IPSA Global South Solidarity Fund

One of IPSA’s key missions is to support the development of political science in Global South countries and to build academic networks worldwide. The Association also aims to create an inclusive and global political science community in which all can participate. The Global South Solidarity Fund was launched in 2009 to help political scientists in financial need from developing countries attend IPSA World Congresses of Political Science. Since then, 251 of our colleagues from low-income economies benefited from this fund and participated in our Congresses. 

In October 2022, IPSA went a step further to help Global South scholars by launching a new individual membership structure that was completely redesigned and modernized. Residents of low-income economies can now benefit from a free IPSA membership. Moreover, for the first time in IPSA’s history, the IPSA World Congress registration fees are based on the country of citizenship of delegates. The new reduced registration fees will allow more political scientists to join our activities and participate in the global political science community. 

Additionally, numerous political science departments in less developed countries receive complimentary institutional membership and copies of the International Political Science Review. IPSA’s Research Committees (RCs) enable colleagues from such countries to participate in the global political science community and to network with others sharing their interests. Our rules ensure geographical diversity in the composition of RCs as well as in the organization of sessions at each meeting.

Record Contribution to the Global South Solidarity Fund!

The 2021 IPSA World Congress was presented virtually for the first time in IPSA’s history and delegates from the Global South made up 19 percent of the total participants. This is very promising news that aligns with IPSA’s fundamental missions. Additionally, 800 World Congress participants made a record contribution to the Global South Solidarity Fund in 2021 (US$36,640), enabling us to assist an even greater number of colleagues in financial need to attend the Congress. IPSA World Congress participants who live and work in developing countries and have a role in the 2023 IPSA World Congress Program will be eligible for travel grants supported by the Global South Solidarity Fund.

We urge you to make a difference for our colleagues in the Global South. Please help them attend the IPSA World Congress and interact with the international political science community by donating today. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at membership@ipsa.org.

We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to meeting you at the upcoming IPSA World Congress in Buenos Aires on 15-19 July 2023.

Contributors - 2021 IPSA World Congress of Political Science

IPSA would like to thank the 800 WC2021 participants who contributed to the Global South Solidarity Fund! After the transition to a Virtual Congress announced on 1 February 2021, the Global South Solidarity Fund received a total amount of US$36,640 in donations from the WC2021 solidarity registrations, which will be used to assist colleagues in financial need to attend future IPSA World Congresses.

The following 247 individuals contributed to the Global South Solidarity Fund by choosing to maintain the full (solidarity) registration fee. The remaining 553 donations were made anonymously. IPSA thanks everyone for their incredible generosity in these challenging times.