A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Thomas J. Volgy

Dear Colleague:

On behalf of  ISA’s Governing Council and its headquarters staff, I am pleased to welcome you to Chicago and to the 42nd annual convention of the International Studies Association.

The theme of this year's conference, International Relations and the New Inequality: Power, Wealth, and the Transformation of Global Society at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century, cannot be more appropriate or timely. Scholars, practitioners and citizens alike, from the four corners of the globe, are all struggling with the meaning and consequences of globalization and the transformations still rippling across the globe from the end of the Cold War. Scholars who constitute the community of ISA are similarly examining their assumptions and their theoretical and conceptual tools to determine whether or not they are useful for examining the coming century and the consequences global and regional processes are likely to have on international affairs. Such a reexamination is surely not new for us. Yet the challenges posed this year - seeing if we can address well the new inequalities in the 21st Century - puts it into a most relevant and perspective.

ISA has been blessed with a continued growth in its sections, a growth that reflects the continued diversity of scholarship and perspectives in the association and in the field of international studies. Such a diversity augurs well for providing healthy and useful academic debate about power, wealth and transformation in the new millennium.

As with all conferences, the theme of the meeting integrates a series of critical thematic panels with an equally important set of other panels that may address the theme indirectly, but are salient nonetheless in addressing vital theoretical and methodological issues in the field. As always, it is the nearly Herculean job of the program chair to create coherence, order, and quality in balancing both parts of the conference. This year - as in the past two years - the process was made no less difficult by a very large volume of applications for individual papers and panel proposals. Thanks to the enormous amount of time, energy, and commitment contributed by program chair Mustapha Kamal Pasha with David Blaney, President Craig Murphy, and our section chairs and section program chairs, this year's program reflects well the rich dialogue within and across sections regarding both inequality issues and other issues of salience to the field of international relations. Integrated as well are the contributions of both senior distinguished scholars and younger scholars just emerging into the field.

Our conferences over the last two years set  both attendance and participation records. We expect this year to continue that tradition, with nearly 2,000 participants and scholars from over three dozen countries.

As in the past, the association owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mustapha Kamal Pasha and his staff at American University. Although their patience was often tested, they passed all their tests with humor and consideration, and a rigorous test of fairness to all participants. Of course, no conference at ISA can succeed without the active participation of its sections. I cannot overstate the contributions made to this year's program by the ISA section chairs and their program chairs, both in the design of the conference and in assisting the travel grant process. 

Nor could ISA exist without dedicated and strong leadership. That pattern was once again exhibited by President Craig Murphy. Craig never said no to any of the insurmountable tasks tossed at him, and pursued his tasks with vigor and a commitment to the well being of the association that has been rarely rivaled. In large part it is due to his efforts and his predecessors that I am able to report that as we move into the 21st century, the association is in excellent shape.

With the hard work of ISA's president and its Governing Council, ISA continues to grow and prosper. Our membership base is both large and representative of scholars around the globe. Participation in our annual conference is eagerly sought by potential participants from around the world. Our web page is routinely accessed by thousands of individuals in addition to the membership. Bonds with sister organizations continue to strengthen, and our joint conferences are growing: we've now met in Makuhari, Manzanillo, and Vienna, and we shall meet together with eight other associations in Hong Kong and Beijing in July of this year.

Finally, I am very pleased to add a personal note with respect to the operations of ISA's Headquarters. My job is made much easier by the fact that so many of you offer your advice, time, and energies to help in the daily operations of the association. And, of course, none of what I do would be possible without the best staff that any executive director could have: Dana B. Larsen, Lyn Avery-Jones, Miguel Escalante, Jeanne White, Joel Davis, and Eva Monnier, along with our undergraduate staff, Veronica Velazques and Katherine Tugnao.

I hope you find our 42nd annual conference rewarding. And if you have any feedback for us, we welcome it. Just look for us around ISA's registration facilities.

Thomas J. Volgy