The Symposium aims at giving the opportunity to PhD students based in Cyprus as well as abroad who are interested in inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary approaches in the social sciences to present their work, critically discuss the work of their peers, as well as engage in a process of learning and developing further their ideas, skills and previous research. Particularly encouraged to attend are those who are motivated to integrate political science with other disciplines, such as sociology, anthropology, social geography, social psychology, economics and history or those whose work is relevant beyond their immediate discipline. Three questions drive the collective explorations that constitute the Symposium’s logic. Are there connections between political science and other social sciences that remain unexplored so far? In which ways can the doctoral and further study of politics benefit and be benefitted by inter-disciplinary approaches? How can debates around research design, methods and more broadly the organization of scientific study be cross-fertilized most efficiently across the social sciences?

Argument

The Symposium aims at giving the opportunity to PhD students based in Cyprus as well as abroad who are interested in inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary approaches in the social sciences to present their work, critically discuss the work of their peers, as well as engage in a process of learning and developing further their ideas, skills and previous research. Particularly encouraged to attend are those who are motivated to integrate political science with other disciplines, such as sociology, anthropology, social geography, social psychology, economics and history or those whose work is relevant beyond their immediate discipline. Three questions drive the collective explorations that constitute the Symposium’s logic. Are there connections between political science and other social sciences that remain unexplored so far? In which ways can the doctoral and further study of politics benefit and be benefitted by inter-disciplinary approaches? How can debates around research design, methods and more broadly the organization of scientific study be cross-fertilized most efficiently across the social sciences?

Other than the emphasis on inter-disciplinary perspectives, the Symposium welcomes submissions on any topics across the social and political sciences, both single case and comparative research, theoretical, methodological or empirical work, qualitative or quantitative studies. The Symposium overall aims at fostering dialogue between political scientists on the one hand and other social scientists on the other, with a view to cultivating a flexible, rounded and rigorous understanding of social, economic and political phenomena, as well as of their interaction. The Cyprus Association of Political Science is launching this initiative as part of its commitment to providing training to academics in Cyprus and abroad, creating an environment of dialogue and reciprocity between different disciplines and fostering citizen awareness about historical and contemporary phenomena in the social and political spheres.

The broad themes to be covered by the conference include: 

• Theoretical or empirical research of an inter-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary nature.
• Single case or comparative qualitative or quantitative analysis on any topic across the social sciences.

In view of the focus on inter-disciplinary approaches, the conference as a whole aims at problematizing:

• The significance of political science in the broader domain of the social sciences.
• The degree and ways in which political science is incorporated into related disciplines.
• The degree and ways in which related disciplines are incorporated into political science.
• The nuances of case study research vis-à-vis those of comparative investigations.
• Inter-disciplinary perspectives on methodology in the social sciences.
• Methodological concerns during doctoral research.
• What and how to publish during one’s early years as an academic researcher.

Roundtable on social and political methodology

The Symposium will include a roundtable discussion on the significance and various approaches to method in political science and the social sciences more broadly. Speakers will include senior researchers applying qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches and working on the epistemology or the history of science.

Roundtable on doctoral research in the social sciences

The roundtable will focus on the structural as well as other challenges, potential problems, constraints and opportunities faced by doctoral researchers in the social sciences and will aim at concluding with a number of tips for the efficient completion of a doctoral degree from post-doctoral researchers.

Registration fee

Attendance at the conference is free of charge, but all participants must register beforehand. Registration at the conference can be (optionally) accompanied with membership for two years in KYSYPE. For doctoral students, the fee for registering as a member of the Association is €30.

Financial assistance

For candidates residing outside of Cyprus, there is an opportunity to apply for a grant (€300) as part of the abstract submission. A total of five grants will be given by the Association for the purpose of the symposium.

Submissions guidelines

Please use the above contact information to email a proposal including abstract of panel or paper, author(s) institutional affiliations(s) and contact information in Word or PDF format. Paper submissions must include an abstract of no more than 200 words of the applicant’s research project, including information about the main theoretical approach(es) and the main methodological approach(es) that are used in the research. Panel submissions must include an abstract of no more than 300 words and 3-4 papers.

For all panels senior researchers will be assigned as Discussants by the organizers in case of acceptance.

Language

The Symposium will be held in English.

Although the conference language is English, applicants can also submit their abstracts (and papers) in Greek.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are those currently undertaking their doctoral studies.

Contact and submission

kysype@gmail.com

Key Dates

The submission deadline for participation in the conference is 

October 9th 2017.

Registration will take place at the conference.

Completed papers must be circulated to Chairs, Discussants and other members of the assigned panel by 5 December 2017.

PhD Symposium organised by CAPS (Cyprus Association of Political Science) will be held at the University of Cyprus on 16-17 December.