UQ hosts political science conferences during July

The University of Queensland's School of Political Science and International Studies will host two of Australia’s most important conferences for political scientists in July.

400 political scientists are expected to converge on Brisbane for the two conferences.

The Australian Political Science Association (APSA) conference is being held from July 6 to 9. This event was last held at UQ over 10 years ago. The draft program is online.

In addition, the third biennial Oceanic Conference on International Studies (OCIS) is being held at St Leo’s College, St Lucia from July 2 to 4.

"These two conferences showcase the dynamic and diverse research being conducted across this country and internationally in the broad area of politics," the Head of UQ's School of Political Sciences and International Studies, Associate Professor Gillian Whitehouse, said.

"There is a real momentum to the discipline at the moment and the School is very pleased to be promoting this.”

OCIS brings together international studies scholars from Oceania and the rest of the world. The conference represents the growing excellence of international studies scholarship in Oceania and an increased collaborative relationship with international scholars.

International relations theorist, Andrew Linklater, Woodrow Wilson Professor of International Relations at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, will give the keynote address on "Grand Narratives and International Relations". Selected papers from the conference will be published in an OCIS special issue of the journal Global Change, Peace and Security.

APSA is a gathering of over 200 of Australia’s political scientists and researchers. Conference topics include political economy, governance and public policy and the Asia-Pacific. Keynote speakers include Robert Wade, Professor of Political Economy and Development from London School of Economics, and Dr Sally Young from the University of Melbourne, who has authored numerous books on Australian political advertising and government communication.

APSA will culminate on Tuesday, July 8 with a conference dinner featuring Julian Morrow, a member of the ABC’s political satire program, The Chaser.

Like the APSA conference-goers Mr Morrow shares a love of politics. However in his case, politics are grist for a very different mill. Mr Morrow will give an unorthodox perspective on politics through the prism of wit and humour.

For more information contact conference organiser:
Claire Pomery
+61 7 3346 9544 c.pomery@uq.edu.au