Strongly influenced by the foundation of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) in Paris in 1949, GPSA was launched in February 1951. Over the past sixty years GPSA has developed into one of the largest professional organization for the study of political science in Europe. Starting with 40 members in the early 1950s, it now serves more than 1800 members.
The mission of GPSA, expressed in its constitution, focuses on the following core objectives:
+ Strengthening the professional environment of political science in Germany
+ Promoting scholarly research and communication, domestically and internationally
+ Promoting high quality teaching and education about politics
+ Recognizing and supporting outstanding work of junior political scientists
+ Diversifying the profession and representing its diversity
+ Organizing high quality national conventions and political events for academic and non-academic members of the association
+ Publicising major research findings of German political scientists
+ Cooperation with political and social science associations nationally and internationally
Executive Committee (EC)
According to the GPSA constitution, the EC consists of eleven members, including the president and two vice-presidents. The following persons are members of the 2018-2021 Executive Committee:
President
Prof. Dr. Armin Schäfer, University of Münster
Mail: Schaeferdvpwde
Vice-Presidents
Prof. Dr. Tanja Klenk, Helmut Schmidt University / University of the Bundeswehr Hamburg
Prof. Dr. Miriam Hartlapp, Freie Universität Berlin
Further Board Members
Prof. Dr. Marc Debus, University of Mannheim
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Faas, Freie Universität Berlin
Prof. Dr. Eva Heidbreder, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
PD Dr. Franziska Martinsen, Leibniz University Hannover
Prof. Dr. Gert Pickel, University of Leipzig
Prof. Dr. Claudia Ritzi, University of Trier
Prof. Dr. Laura Seelkopf, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Prof. Dr. Antje Wiener, University of Hamburg
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Responsibilities in the Executive Committee:
Committee on the Promotion of Women and Equality: Eva Heidbreder, Tanja Klenk & Franziska Martinsen
Committee for the Promotion of Young Scholars: Franziska Martinsen & Antje Wiener
Finances: Gert Pickel & Armin Schäfer
Research: Laura Seelkopf & Antje Wiener
Communication: Thorsten Faas, Miriam Hartlapp & Armin Schäfer
Teaching: Marc Debus, Eva Heidbreder & Claudia Ritzi
PVS: Marc Debus & Tanja Klenk
Cooperation with the Subdivisions: Miriam Hartlapp & Gert Pickel
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The EC has created two sub-committees attended by at least one EC member:
- Committee on gender and diversity
- Committee on supporting early career scholars
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Executive Director
The Executive Director is member of the EC without voting rights. He or she is responsible for administering all EC business and oversees the organization of the GPSA conventions. The GPSA Headquarter is located at Freie Universität Berlin.
Executive Director: Dr. Vera van Hüllen
Research initiatives
GPSA is supporting the research activities of its members by setting up research sections, standing groups, and thematic networks in various sub-fields of the political science discipline. Membership to all established groups is open to individual members of GPSA. Among the most active and internationally operating are the research sections on International Relations, Political Economy, and Comparative Politics; the standing groups on Democratization, Local Politics, Migration Politics, Party Politics, Politics and Religion, and Elections and Public Opinion; and the thematic networks on Foreign and Security Policy; Comparative Regionalism, and Digital Governance.
Journal
GPSA issues a journal called Politische Vierteljahresschrift (PVS) / German Political Science Quarterly (GPSQ). The journal has been published since 1960. It appears four times a year and covers a total of about 700 printed pages. The journal provides space for theory-based and methodologically reflected articles from all sub-disciplines of political science. It also publishes scientifically well-grounded statements with reference to current political issues or societal affairs. Finally, the journal also provides a review section where new publications within the sub-fields of political science are discussed.
National convention
GPSA holds national conventions every three years. These meetings last between four and five days and give GPSA members the chance to participate in roundtables and panels. The conventions are open to international colleagues from non-German speaking countries. Several panels and roundtables are organized in English language.
Activities of sub-sections
Between the national conventions nearly all research groups of GPSA hold annual conference and/or workshops on relevant research topics that are currently discussed in the discipline.
