized by the widespread use of digital technologies. Governments and corporations are collecting vast amounts of data about citizens, and the state’s capacity for surveillance has never been greater. In practically every circumstance, digital technologies raise questions about the relationship between governments and private individuals. Yet, technology also enables citizens to bypass traditional channels of political communication. Around the world, citizen-journalists are using mobile phones and the social media to communicate political events as they unfold in the face of government action to censor information and repress its sources. At the same time, across states, information warfare is presenting new security challenges to existing power configurations. The digital revolution has also changed the way politics is studied and taught. Political scientist can share evidence and communicate knowledge more widely and easily than ever before.” We invite all political scientists to join us as we discuss this important theme, as well as other current topics of importance in the profession.
An anticipated 7,000 political scientists will travel to Washington, DC, to take part in the APSA Annual Meeting, consisting of more than 800 panels. These sessions are created from a pool of more than 10,000 proposals by members of the program committee consisting of chairs from 54 divisions and more than 60 related groups that span the major subfields of political science. For the 2014 meeting, APSA is pleased to announce the addition of the African Politics Conference Group as a formal program division.
For the latest information on the 2014 APSA Annual Meeting, visit www.apsanet.org/2014.
REGISTRATION
Registration is open for the 2014 Annual Meeting. All presenters must register by June 1 to secure their space in the program. Other attendees can register at the preregistration rates until August 1. You can register for the meeting by logging into your MyAPSA account and following the link under the 2014 Annual Meeting header. If you do not have a MyAPSA account, you can set one up for free at www.apsanet.org/member/. Both member and nonmember registration rates are available, although we do encourage nonmembers to join to take advantage of the discounted member registration rates and the other valuable services the association offers.
Photos of Iwo Jima Memorial at night and Smithsonian Castle are courtesy of the Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau.
HOUSING
APSA has negotiated special meeting room rates at the several Washington, DC, hotels. You can only secure the reduced meeting rate by booking your room through APSA’s official housing bureau, Travel Planners. For more information on meeting hotels and to book your room, visit www.apsanet.org/2014 and click the Hotels link.
TRAVEL GRANTS
APSA will accept applications for meeting travel grants until June 1. You must preregister for the meeting before being considered. To view the criteria and application procedures, visit the meeting website at www.apsanet.org/2014.
SHORT COURSES
Each year, on the Wednesday prior to the start of the Annual Meeting, APSA hosts short courses, half- or full-day sessions that provide opportunities for meeting attendees to enhance knowledge and reinvigorate teaching or research skills. Review short course details online, including course registration information. Please note that you must register for the Annual Meeting to take part in a short course.
WORKING GROUPS
Consider joining a Working Group during the meeting. Working Groups consist of small groups of scholars who convene throughout the meeting to discuss a common topic or subfield. Group members draw on the rich content of the Annual Meeting by agreeing to attend a specified set of panels and meeting afterward to discuss the emerging themes. Working groups can enrich member participation by creating a community and networking experience.
SPECIAL PROGRAMMING
In addition to the programmatic highlights listed here, the preliminary program will list details about each panel session online beginning in mid-May. The online program will be updated daily until the meeting begins.
AWARDS LUNCHEON AND CEREMONY
The annual Awards Luncheon and Ceremony, Thursday, August 28, 2014, honors scholars for exceptional contributions to the discipline and profession. After the invitation-only luncheon, the ceremony is open to all APSA Annual Meeting attendees.
GRADUATE STUDENT RECEPTION
The Graduate Student Reception is one of the most highly anticipated events of every annual meeting. This networking opportunity is a way for the association to recognize the future of the profession and to provide opportunities for graduate students to connect with peers.
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AND OPENING RECEPTION
On Thursday evening, August 28, 2014, APSA President John Aldrich, Duke University, will address the association. Following the address, APSA invites all members to the Opening Reception for an evening of music, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and networking.
RECEPTION HONORING TEACHING
Each year, the association recognizes those who have made a significant impact both on the profession and in the classroom. Campus teaching award winners from across the country will be honored at this special event, which is open to all attendees.
ALL-MEMBER MEETING
The all-member meeting is an opportunity to bring association business before the APSA president. In additional, the general membership meeting is the time when current APSA President John Aldrich, Duke University, will hand the gavel to President-elect Rodney Hero, University of California, Berkeley. All members should attend this important meeting.
VISITING WASHINGTON
Washington, DC, is a vibrant, bustling city. It is known for its museums, monuments, and national landmarks, but also has a wealth of cultural, musical, and theatrical events. Many of the attractions, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the National Gallery of Art, and the US Botanic Gardens, are free. You may wish to visit the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex, which includes 19 museums and galleries and the National Zoological Park. Most of the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are also free.
Washington also has many diverse neighborhoods. There is something for everyone. Visit Georgetown, with its many upscale shops and restaurants; it is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Washington. Penn Quarter is an arts and entertainment district with restaurants, art galleries, theaters, and trendy stores. Old Town Alexandria, located along the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia, is the third oldest historic district in the United States. This neighborhood contains more than 4,200 historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th century, including churches, museums, shops, and restaurants.
To start planning your trip, visit http://washington.org/
