Saturday, February 4, 2017

On to Baltimore! Luncheon etc.

 
Dear Members:
The Baltimore annual conference is almost here and a few special messages are in order:

First, we are pleased to be sponsoring or co-sponsoring 19 panels and for that, we thank Program Chair Imad Mansour working with Andrew Grant Conference Program Chair, President T.V. Paul who sponsored many theme panels, and all the section and caucus chairs who have worked with us. We are so happy that our presence and network are expanding with each year and each conference. Please note that, as per usual, a Newsletter will be sent out soon by Editor Kevin Funk containing an insert to help you identify our particular panels in what is as usual a very large program. Please note also that there will be a second Global South Dialogue on Wednesday, 10.30AM -12.15PM, followed by our Business Meeting.

Second, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Diana Tussie of FLACSO will be our Distinguished Scholar Honoree this year. Voting ended on January 20. Dr. Tussie received 11 of your votes while our runners-up--selected from a field of 8--Drs J. Braveboy-Wagner and Eudine Barriteau received 8 and 7 votes respectively. ((Please note that for obvious reasons, Dr. Braveboy-Wagner recused herself from anything to do with the DS Honoree process.) All three bios were sent out with our original ballot (http://gscis.blogspot.com/2017/01/distinguished-schoalr-nominees-please.html; yes, the spelling of scholar was inadvertently mixed up).  We will honor Dr. Tussie, and incidentally express our appreciation to the runners-up, at our luncheon to he held on Friday.  The luncheon is off site so here are the details.:


Date: Friday, February 24, 2017
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm
Place: Pratt Street Ale House, 3rd Floor, 206 W. Pratt, Baltimore, MD

 There will be both vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees.
The luncheon is open to (only) bona fide members of the caucus on a first come, first served basis. The usual subsidy of $10 is requested.
The luncheon will also feature a brief book launch: the book Diplomatic Strategies of Nations in the Global South, edited by JBW, is a caucus project that came to fruition in 2016 and we would like to thank the contributors, the majority of whom are members of the caucus. Please indicate if you will attend the luncheon by writing to Imad Mansour <imad.mansour@mail.mcgill.ca>
Once you have received your registration for the luncheon, Treasurer Matthew Bishop will contact you.
See you in Baltimore.

Other Matters:

Cuba Workshop! We are looking forward to holding this collaborative event with our friends in Havana. Please hurry up and send in your proposal. The deadline is February 15. Keep checking http://gscis.blogspot.com/2016/12/call-for-papers-havana-workshop.html for details.


 Voting, voting! Bona fide members should note that ballots for positions ranging from Chair and Vice Chair to Communications Director will shortly be sent to you by the Nominating Committee. Please vote.

Best,
jbw on behalf of Chair and the entire EXCOM and Advisory Committees

Next blog: http://gscis.blogspot.com/2017/02/more-on-baltimore-ipes-activist-scholar.html____________


GSCIS Supports ISA Statement on President Trump's "Travel Ban"
 

ISA Statement Regarding Executive Order on Travel Ban


On Friday, January 27, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order which bans entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, and which suspends entry for refugees, immigrants, dual nationals, and US permanent residents from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, or longer.

As a scholarly organization, ISA has a professional obligation to promote and protect the values of academic freedom. As such, the ISA strongly condemns any action by any government which prevents the free movement of scholars engaged in research on international affairs, or any other scholarly discipline. Indeed, the charter of the Academic Freedom Committee of the ISA includes the following language: "The Committee will document such violations as: government revocation of academic degrees; demotion or dismissal; denial of a petition to emigrate, travel abroad or return to one's country of origin; and arrest, arbitrary detention, disappearance, and extrajudicial killing."
This order, which has already been challenged in Federal Courts, is an infringement upon the academic freedom of scholars from those countries who wish to travel to the United States to conduct research, collaborate with colleagues, and engage in conferences and conventions. It will cause serious disruption in the lives of scholars and students who, prior to the issuing of the order, had already undergone the complex and time-consuming process for obtaining the necessary papers for travel. It may also violate the constitutional rights of scholars and students who are in lawful permanent resident status. Finally, it constitutes a serious disruption of the business of our upcoming 2017 Annual Convention, in Baltimore.
For ISA members attending the ISA Convention in Baltimore, and for concerned members of the general public, we encourage you to attend the two roundtables (room assignment pending) dedicated to the topic of academic freedom:
1.        WB39: Academic Freedom, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (Wednesday, 10:30AM)
2.        SC39: Academic Freedom and Professional Associations (Saturday, 1:45PM)
Scholars negatively affected by this executive order are strongly encouraged to contact the committee through its dedicated email address (academic- freedom@isanet.org).

Sincerely,
T.V. Paul, ISA President 
Ashley Leeds, ISA President-Elect 
Paul Diehl, ISA Past-President 
Mark A. Boyer, ISA Executive Director 
Anthony Lang, Chair, ISA Academic Freedom Committee


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