Mississippi Political Science Association

The 2020 Elections in an Age of Polarization

February 7-8, 2020

Millsaps College

Jackson, Mississippi

President: Dr. Nathan R. Shrader

Millsaps College

Vice President: Dr. Leslie Ann Stewart

Delta State University

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 17, 2019

Call for Papers

The MSPSA welcomes paper, panel, and roundtable proposals from faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students on issues related to the theme, “The 2020 Elections in an Age of Polarization.” Pundits, professors, and analysts of all political persuasions are already predicting that the 2020 American election cycle may be the most expensive, combative, and polarizing that the nation has seen in modern times. The field of Political Science is needed now more than ever to provide clear, focused, and thoughtful analysis of the upcoming election year and its implications as Americans will be turning to us for reasoned and informed explanations of what is unfolding before their eyes each day.

Papers and panels on any topic are welcome. Contact Dr. Leslie Stewart at lstewart@deltastate.edu or at 662-846-4065 to submit proposals for papers, panels, or roundtables.

Proposing Papers, Panels, and Roundtables: All paper proposals must include an abstract (200 words maximum). Panel proposals must include abstracts of all papers to be presented—these abstracts should be submitted together if possible. Roundtable proposals should include a title, a list of participants, and a description of the topic to be covered. Notification of receipt of proposals will be sent via email shortly after submission, and decisions by conference authorities will follow soon afterward. Schedule decision will be made as the conference date draws closer.

DESIGNATING CHAIRS AND DISCUSSANTS: We encourage faculty and graduate students to serve as chairs of and/or discussants for panels, preferably for a panel that does not include the faculty member/grad student’s own paper. Those proposing entire panels should designate a chair; a discussant may be named, but we ask that you consider allowing a discussant to be drawn from a pool of interested individuals—to provide outside commentary true to the spirit of academic conferences.

BEST GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE PAPER AWARDS: Prizes are awarded following the conference for the best paper presented by a graduate student and the best paper presented by an undergraduate student.