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-- THE CALL FOR 2009 WORKSHOP LEADERS IS NOW CLOSED --

The American Political Science Association (APSA) is pleased to announce a call for applications from U.S.-based APSA members interested in organizing a team of leaders for a three-week political science workshop, scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, in the summer of 2009.

Background
Supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the 2009 Accra workshop is part of an ongoing three-year effort to organize annual residential political science workshops in Africa. The inaugural workshop was convened in Dakar, Senegal, from July 6-27, 2008 on the theme of “Political Participation;” more information about this first iteration can be found here. Each workshop will be led by a team of two U.S.-based and two Africa-based scholars and is aimed at bringing together 20-25 junior scholars residing in Africa along with 4 U.S.-based advanced graduate students.  The goals of the workshops are to: (1) enhance the capacities of political scientists and their resources in Africa, (2) explore a compelling intellectual theme in political science, (3) provide a forum for connecting participants with recent developments in the field, and (4) support their ongoing research.

Workshop administration and logistics will be led by APSA staff in conjunction with local partners in Accra and in consultation with the selected team of workshop leaders. Workshop leaders will serve as academic directors of the project who are responsible for all substantive content. A modest honorarium will be provided and related expenses (per diem, transportation, and lodging) will be covered as well. Up to four U.S.-based graduate students can be designated by mutual agreement with APSA to participate and assist with program administration.

Applications
Each workshop proposal should be submitted jointly by two U.S.-based APSA members who are interested in co-leading the July 2009 workshop.  Applications should be in three sections:

I. Workshop Theme Proposal (1-2 pages)
The workshop theme proposal should provide a coherent intellectual foundation from which the substance of the workshop will flow and bind together the syllabus and readings. Any research or substantive theme in political science is welcome, but topics of broad theoretical and methodological interest that reach beyond a specific national, regional, or policy focus are preferred.  The theme proposal should address how the theme and methodological questions to be raised will achieve workshop goals and incorporate new developments in the field and literature.

II. Substantive Leadership of the Workshop (3-5 pages)
In this section, applicants must provide information on the following:

• Naming, or establishing a plan for recruiting, the two Africa-based workshop leaders.
• A specific division of labor among the workshop leaders. For example, if different workshop leaders are to assume responsibility for a particular sections, why? How does that arrangement fit with the overall workshop progression and theme?
• Expectations of workshop participants—including anticipated level of reading or other work.
• A commitment to the collective intellectual leadership of the workshop—including devoting  sufficient time for:
  • comprehensively reviewing all participant applications on or about April 2009.
    attending all three weeks of the Accra workshop.
  • consulting regularly with APSA staff through the workshop.
  • communicating with applicants in the run-up to the workshop as needed.
  • mentoring of participants after the workshop.

III. Supplementary Information (no page limit)
This section of the application should provide:

• Recent CVs for proposed workshop leaders.
• A discussion of any relevant experience in organizing workshops.

Application Timeline and Information
Applications should be submitted electronically to APSA in Word format, 12-point font, double spaced (except for Section III, Supplementary Information, which can be single spaced).  Send applications to africaworkshops@apsanet.org by 5 PM EST on Friday, October 24, 2008. Selections will be made by early December. 

If you have questions or would like more information about the workshops or application process, contact us at africaworkshops@apsanet.org or call Helena Saele at (202) 483-2512 x112.