IAPSS Conference in Latin America (ICLA) 2015
“Contemporary Challenges in Latin America”
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) | Quito, Ecuador
November 18-21, 2015
Tickets available here – now only for USFQ students until November 10
What Can You Expect?
The first IAPSS Conference in Latin America (ICLA) will be held from November 18-21, 2015 at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador – one of the leading universities in political and social sciences research and teaching in Latin America.
ICLA 2015 seeks to provide a platform to investigate the tremendous variety of Contemporary Challenges in Latin America, to challenge conventional perceptions, to ask uncomfortable questions and to offer the space and the opportunity to present the innovative research and work in-process of young political scientists from Latin America, the Americas and beyond.
With a truly international audience expected which crosses all sub-disciplines of political science and social sciences and indeed all student career stages, the IAPSS Conference in Latin America 2015 will be a unique event for individual academic learning, vivid debate and networking.
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On The Program
The IAPSS Conference in Latin America 2015 aims at both providing students of political science, international relations and related disciplines a platform to present their work and research within a variety of student panels, and bringing you together with experts from the academia, politics, the media and civil society to discuss and examine topics and issues around the Convention’s theme “Contemporay Challenges in Latin America” – in-depth.
Each day is divided in 4 time slots of 90 minutes length each. 7 slots are exclusively reserved for a series of student panels running parallel. Three to five students will present their research and work in form of short paper presentations at each panel, facilitated by a panel chair, a panel discussant and the audience present.
High-profile lectures will bring you together with leading political scientists of our time, in an open atmosphere enabling both the speaker and the audience to discuss the lecture’s topic freely and without limits of thinking.
3 time slots of again 90 minutes length each are scheduled for a number of expert sessions. A highly interactive environment will enable you and the academic guests to elaborate on concepts, theories and arguments. Selected documentary screenings will enrich the program, and you will have the unique opportunity to discuss the documentaries’ content and background with the directors.
The conference will be bilingual, featuring a program of both English and Spanish sessions.
The Social Program
Quito offers uncounted cultural and social events and venues to enjoy your time in the city as much as possible. The Conference’s social program will include a festive Opening Reception and an optional visit to the Casa Del Alabado, Quito’s Museum of Precolombian Art. Bar Nights will be held on Day 2 and Day 3. The very last night will end with a vibrant Conference Party on board of a number of Chivas Quiteñas, Quito’s famous party vehicles, cruising the streets of Ecuador’s capital.
Special Features and Services
The IAPSS Conference in Latin America 2015 will be officially inaugurated with a festive Opening Session in the morning of November 18, followed by the Key Note hold by a high-profile speaker.
After the ultimate highlight of the program, the Oxford Style Debate, the IAPSS Excutive Committee and the IAPSS Congress Management will officially close the Conference during a festive Closing Session, summing up the four days of the Conference’s academic program (November 18-21). During the closure, the winner of the third IAPSS Award for Academic Excellence will be announced!
Call for Papers (closed by September 5)
The Call for Papers‘s deadline for abstract submissions was September 5. We welcomed the submission of abstracts related to the Conference’s theme from students of political science, international relations, related sub-fields and other social sciences from all career stages (Bachelor, Master, PhD, PostDocs et al.).
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All abstract submitters have been notified. Final papers are to be submitted from November 1 until November 10, here. Detailed instructions on the preparation of your individual paper presentation and participation in your student panel will be provided by the beginning of November 2015. Find the Call for Papers, the IAPSS Paper Submission Guideline, the Online Paper Submission Form and more information here.
How Can You Get Your Ticket?
Tickets for the IAPSS Conference in Latin America 2015 are available here – now exclusively for USFQ students, until November 10:
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If you are a member of IAPSS already, you will just have to log in to your individual account at MyIAPSS (if you have forgotten your password, just request a reset and renew your password; your login address is the e-mail address you’ve applied with for IAPSS membership) and purchase your Conference ticket via the IAPSS Web Store.
If you are not a member of IAPSS yet, you have to register for IAPSS Membership first – completed in a few minutes. Afterwards, you will be able to purchase your Conference ticket in the IAPSS Web Store as described above. IAPSS Membership comes at 10 or 15 EUR per year, depending on your country of origin. 2-year memberships are also available.
Payment options include various credit cards, PayPal and payment by debit card (the latter for selected countries only). Our payment facilities are protected by a SSL certificate.
How Much Is It?
Low ticket fees aim at offering a socially inclusive access to the Conference for young political and social scientists – the least dependent possible on their (your) origin and financial resources. There is one ticket for all attendees, regardless of whether you are presenting a paper or attend as observer.
Tickets: 65 EUR | ca. 73 US$ (available now only for USFQ students until November 10)
An insignificant fee is charged depending on whether you purchase your ticket via credit card or PayPal (all other payment options are free-of-charge). Please note that accommodation is not included, and that IAPSS does not cover travel or visa costs.
The Venue
ICLA 2015 will take place at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) – one of the leading universities in Latin America. USFQ disposes of premium class facilities and a beautiful garden-like campus. On and next to campus, a variety of eateries, cafés, restaurants, shops and places are perfect to spend your lunch break and to hang out. If you need to work, read or study during ICLA2015, the centrally located USFQ library will be at your disposal.
How to get to USFQ?
USFQ is located in Cumbayá, about 10-12km from the city center, depending on where are you are staying. Find the university’s location here. The full address is: Diego de Robles S/N y Vía, Interoceánica Cumbayá, Ecuador
Regular public buses (green buses with destination ‘Cumbayá/Tumbaco’) travel between campus and downtown Quito. Journeys start at the Estación de la Rio Coca. For USFQ, you need to exit at Cumbayá-Supermaxi (the shopping center opposite USFQ). Single rides come at 0.25US$. Alternatively, taxis are plentiful in Quito. A trip from downtown Quito costs between 8 and 12 US$ (one-way) and takes about 15-25min, depending on traffic.
Travel Recommendations
Quito’s Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre is 37km east of the city in a broad valley near Tababela. It’s a modern facility with the longest runway in Latin America. Quito is served by Aeroméxico, Aerolineas Argentinas, American Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Iberia, Insel Air Aruba, KLM, LAN, TAME, United Airlines and Viva Colombia, which connect the city with all major airports across South, Central and North America, as well selected cities in Europe, Asia and Africa. The airport is connected with Quito’s city center by taxi and public bus. Find detailed information here.
The city has two main bus terminals (and a smaller third terminal), and they are all a long way from the center (allow at least an hour by public transit, 30 minutes or more by taxi). No longer are any of the companies allowed to board passengers at their offices in the city. Buses connect Quito with all other parts of Ecuador, among other, Ambato, Banos, Cuenca, Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Otavalo and Riobamba. When traveling by bus to/from Peru or Colombia, buses need to be changed at the border.
Accommodation Recommendations
Quito offers a large variety of lodging options, with cheap hostels offering single beds in dormitories as well as separate rooms, medium-range and high-end hotels, but also private accommodation as well as hundreds of Couchsurfing and AirBnB options – the latter especially interesting for smaller and larger groups.
Since Quito is a well-visited city around the year, we recommend to arrange your accommodation the earliest possible to enjoy the best offers and deals.
Visa Invitations
Ecuador has one of the most lenient visa policies in the world as most visitors are not obliged to obtain a visa for stays up to 90 days. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months. Citizens of most South American countries can enter Ecuador with an ID card even. Nationals of the following 10 countries require a visa for Ecuador: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia. Nationals of Haiti must hold a proof of funds.
In case you are holding the citizenship of one of the aforementioned countries, please get in touch with us at icla-administration@iapss.org. We’ll issue you a visa invitation letter on the basis of completed registration (requires purchase of your ticket).
On-Site Conference Info & Registration Desk
November 17 is the main on-site registration day. Our team will be welcoming you at the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and provide you with your individual participant bag containing the official ICLA 2015 booklet, your individual name badge with a lanyard, writing utensils and further material.
A permanent Info & Registration Desk will be available for your questions and inquiries from November 18 till November 21, from 09.00 to 19.00.
Certificates of attendance will be provided on-site. There are specific certificates for paper presenters, chairs and discussants. Please note that you can only obtain your certificate during the Conference, not before or afterwards.
Program Overview
A detailed overview on the program – including all lectures, panels and social events – can be found here. All papers featured at ICLA 2015 are available in the ICLA 2015 Online Paper Room. Please note that both pages do not include all details, but are updated regularly.
Key Dates
July 1 – Registrations open
August 31 – Notification on selection to all paper submitters (if submitted until August 15)
September 5 – Deadline to submit abstracts
September 15 – Sale of Early Bird Tickets ends (from August 16 only for panelists)
September 20 – Notification on selection to all paper submitters (if submitted until September 5)
October 25 – Registrations close for non-Ecuadorians and for all paper presenters
October 31 – Registrations close for Ecuadorians
November 10 – Registrations close for USFQ students
November 10 – Deadline to submit full papers via the Online Paper Submission Form
Stay tuned!
Follow us on facebook here and join the official ICLA 2015 facebook event to get all news!
The official twitter hashtag for the IAPSS Conference in Latin America 2015 is #ICLA2015. Follow us at twitter.com/IAPSS and tweet your thoughts, impressions and pictures!
Questions & Inquiries
Then contact,
for sponsoring and partnership inquiries: Philipp Aepler at congress@iapss.org
for academic programme inquiries: Daniela Davila at icla-program@iapss.org
for abstract, paper and panel related inquiries: Daniela Davila at icla-program@iapss.org
for registration, visa and other administrative inquiries: Nabih Dahik at icla-administration@iapss.org
for media and advertisement inquiries: Adriana Garces at icla-pr@iapss.org
for IAPSS Membership inquiries: Andrea Kovarova at secgen@iapss.org
for ticket and payment related inquiries: Catherine Mackay at finances@iapss.org
Partners: International Political Science Association
for other inquiries: Michael Valdivieso at icla@iapss.org
Partners: International Political Science Association
The ICLA 2015 program comprises a variety of academic formats – including lectures, documentaries, student panels, a number of special academic sessions – including the Opening and Closing Session, the Keynote Speech and the Oxford Style Debate – as well as daily social events. The following overview does not include all details included in the official guide of the IAPSS Conference in Latin America 2015 which will be available by mid-November 2015.
An overview of all featured panels can be found below. All papers featured at ICLA 2015 are available in the ICLA 2015 Online Paper Room.
Daily Program
Day 0 – Tuesday, November 17
14.30 – 16.30 Optional visit to the Casa del Alabado – Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (1.50US$ per person payable at the museum; guided tour; gathering at 14.15 at the museum; address: Cuenca N1-41, Bolivar, near Plaza San Francisco)
15.00 – 20.00 On-site Conference registration (USFQ Main Hall)
Day 1 – Wednesday, November 18
The IAPSS Info & Registration Desk, located in the Main Hall, is open from 09.00 till 19.00.
10.00 – 11.30 Opening Session & Keynote Speech (Calderón de la Barca)
1) Opening session: Addresses by Philipp Aepler (ICLA 2015 Chair), Carlos Montúfar (USFQ Principal), Tamara Trownsell (USFQ IR Coordinator) and Michael Valdivieso (Head of USFQ Student Government)
2) Keynote Speech: H.E. José Ayala, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, former Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Affairs and former President of the United Nations Security Council
Coffee & Tea Break (Calderón de la Barca)
12.00 – 13.30 Lectures
1) Prof. Nathan Sears, Universidad de las Américas: China’s military rise, power transition, and the strategic implications for Latin America (Salon Azul)
2) María Belén Garrido, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador: El fenómeno de jiu jitsu como estrategia de resistencia civil en situaciones de conflicto armado (Casa Blanca)
Lunch Break
15.00 – 16.30 Student Panels
1) Migration and Global Flows | Migración y Flujos Globales (Einstein PSF 105)
2) The Relation between Development & Dependency | La relación entre el desarrollo y la dependencia (Einstein PSF 107)
3) Political Economy & Local Development | Economía Política & Desarrollo Local (Einstein PSF 202)
4) Political Science through Data | Ciencia Política através de los Datos (Einstein PSF 201)
Coffee & Tea Break (Einstein PSF Third Floor)
17.00 – 18.30 Student Panels
5) Transnational Politics: Different Approaches | Política Transnacional: Diferentes aproximaciones (Einstein PSF 107)
6) Political Parties in Latin America | Partidos Políticos en América Latina (Einstein PSF 105)
7) Defense & Security: Between Theory and Case Studies | Seguridad & Defensa: Entre la teoría y estudios de caso (Einstein PSF 202)
18.30 – 20.00 Opening Reception (Hall de Tesoreria, USFQ)
Day 2 – Thursday, November 19
The IAPSS Info & Registration Desk, located in the Main Hall, is open from 09.00 till 19.00.
10.00 – 11.30 Documentary & Lecture
1) Documentary: Tóxico Texaco Tóxico (Salon Azul)
2) Lecture: Prof. Guillaume Fontaine (FLACSO Ecuador): Causal case studies of public policy: the methodological challenge (Casa Blanca)
Coffee & Tea Break (Calderón de la Barca)
12.00 – 13.30 Lectures
1) Tamara Trownsell, PhD (USFQ): What does ontological competence do for us in Political Science? (Salon Azul)
2) Prof. Felipe Burbano de Lara (FLACSO Ecuador): Liderazgos políticos y construcción democrática en América Latina: El caso de las revoluciones bolivarianas (Casa Blanca)
Lunch Break
15.00 – 16.30 Student Panels
8) Human Rights & Extractivism in Latin America | Derechos Humanos y Extractivismo en América Latina (Calderón de la Barca)
9) Analysis of the Role of Institutions in Latin America | Análisis del Rol de las Instituciones en América Latina (Einstein PSF 107)
10) Foreign Policy: A Diplomatic Perspective | Política Exterior: Una perspectiva diplomática (Einstein PSF 105)
Coffee & Tea Break (Einstein PSF Third Floor)
17.00 – 18.30 Student Panels
11) Violence, Alternatives & The Armed Conflict | Violencia, Alternativas y El Conflicto Armado (Einstein PSF 105)
12) New Actors, Challenges & Alternatives to Politics | Nuevos actores, desafíos & alternativas a la política (Einstein PSF 107)
13) The Role of Communication & Media in Politics | El rol de la comunicación & los medios en la política (Einstein PSF 204)
21.00 – open end Pub Quiz @ The Flying Scotsman (address: Av. Orellana E10-65 y Coruña / map available here)
Day 3 – Friday, November 20
The IAPSS Info & Registration Desk, located in the Main Hall, is open from 09.00 till 19.00.
