The International Political Science Association (IPSA) expresses its grave concern with the January 27, 2017 Executive Order of United States President Trump which bans the admission of citizens of seven countries into the US for three months. This ban poses a very serious challenge to academic freedom. Students and scholars need to learn from and exchange ideas with our colleagues across the world regardless of their nationality. The Executive Order violates our freedom to study, to attend conferences, to conduct joint research, to hold visiting appointments, to give lectures in different countries, and otherwise impinge on the exchange of research and ideas, which we cherish.

Representing the global community of political scientists, IPSA believes that the imposition of a travel ban constitutes a violation of fundamental values and principles that sustain our work as academics. The Order jeopardizes both the US and the international scholarly community.

We strongly urge the US to lift the travel ban.

Adopted unanimously by the IPSA Executive Committee