British Politics Group

The British Politics Group is a nonpartisan research organization interested in improving the development, communication, and dissemination of knowledge about British politics. It has existed for over 30 years and consists primarily, but not exclusively, of academic political scientists in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries, notably Canada and Australia. The membership is over 200 faculty, other professionals, and graduate students. Many of the leading scholars of British politics worldwide are members. The BPG was founded in 1975 specifically to encourage the study of British politics in North America

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Samuel H. Beer Prize for the Best Dissertation on British Politics

The Beer Prize was developed by the British Politics Group to encourage the study of British politics by graduate students and to reward exceptional work in that area of study. The principle criterion for awarding the Prize is the dissertation’s contribution to the understanding of British politics, regardless of whether the study is exclusively British or comparative research. We invite nominations for the 2009 award of $300 US for the best doctoral dissertation on British politics completed during the calendar years 2006, 2007, or 2008. All nominees must have received their Ph. D. from a department in the U.S. or Canada. Either a supervising professor or a department’s director of graduate studies may nominate a dissertation. Either the supervising professor or the dissertation author must be a member of the BPG (can join upon submission). No one person may nominate more than one dissertation. The dissertation should be forwarded as a single PDF file along with a brief letter of nomination. All material should be submitted by March 1, 2009.

Donald E. Stokes Dissertation Research Fellowship

The fellowship honors Donald E. Stokes, a founding member of the British Politics Group, a member of its first Executive Committee, and co-author of the seminal book, Political Change in Britain. The award of $1000 U.S. is intended to assist a graduate student at a North American University working on a dissertation on British politics (broadly defined to include comparative and historical work as well as contemporary British politics) to conduct research in the United Kingdom. The application deadline for the 2009 competition is March 15, 2009. Applications should include a prospectus of 3-5 double-spaced, typewritten pages which outlines the project and makes clear how the fellowship will aid the research, plus a brief C.V. of no more than three pages. A letter from the Chair of the Dissertation Committee concerning the research is also required. Electronic submissions are acceptable. Research should be conducted in the United Kingdom sometime during the period June 2009 through August 2010. The successful applicant is required to submit a brief report (3-5 double-spaced pages) on the research financed by the fellowship by September 30, 2010. Applications will be judged by an international committee of British politics scholars. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision on their application by May 30, 2009.

James B. Christoph Prize for the Best Conference Paper on British Politics by a Junior Faculty Member

The Christoph Prize for the Best Conference Paper on British Politics presented by a junior faculty member is named in honor of the late James B. Christoph, a leading scholar and former President of the BPG. The paper (or poster) must have been presented at a conference during the calendar year 2008. All papers on British politics, whether solely on Britain or comparative, are eligible. The author/presenter must have: (a) already received his or her Ph.D. at the time the paper was presented; and (b) been an untenured, full-time (tenure-track or visiting) or part-time faculty member at any institution of higher education in North America at the time of presentation. Only one paper may be submitted per applicant. The prize is $200 US. Those wishing to be considered for the prize should submit an electronic copy of the paper by April 1, 2009.

All applications should be sent to TERRENCE CASEY, Executive Director, BPG

Email: casey1@rose-hulman.edu

Phone: (812) 877-8281

Address: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 5500 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47803