ISA 2025

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Harrison, Kathryn

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Jan 26, 2025, 11:39:42 PM1/26/25
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Hi all,

 

I am curious how other non-US ISA members are thinking about attending ISA in Chicago in light of all that Trump is doing and threatening already. I appreciate that there are many non-American scholars for whom ISA an important opportunity to share their perspectives, though I can’t imagine some of them either can’t or won’t be attending this year.

 

For me, a business-as-usual trip to the US feels like it’s normalizing Trump’s actions.

 

I genuinely welcome others’ thoughts.

 

Kathryn

 

 

Kathryn Harrison

McLean Family Chair in Canadian Studies

Professor of Political Science

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, BC

Canada V6T 1Z1

Tel: 604 822-4922

 

I work on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil Waututh peoples. 

 

Raul Pacheco-Vega

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Jan 27, 2025, 7:46:22 AM1/27/25
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Hi Kathy and all, 

This did occur to me last night, as I witnessed everything that has been going on in the US on BlueSky. I do have a US visa and therefore I should be able to enter the US without a hitch, and I've already paid for everything in advance (flights, hotels, registration, etc.) For me, it's a pretty big sunk cost even and I will be going to ISA.

Although I already had considered boycotting any and all activities in the US for the time being, I do have two more workshops and conferences in the US and thus can't really get out of US-based conferences, workshops and keynote talks that easily. But I do expect that over the next 4 years I may not be returning even if I am invited and can come and go as I please. Because we should be expecting the unexpected, I think. 

Best, 
R. 

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Elizabeth Chalecki

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Jan 27, 2025, 9:48:11 AM1/27/25
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Raul, Kathy, and other non-US scholars-

If you don't come to events like ISA, even if they are in the United States, that plays right into the hands of those who say "America for Americans" (whatever that nonsense might mean)!  ISA has always been a place to meet scholars from all over the world, listen to their work, and make connections that keep academia and other internationally-focused professions strong and relevant.  if you self-censor your presence here in fear of what might happen, we're all the weaker for it.  If we are going to turn around this current tide of U.S. nativism and anti-intellectualism, we need the participation of all scholars who care about the issues ISA stands for.  We need to make sure our community stays robust and diverse, because the Administration certainly isn't going to do it.  

They can't push us around, there are too many of us.  Don't let them make you afraid!  March in like you belong here, because you do.

-Beth

______________________________________________

Elizabeth L. Chalecki, PhD
Associate Professor, International Relations
Department of Political Science
University of Nebraska Omaha
6001 Dodge St., ASH 275
Omaha, NE  68182
echa...@unomaha.edu
Fulbright Canada Research Chair 2022
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/elizabeth-l-chalecki

Gellers, Joshua

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Jan 27, 2025, 9:57:48 AM1/27/25
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Greetings All-

 

I just wanted to weigh in and express support for Beth’s perspective. Imagine if doctors refused to see patients in order to “send a message” about their displeasure with the current regime. If people opt-out of our conferences in order to send such a signal, it 1) deprives scholars in vulnerable positions the opportunity to network and share their scholarship with others, 2) demonstrates the effectiveness of the regime in terms of chilling the activities of academics, and 3) assumes that the regime actually cares about the effects of popular resistance. In my opinion, the brave and right thing to do is to keep calm and carry on. No one can break our spirit unless we let them.

 

Best,

 

Josh

 

Devon Cantwell-Chavez

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Jan 27, 2025, 10:25:39 AM1/27/25
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Hi all-

American living in Canada here - I echo Beth and Josh. I used to live in Mississippi, Alabama, and Utah-- all states that have been targeted for travel boycotts at various points in the last several years. I've long been on the record against these types of travel boycotts as a result of having lived in these places and for the reasons they have outlined in their messages. In short, rescinding travel to the US does absolutely nothing to support resistance movements here and is mostly going to be harmful to local residents. The next three meetings are in Ohio, Georgia, and Louisiana, respectively, so this problem is not going away in terms of annual meeting siting.

Now, all of this to say, concerns about discrimination or policies that may put members of our scholarship community in harms way are absolutely something that I hope the program team and sections are discussing. In response to these concerns, I think the best use of our collective effort is to devote time to organizing proactive measures to support members attending these conferences and also to figuring out how to assist or support local efforts to push back against Trump administration policies at our sites. For example, I've been part of several conferences outside of the political science discipline who have sessions and programming integrated into the schedule that allows participants to better understand the local context and social movements in those places.

I will also add that I think this issue adds additional urgency and weight to the ongoing discussion about building out opportunities for support and development that do not necessitate travel. Especially given the subject matter of this community and the carbon impact of flying, the challenges with visas, and the prohibitive cost, we ought to consider the Trump administration issue as a compounding reason for getting serious on how else we can expand our networks of support. I know the ESS outreach committee mentorship program has been highly successful in this regard (we actually had more mentors than mentees sign up last year). I'd love to see some energy being put towards innovating efforts like this if folks are concerned about narrowing access or ethical concerns related to ISA convention siting over the next few years.

 



--
Devon Cantwell-Chavez

PhD Candidate

University of Ottawa

Department of Political Studies

Pronouns: she, her, hers

website: www.devoncantwell.com 
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