IPSA Hosts Roundtable at Concordia University to Mark the 20th Anniversary of its Permanent Secretariat in Montréal

Photo (left to right): Kim Fontaine-Skronski (Executive Director, IPSA), Graham Carr (President and Vice-Chancellor, Concordia University), Marianne Kneuer (IPSA Past President, Professor of Comparative Politics, TU Dresden, Germany), Daniel Salée (Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Concordia University), The Honourable Stéphane Dion (Diplomat in Residence at Université de Montréal, former Federal Minister and former Canadian Ambassador to Germany and France), Boglárka Koller (Full Professor and Head of the Department of European Studies at Ludovika University in Public Service (Hungary) and President of the Central European Political Science Association), Alexandra O. Zeitz (Associate Professor in International Relations, Concordia University), Arnaud Dion (Vice-President, International Organizations, Business Insights and Communications, Montréal International), Guy Lachapelle (Former Secretary General, IPSA) and Pascale Sicotte (Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science, Concordia University).

The year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of IPSA's permanent Secretariat in Montréal, Canada, with the support from Concordia University and Montréal International. IPSA and Concordia University have since renewed their partnership on five occasions, most recently in 2025, to secure IPSA's presence in Montréal until at least 2030.

Photo: Kim Fontaine-Skronski

On this occasion, IPSA presented two roundtables on the theme of Canada and its Transatlantic Relations with the participation of prominent scholars and guest speakers. The first roundtable was held at Concordia University on 28 May 2026. The 20th anniversary activities were organized with support from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) Canada and in collaboration with Concordia University, the University of Ottawa, the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA), and the Société québécoise de science politique (SQSP). 

The event opened with remarks from Kim Fontaine-Skronski (Executive Director, IPSA), who welcomed the speakers and guests. Graham Carr (President and Vice-Chancellor, Concordia University) went on to highlight the long-standing collaboration between IPSA and Concordia University. Arnaud Dion (Vice-President, International Organizations, Business Insights and Communications, Montréal International) underscored Montréal International’s continued support to IPSA since 2006. Finally, Guy Lachapelle (Former Secretary General, IPSA) provided context for the Secretariat’s relocation to Montréal, explaining how the decision gave IPSA a permanent home and helped professionalize its staff.

Photo: Graham Carr

The roundtable, Canada and its Transatlantic Relations, was chaired by Daniel Salée (Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Concordia University). It sought to foster meaningful exchanges between academic and policy perspectives on Canada’s engagement with Europe and the wider transatlantic community. The roundtable also explored Canada’s partnerships with its European allies, the future of transatlantic collaboration in response to shared democratic and security challenges, and the contribution of scholarly and policy communities to sustained and constructive international dialogue. 

The Honourable Stéphane Dion (Diplomat in Residence at Université de Montréal, former Federal Minister and Canadian Ambassador to Germany and France) emphasized the importance of strengthening Canada–EU cooperation in the face of global geopolitical challenges. Boglárka Koller (Full Professor and Head of the Department of European Studies at Ludovika University of Public Service in Hungary, and President of the Central European Political Science Association) discussed the European Union’s evolving identity, underscoring the advantages of partnerships with like-minded democracies such as Canada. Marianne Kneuer (IPSA Past President, Professor of Comparative Politics, TU Dresden) stressed the growing importance of cooperation among middle powers based on shared values and pragmatic engagement. Finally, Alexandra O. Zeitz (Associate Professor in International Relations, Concordia University) examined how geopolitical pressures, economic competition and shifting policy priorities are reshaping international cooperation and strategic partnerships.

Photo (left to right): Alexandra O. Zeitz, Marianne Kneuer, Boglárka Koller, Stéphane Dion and Daniel Salée  

After the roundtable discussion, a video featuring Christopher Skeete, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Government of Québec, was presented. In his message, Minister Skeete emphasized the key role played by political science in strengthening democratic societies. He also took care to mention how proud Québec is to host IPSA’s permanent Secretariat in Montréal, reaffirming the Government of Québec’s continued support for the Association and its future initiatives.

The roundtable was followed by a cocktail reception, which gave speakers and guests the opportunity to network and continue the conversation in a more informal setting.

Photo: Stéphane Dion and Kim Fontaine-Skronski

IPSA Companion to Political Science Presented at the Université de Montréal on 6 May 2026

IPSA’s new open-access volume, IPSA Companion to Political Science: A Practical Introduction to the 200 Most Important Concepts (Springer, 2025), was also presented at the 2026 Congress of the Société québécoise de science politique (SQSP), held at the Université de Montréal in Canada, on 6 May 2026. The roundtable, The Most Important Concepts in Political Science: A Discussion on the IPSA Companion to Political Science 2026, was presented as part of the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of IPSA’s Permanent Secretariat in Montréal. Find out more here.