Elon University served as the host institution for the International Studies Association – South conference from Oct. 14-15. The conference was held on campus, primarily in Lindner Hall over the fall break weekend.
The International Studies Association is the world’s largest professional organization devoted to research and education in international affairs. Founded in 1959, ISA has more than 5,000 members from over 80 countries around the world. ISA South is a regional section of ISA and represents over 700 faculty members and graduate students across the American south. Over 100 of those members gathered at Elon to present research, discuss effective teaching strategies, and attend a variety of workshops. They were joined by colleagues from as far away as California, London, Israel, and Japan.
The conference was organized by Sean Giovanello, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Elon and Vice President of ISA South, and Laura Roselle, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Communication Section of the International Studies Association. The Political Science Department was heavily involved in the meeting, with a variety of faculty members serving as panel chairs, discussants, or workshop organizers. Political Science faculty members involved in the meeting included Sharon Spray, Jason Kirk, Safia Swimelar, Chalmers Brumbaugh, and Mileah Kromer. Brian Digre, Professor of History and Director of the International Studies Program at Elon, chaired a panel and also delivered a welcome address to attendees at the Friday evening Welcome Reception. Nancy Harris, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, spoke at the Saturday afternoon Awards Luncheon, and drew parallels between ISA’s mission and the Elon commitment to internationalizing its campus and curriculum.
Sarah Naiman, an International Studies Major from the Class of 2012, presented a paper titled, “The Naxalite Movement and the State: Implications for Counterinsurgency Policies.” The paper is part of her Elon College Fellows Project, which is mentored by Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jason Kirk. Kirk also presented a paper at the conference, titled “Keeping an Eye on South Asian Skies: Washington’s ‘Pivotal Deterrence’ In India-Pakistan Crises, 1990-2008.” Andrew Black, class of 2011, returned to campus to present a paper titled, “Rhetorical Battlefields: Transnational Islamist Insurgency, Dialectical Strategy, and post-Ba’athist Iraq from 2005-2007.” Black’s research was an outgrowth of his senior seminar project, mentored by Roselle. David Levine, Assistant Professor at the Elon School of Law, presented his research titled “The Social Layer of Freedom of Information Law.”
Attendees were treated to a captivating address by the two keynote speakers at the conference, Ben O’Loughlin and Alister Miskimmon. O’Loughlin is a Professor of International Relations and Co-Director of the New Political Communication Unit at Royal Holloway, University of London. Miskimmon is Senior Lecturer in European Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London. O’Loughlin and Miskimmon are widely published and have pioneered research on Strategic Narratives, an increasingly important way of explaining policy formulation and adoption in international politics. Longtime collaborators with Roselle, O’Loughlin and Miskimmon led a wide ranging discussion about the use of strategic narratives and their increasing relevance in explaining important issues in the field of international studies.
The 2012 ISA-South Annual Meeting will be held in Atlanta.