RC33 will organise an open workshop (four sessions) in Helsinki on 12-14 December. The workshop title is "The state of political science: diversity or unity in a globalising world?".

Workshop abstract
Our knowledge about the state of political science needs constant updating. A number of studies focusing on the discipline in different countries have appeared in recent years (e.g. papers in the IPSA 2008 world conference in Montréal). However, higher education and research structures are changing so rapidly today that many of the studies have already become outdated. Most studies are also general accounts of political science in different countries. Important as these are, there is also a need for more specific analyses. That is why the workshop will focus on the state of political science from three different perspectives: 1) the impact of recent political and economic developments on political science as a discipline, 2) the impact of recent developments in education and research on political science as a discipline, 3) the state of political science from the perspective of its sub-fields. Some of the more detailed topics include: What are the conditions for political science research under authoritarian regimes? Has the recent financial crisis changed the conditions for political science research? Have the development of the global academic market place and the marketization of higher education affected political science as a discipline? How do new educational policies, higher education reorganizations and changes in disciplinary associations affect political science as a discipline? How does political science cope with the rise of interdisciplinary studies? What is the current state of political science sub-fields (e.g. electoral studies, gender studies, international relations, political theory).

A detailed programme can be downloaded from the conference website.