Mar 13, 2018
ISA 2018: 4 ways to catch up with International Affairs in San Francisco
Ben Horton
Ahead of our biggest conference of the year, find out what the journal will be doing in San Francisco, and how you can meet the editors.
The International Studies Association’s Annual Convention has been a mainstay of the International Affairs calendar for years. The editorial team sees it as an un-rivalled opportunity to engage with authors and readers, both past and (hopefully) future. In 2018 we’re getting more involved than we ever have before. Read on to find out our activities throughout the conference.
1) Visit us in the Exhibit Hall
For the first time International Affairs is hosting a booth in the Exhibit Hall, alongside our colleagues at Chatham House. Stop by to learn about Chatham House fellowship opportunities, to browse recent issues of the journal, research papers or just to chat with one of the team.
2) Book a meeting with one of our editors
If you would rather have a one-to-one conversation about publishing your research, please get in touch prior to the conference. Commissioning Editor Andrew Dorman, Book Reviews Editor Krisztina Csortea and the editors of the new Chatham House book series, Insights, are keen to discuss your latest work. To book a meeting please email our conference coordinator Ben Horton at bhorton@chathamhouse.org.
3) Join us at our drinks reception
At 7pm on Wednesday 4 April we are kicking off our conference activities with a drinks reception to celebrate the winner of our inaugural Early Career Prize. Join us in the Yosemite B room at Hilton Union Square for wine — the rather copious first round is on us!
4) Attend one of our panels
International Affairs is hosting a range of exciting panels and roundtables throughout the conference. Here’s a full list:
- TA38: Academic Engagement with Think Tanks and Policy-Makers
This roundtable is one of two collaborations with the Bridging the Gap Project, based in Washington D.C., in which academics and think tank professionals will explore the intersections between policy, academia and public opinion. This session will look specifically at communicating policy-relevant research through engagement with think tanks.
- TB09: Trusting Enemies
This roundtable brings together a group of leading specialists on international conflict and cooperation to discuss Nicholas Wheeler’s new book, Trusting Enemies. This pioneering work challenges established theories of trust in world politics, arguing that between enemies trust evolves most fundamentally in face to face interactions between national leaders. The discussion will form the basis of a review forum in a future issue of International Affairs.
- TC05: Getting Published in Key Journals: Meet the Editors of European Journal of International Security, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Affairs, International Studies Review and Review of International Studies
This panel brings together editors of journals covering the International Relations field to provide an opportunity for junior scholars to develop their understanding of the publishing process in an informal interactive setting. Come along to have your questions on publishing with academic journals answered, and to meet our editor Andrew Dorman.
- TC54: Strong Opinions, Rigid Theory: Can Academics Do Public Engagement and Still be Scholars?
This second roundtable with the Bridging the Gap Project brings together prominent scholars and public intellectuals to discuss the future place of academics in the public sphere. How have the rules of public intellectual debate evolved in recent years? Are scholars still relevant to public and policy debates? If so, how can we influence these debates in a moment of diminished public esteem? What lessons can we draw from current discourse in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States?
- SD62: Japan Pivots Within Asia
This panel will present papers from the forthcoming July special issue of International Affairs, on Japanese grand strategy. The speakers will explore Tokyo’s new muscularity in its security policy beyond the simple security dilemma with China. Papers will focus on changed perceptions of the US, China and the ROK in Japan’s grand strategy, as well as the possibilities arising from strategic outreach to Russia, India, Australia and Southeast Asia. Papers also cover the significance of Japan’s newly established NSC, intelligence reforms, new alliance operating concepts and the parliament in security policymaking.
And finally…
Three of the editorial team have signed up for a post-conference half marathon in aid of the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, a London-based charity fighting a little-known but deadly tropical disease. Come along on Sunday morning to cheer us on, and please support our fundraising via this JustGiving page:
