APSA Dissertation Workshops
APSA sponsors in-person & virtual dissertation workshops annually. Our in-person events are held the Wednesday prior to the APSA Annual Meeting. Each full-day workshop includes six PhD candidates who present a dissertation chapter, along with two faculty members who lead the workshop and moderate discussions. Our virtual workshops are held over a two-week period during the summer. Each virtual workshop includes six PhD candidates who present a dissertation chapter, along with two faculty members who lead the workshop and moderate discussions.
If you are interested in co-leading a 2024 workshop, please email grad@apsanet.org. Co-leaders are provided with honoraria for their work.
These in-person workshops will take place on Wednesday, September 4, in conjunction with the 2024 APSA Annual Meeting, held in Philadelphia, PA.
- Black Politics in the United States
Application deadline: May 19, 2024 | Apply here - Migration and Citizenship
Application deadline: May 19, 2024 | Apply here - Comparative & Multi-method Approaches within Political Economy Research
Application deadline: May 19, 2024 | Apply here
2024 Dissertation Workshops
Black Politics in the United States | Apply here
Co-Leaders:
- Dr. Periloux Peay, University of Maryland, College Park
- Dr. Jenn Jackson, Syracuse University
Workshop Description: Many scholars of black politics find themselves at a troubling crossroads. There is currently a concerted effort at the local, state, and federal levels of government to undermine, discredit, and discourage those tasked with teaching and studying black politics. This reality is almost certainly impacting the development of graduate students interested in illuminating and explaining the conditions many black Americans face in the United States and beyond.
We seek to combat ideologically extreme and racist ideas that threaten our collective knowledge by providing space to develop and engage with emerging scholars whose dissertations explore black politics in America. This workshop will be held in person on Wednesday, August 30th, at the 2023 annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA. The ideal candidates will be ABD students who have defended their dissertation prospectus in a topic focused on black politics. Candidates will be asked to submit a single chapter from their dissertation project for feedback and discussion. They will also have an opportunity to provide a brief presentation of the broader project to begin the conversation with colleagues at the mini-conference.
We invite submissions in the following, but not exhaustive, topical areas of black politics situated across the full spectrum of theoretical and methodological orientations:
- Critical studies rooted in blackness/anti-blackness
- Black political behavior
- Black representation
- Black-led social movements
- Black political psychology
- Intersectionality
- LGBTQ+ identity and black politics
- Black rural politics
- Policies that disproportionately impact black communities
- Black incarceration
This in-person workshop will be organized into two parts. The first section will be devoted to providing targeted feedback and facilitating robust conversations around chapters submitted by the individual students. The second section will focus on developing strategies for completing the dissertation, positioning the work on the academic job market, and advancing the dissertation project while on the tenure track.
Through this process, we will provide individual students with guidance and create a space for a broader discussion about the state of the literature and avenues for new research. The workshop will require participants to engage in peer review and will be a collaborative space. Students will leave the workshop with directed revisions to strengthen both their theoretical and methodological approaches to dissertations and future studies. Finally, this workshop will create a stronger relationship with their peers and others that they are in intellectual conversation with. We intend for students to use this opportunity to build their scholarly network, engage with peers and faculty with shared interests and experiences, and commune with one another – “relax. relate. release.”Migration and Citizenship | Apply here
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Co-Leaders:
- Dr. Margaret Peters, University of California Los Angeles
- Dr. Juliette Tolay, Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg
Workshop Description: This in-person dissertation workshop welcomes proposals from PhD candidates working on any aspect of citizenship and/or migration, such as those highlighted by the APSA Migration and Citizenship Organized Section:
- The local, national, transnational, international, and global politics of voluntary and forced migration, including political attitudes and orientations both towards and of all categories of migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and economic, family, circular, business, high-skilled, and irregular migrants.
- Immigration and emigration policies and laws, including the international relations, international political economy, and political philosophy aspects of such policies and laws.
- Immigrant integration and refugee resettlement policies and their implementation, including immigrant and refugee civic engagement, political incorporation, and citizen-making.
- Border and security studies as well as studies on intranational, regional, transnational, and international cooperation on the management and control of migration.
- The changing meanings and practices of citizenship, including the relationship between citizenship and identity, gender, multiculturalism, race and ethnicity, racism and xenophobia, human rights, indigenous peoples, empires and imperialism, civic engagement, transnationality, welfare, and public policy.
- The relationship between citizenship and transformations in or political contestation of sovereignty and political community, including state formation or disintegration, nationalism, sovereignty or secession movements, language, ethnic or other minorities, the politics of diaspora mobilization (including conflicts, democratization, voting, and economic development), and subnational, supranational (e.g., European Union), multilevel, corporate, or global citizenship.
- The politics of nationality and citizenship (and the distinctions between them), including the moral and empirical rights and obligations attached to citizenship, comparative or historical nationality law, statelessness, and policies and practices concerning the acquisition and loss of nationality through such procedures as naturalization and expatriation as well as dual or multiple citizenship.
Comparative & Multi-Method Approaches within Political Economy Research | Apply Here
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Co-Leaders:
- Dr. Javier Pérez Sandoval, University of Oxford
- Dr. Elizabeth G. Pfeffer, Dartmouth College
Workshop Description: Comparative scholars increasingly draw upon a variety of methods to investigate key questions raised by political economies across the global community. This “triangulation” of approaches often leads to substantially richer and more nuanced accounts of variation across and within countries on key matters of democratic policy and politics. In this workshop, the co-leaders will support early career researchers in considering the utility and sharpening the application of mixed methods approaches to key political economy questions including, but not limited to, such topics as redistribution, democratization, economic policy, unionization, and social policy. The workshop is open to participants who utilize two or more methodologies of any nature within their thesis. Although individual chapters proposed for the workshop may utilize one method exclusively, participants should be prepared to contextualize the piece within their broader dissertation. We welcome research focused on any substantive area within political economy (broadly construed) and any regional, country, or subnational geographic focus.
Previous Workshops
Black Politics in the United States
Co-Leaders:
- Dr. Periloux Peay, Georgia State University
- Dr. Jenn Jackson, Syracuse University
Workshop Description: Many scholars of Black Politics find themselves at a troubling crossroads. There is currently a concerted effort at the local, state, and federal levels of government to undermine, discredit, and discourage those tasked with teaching and studying Black Politics. This reality is almost certainly impacting the development of graduate students interested in illuminating and explaining the conditions many Black Americans face in the United States and beyond.
We seek to combat ideologically extreme and racist ideas that threaten our collective knowledge by providing space to develop and engage with emerging scholars whose dissertations explore Black Politics in America. This workshop will be held in person on Wednesday, August 30th, at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA. The ideal candidates will be ABD students who have defended their dissertation prospectus in a topic focused on Black Politics. Candidates will be asked to submit a single chapter from their dissertation project for feedback and discussion. They will also have an opportunity to provide a brief presentation of the broader project to begin the conversation with colleagues at the mini-conference.
We invite submissions in the following, but not exhaustive, topical areas of Black Politics situated across the full spectrum of theoretical and methodological orientations:
- Critical studies rooted in Blackness/anti-Blackness
- Black political behavior
- Black representation
- Black-led social movements
- Black political psychology
- Intersectionality
- LGBTQ+ identity and Black politics
- Black rural politics
- Policies that disproportionately impact Black communities
- Black incarceration
This in-person workshop will be organized into two parts. The first section will be devoted to providing targeted feedback and facilitating robust conversations around chapters submitted by the individual students. The second section will focus on developing strategies for completing the dissertation, positioning the work on the academic job market, and advancing the dissertation project while on the tenure track.
Through this process, we will provide individual students with guidance and create a space for a broader discussion about the state of the literature and avenues for new research. The workshop will require participants to engage in peer review and will be a collaborative space. Students will leave the workshop with directed revisions to strengthen both their theoretical and methodological approaches to dissertations and future studies. Finally, this workshop will create a stronger relationship with their peers and others that they are in intellectual conversation with. We intend for students to use this opportunity to build their scholarly network, engage with peers and faculty with shared interests and experiences, and commune with one another – “Relax. Relate. Release.”Migration and Citizenship
>Co-leaders:
- Dr. Margaret Peters, University of California Los Angeles
- Dr. Adrian Shin, University of Colorado Boulder
Workshop Description: This in-person dissertation workshop welcomes proposals from PhD candidates working on any aspect of citizenship and/or migration, such as those highlighted by the APSA Migration and Citizenship Organized Section:
- The local, national, transnational, international, and global politics of voluntary and forced migration, including political attitudes and orientations both towards and of all categories of migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and economic, family, circular, business, high-skilled, and irregular migrants;
- Immigration and emigration policies and laws, including the international relations, international political economy, and political philosophy aspects of such policies and laws;
- Immigrant integration and refugee resettlement policies and their implementation, including immigrant and refugee civic engagement, political incorporation, and citizen-making;
- Border and security studies as well as studies on intranational, regional, transnational, and international cooperation on the management and control of migration;
- The changing meanings and practices of citizenship, including the relationship between citizenship and identity, gender, multiculturalism, race and ethnicity, racism and xenophobia, human rights, indigenous peoples, empires and imperialism, civic engagement, transnationality, welfare, and public policy;
- The relationship between citizenship and transformations in or political contestation of sovereignty and political community, including state formation or disintegration, nationalism, sovereignty or secession movements, language, ethnic or other minorities, the politics of diaspora mobilization (including conflicts, democratization, voting, and economic development), and subnational, supranational (e.g., European Union), multilevel, corporate, or global citizenship;
- The politics of nationality and citizenship (and the distinctions between them), including the moral and empirical rights and obligations attached to citizenship, comparative or historical nationality law, statelessness, and policies and practices concerning the acquisition and loss of nationality through such procedures as naturalization and expatriation as well as dual or multiple citizenship.