10.00 – 11.30 Documentary & Lecture
1) Documentary: Instantes de Campaña (Salon Azul)
2) Lecture: Prof. Santiago Basabe (FLACSO Ecuador): Los rendimientos del Poder Judicial en el régimen democrático: un estudio sobre la calidad de las decisiones de Cortes Supremas de 11 países de América Latina (Casa Blanca)
Coffee & Tea Break (Calderón de la Barca)
12.00 – 13.30 Lectures
1) Prof. Ivette Vallejo (FLACSO Ecuador): Ciudades del Milenio en la Amazonía ecuatoriana: configuraciones territoriales hacia una nueva Amazonía? Degradación y protección ambiental, explotación de recursos naturales. | Prof. Iván Narváez (FLACSO Ecuador) Los derechos colectivos indígenas a la autodeterminación, caso Yasuní (en clave neoconstitucional) (Salon Azul)
2) Prof. Gabriel Orozco (FLACSO Ecuador): Retos para la seguridad doméstica, transnacional y regional (Casa Blanca)
Lunch Break
15.00 – 16.30 Student Panels
14) The Paradigms of Geopolitics in Latin America | Paradigmas de la Geopolítica en América Latina (Einstein PSF 105)
15) Women’s Rights In Contemporary Context | Derechos de la Mujer en contexto contemporáneo (Einstein PSF 107)
16) Social & Political Movements in the Region | Movimientos Sociales y Políticos en la Región (Einstein PSF 104)
17) Identity: A Process of Crisis, Violence & Memory | Identidad: Un proceso de crisis, violencia y memoria (Einstein PSF 201)
Coffee & Tea Break (Einstein PSF Third Floor)
17.00 – 18.30 Student Panels
18) Defense Investment & Concern – Still a viable strategy? | Inversión y Preocupación por la Defensa – ¿Es todavía una buena estrategía? (Einstein PSF 104)
19) Citizen’s Participation as a New Political Process | Participación Ciudadana como un nuevo proceso político (Einstein PSF 105)
20) Decentralization: Regional Case Studies | Descentralización: Estudios de Caso Regionales (Einstein PSF 107)
21.00 – open end Bar Night @ The Flying Scotsman (address: Av. Orellana E10-65 y Coruña / map available here)
Day 4 – Saturday, November 21
The IAPSS Info & Registration Desk, located in the Main Hall, is open from 09.00 till 19.00.
10.00 – 11.30 Talk & Lecture
1) Talk: Meet Our Editors & Board: Get Involved With IAPSS Journals & Conferences (Salon Azul)
2) Lecture: Pier Pigozzi, PhD (University of Notre Dame): The human rights idea in the Latin American constitutional tradition (Casa Blanca)
Coffee & Tea Break (Calderón de la Barca)
12.00 – 13.30 Lectures
1) Prof. Andrés González (USFQ): The challenge of good governance: the fight against corruption in Latin American countries (Salon Azul)
2) Prof. Daniela Salazar (USFQ): Ecuador’s migration laws and policies (Casa Blanca)
Lunch Break
15.00 – 16.30 Student Panels
21) Ecuador: Political Analysis & The Status Quo | Ecuador: Análisis político & Status actual (Einstein PSF 105)
22) Gender & Politics | Género y Política (Einstein PSF 107)
23) Social Challenges & Extractivism | Desafíos Sociales & Extractivismo (Einstein PSF 202)
24) Sustainability & Public Policies | Sostenibilidad & Políticas Públicas (Einstein PSF 104)
Coffee & Tea Break (Einstein PSF Third Floor)
17.00 – 18.30 Clossing Session (Calderón de la Barca)
1) Oxford Style Debate on The Politics of Extractivism: Shall the exploitation of Latin America’s natural resources be stopped? (17.00 – 18.00)
2) Award & Closing Session (18.00 – 18.30)
21.30 – 24.00 Conference Party on Chivas Quitenas (gathering at 21.00 at Plaza de Las Americas, downtown Quito)
Student Panels
All student panels and featured papers will be published in the ICLA 2015 Online Paper Room by November 1.