PSA Conference
For more than 30 years, in the month of May, the Political Science Association sponsors the annual Political Science Student Conference. The event is an opportunity for students and faculty to join together to discuss current issues in political science across the fields of public policy, political theory, international relations and American and comparative politics.
A Call for Papers goes out to Political Science early in March. Students have the opportunity to present and discuss research papers they have completed in the course of their studies in Political Science.
Call for Papers for the 2026 Political Science Association Student Conference (May 12, 2026)
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Proposals due by Monday, April 20th
The Political Science Department invites submissions from students on a variety of Political Science research questions, topics, and methods. Paper proposals should be based on a research paper you have written related to politics, broadly understood.
While papers presented at the conference (in most cases) were written for a previous political science course, any topics that you have explored with a political element would be welcomed for this conference, even if you wrote the paper for a class in a related department (WGSS, Global Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, etc). All are welcome!
How to Submit a Proposal
Your proposal should be one paragraph in length summarizing the central ideas, themes, arguments, and/or findings of your paper. Please be sure to include your name and contact information in your proposal. Proposals can be submitted to the Political Science department (AH 415) or by email (politicalscience@wwu.edu).
If selected, you will present your paper as part of a panel of other students at the annual PSA Conference, held on Tuesday, May 12th on Western’s campus. If you have questions, please stop by the Political Science office or email one of the PSA Conference Committee Members: Cathy Wineinger, Kendra Dupuy and Rudy Alamillo.
The deadline to submit a proposal is Monday, April 20, 2026.
Hoover Prize
The Hoover Prize is awarded to the student who presents the most outstanding research paper at the annual PSA Conference. The award is determined within a week or two of the conference by the Political Science faculty.
The Hoover Prize is $250 and is to be used toward your education. In 2025, student Sam Frockt won the Hoover Prize for his paper "Boundaries Off the Pitch: How Beitar Jerusalem, La Familia, and the Ethno-Political Conflicts of Israeli Football Derbies Can Explain a Society". Congratulations, Sam!