New Topics in European Politics (Virtual)
Co-leaders:
- Dr. Mareike Kleine, London School of Economics
- Dr. Lukas Obholzer, Leiden University
Workshop Description: We invite any and all graduate students studying European politics to submit proposals. Mareike Kleine has special expertise in EU politics, international political economy, and international organizations. Lukas Obholzer has special expertise in political behavior, legislative politics, social media, and comparative politics. However, we are open to any and all submissions that engage European politics and that would benefit from feedback. All methods are welcome to this virtual workshop. A summary of the schedule is as follows:
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- Week 1 (June 12-June 16): Group presentations and one-on-one sessions with faculty co-leaders. Please note: chapters will be due on June 1 for leaders and participants to review before the workshop
- Week 2 (June 19-June 23): Independent writing & revising week.
- Week 3 (June 26-June 30): Group presentations, feedback, and debrief session, with optional one-on-one sessions with faculty co-leaders.
- Please note: Weeks 1 & 3 will include approximately 8-10 hours of meeting time, while the exact days of the week and times will be determined once the participants have been selected to best accommodate the time zones represented.
New Topics in European Politics
Co-Leaders
- Rahsaan Maxwell, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Mareike Kleine, London School of Economics
We invite any and all graduate students studying European politics to submit proposals. Mareike Kleine has special expertise in international political economy and international organizations. Rahsaan Maxwell has special expertise in political behavior, immigration, diversity and globalization. However, we are open to any and all submissions that engage European politics and that would benefit from feedback.
State Politics and Policy Dissertation Workshop
Co-Leaders:
- Dan Mallinson, Penn State, Harrisburg
- Ellen Seljan, Lewis and Clark College
Description
This virtual dissertation workshop will provide an opportunity for PhD candidates studying State Politics and Policy to present a chapter from their dissertation, receive feedback and faculty coaching, and connect with peers conducting research on similar issues. This virtual dissertation workshop will focus on providing both faculty and peer feedback to doctoral candidates pursuing their doctorate with a focus on politics and/or policy in the American states. Graduate students in the dissertation phase may apply. The topical focus can span the breadth of the subfield of state politics and policy. We are particularly interested in supporting scholars who are examining issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the states and those who are themselves from groups underrepresented in the discipline of political science. Dissertations from any epistemological approach are acceptable. The goal of the workshop is to offer doctoral candidates a space to workshop their ideas with faculty active in the subfield and to begin building an academic network. Doctoral candidates should choose a single chapter from their dissertation to workshop.
Citizenship and Migration
Co-Leaders:
- Willem Maas, York University
- Beth Whitaker, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Description
This dissertation workshop welcomes proposals from PhD candidates working on any aspect of citizenship and/or migration, such as those highlighted by the APSA Migration and Citizenship Organized Section:
- The local, national, transnational, international, and global politics of voluntary and forced migration, including political attitudes and orientations both towards and of all categories of migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and economic, family, circular, business, high-skilled, and irregular migrants;
- Immigration and emigration policies and laws, including the international relations, international political economy, and political philosophy aspects of such policies and laws;
- Immigrant integration and refugee resettlement policies and their implementation, including immigrant and refugee civic engagement, political incorporation, and citizen-making;
- Border and security studies as well as studies on intranational, regional, transnational, and international cooperation on the management and control of migration;
- The changing meanings and practices of citizenship, including the relationship between citizenship and identity, gender, multiculturalism, race and ethnicity, racism and xenophobia, human rights, indigenous peoples, empires and imperialism, civic engagement, transnationality, welfare, and public policy;
- The relationship between citizenship and transformations in or political contestation of sovereignty and political community, including state formation or disintegration, nationalism, sovereignty or secession movements, language, ethnic or other minorities, the politics of diaspora mobilization (including conflicts, democratization, voting, and economic development), and subnational, supranational (e.g., European Union), multilevel, corporate, or global citizenship;
- The politics of nationality and citizenship (and the distinctions between them), including the moral and empirical rights and obligations attached to citizenship, comparative or historical nationality law, statelessness, and policies and practices concerning the acquisition and loss of nationality through such procedures as naturalization and expatriation as well as dual or multiple citizenship.
Political Violence (Comparative Politics)
Co-Leaders:
- Megan M. Turnbull, Department of International Affairs, University of Georgia
- Azeez O. Olaniyan, Department of Political Science, Federal University Oye Ekiti
Descrption
This workshop will be held in-person at the 2022 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 14 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. All candidates must be pursuing their Ph.D. in political science. In order to apply you must be an ABD (all-but-dissertation) PhD candidate who has successfully defended a dissertation proposal.
Political violence has become one of the forces reconfiguring the trajectories, geographies, nature, and economies of countries around the world. As brought to the fore by the 9/11 attacks and responses to it, politically-driven violence can assume grim dimension, and can also change the ways of the world in many ramifications. Also, as evidenced in the refugee crises in the recent times, the brunt of political violence could be borne by society that may not even be directly involved in it. Political violence is all-encompassing, including a variegated issues such as terrorism, genocide, occupation, invasion, torture, capital punishment, police brutality, rebellion, insurrection, electoral violence, coup d’état, wrongful imprisonment, illegal detention, forced eviction, rioting, revolution, mass killings, civil war, counter-insurgency, denial of statehood, exclusion and even denial of citizenship. Despite growing interconnectedness of the world and ascendancy of democratic ideals in the world, political violence continues to be a recurring decimal, with debilitating effects on peace, security, and the economy. The rampancy and debilitating effects of political violence makes it a compelling area of research focus by researchers in the humanities and social sciences. But researching political violence, and writing dissertation on it on it, could be challenging. This dissertation completion workshop seeks to improve the skills of graduate students in identifying and unpacking challenges associated with dissertation writing on all areas of political violence. It seeks to shed more light on the nature and forms of contemporary political violence and how to go about researching them for the purpose of writing good dissertation. In essence, the workshop sets out to take students through the mills of report writing to doctoral students in furthering the quality of their dissertation on political violence.
Manuscripts are invited on the following, but not exhaustive, areas in political violence:
- Ethnic politics and violence
- Rioting, revolution, and rebellion
- Electoral violence
- Civil wars, communal violence, insurrection, and uprising
- Insurgency and counter-insurgency
- Terrorism, mass killings and genocide
- Police brutality
- Coup d’états and democratic reversals
- Invasion, forced eviction and unprovoked attacks
- Political exclusion, citizenship, and statehood denials
- Illegal detention, capital punishment
The leaders will draw on their rich pedigree to organize a stimulating workshop. The workshop shall be organized into two broad sessions. We shall focus the first session on general tips on doctoral dissertation, especially writing of introduction, doing literature review, setting the theories, research methods, result analysis, discussion of findings and drawing conclusions and making recommendations. The second will dwell on extensive discussions and feedback on the chapters submitted by individual student. Lastly, facilitators will provide useful tips on professional development such as job placement, publications, and grant opportunities.
International Law, Human Rights, and the Politics of Rights in International Relations
- Audrey Comstock, , Assistant Professor, Arizona State University
- Heather Smith-Cannoy, Associate Professor, Arizona State University
Public Administration and Policy
- Daniel Mallinson, , Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg
- Darrell Lovell, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin
Communication and Collaboration in Congress
- Annelise Russell, Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky
- Alison Craig, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin
The Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Political Behavior
Co-Leaders
- Nadia Brown, Associate Professor, Purdue University
- Sarah Gershon, Associate Professor, Georgia State University
Nationalism and Populism in International Relations
- Jiyoung Ko, Assistant Professor, Bates College
- Yaiping Wang, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Notre Dame University
Description
This workshop will bring together PhD candidates researching on nationalism, national identity, populism, and public opinion in international relations (including both international security and international political economy). Each participant will share a chapter of their dissertation prior to the workshop. All participants will read each other’s work and prepare feedback on how the chapter can be improved. For each presentation, one participant will also be assigned as a primary discussant in order to facilitate more focused discussion. This workshop will offer a valuable opportunity for PhD candidates to get constructive feedback on their dissertation chapter, develop a network of peers, and exchange their views on the direction of future research on these under-explored, yet increasingly important topics in international relations.
Migration and Citizenship
- Fiona Adamson, Associate Professor, SOAS University of London
- Willem Maas, Jean Monnet Chair and Associate Professor, York University
Descriptio