Dan, a Lumen Prize recipient and Elon Honors Fellow, presented findings from her research on how ethnonationalist terrorist groups transition from violent to non-violent political action. Dan discussed her case study research on the Basque separatist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) and the challenges it has faced in recent years. 

Schast, an Elon Honors Fellow, discussed her research into why it has proven so difficult for the United States to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty. Schast’s research examines why the Senate has been unable to ratify key multilateral accords that are important to American national security and foreign policy goals. 

The students were accompanied to the conference by their mentor, Sean Giovanello, assistant professor of political science and policy studies.

Members of the Political Science Department presented the following papers at the conference:

• Geopolitical Security Narratives and Natural Disasters (Sean Giovanello and Sharon Spray)
• Theorizing the New Indian-American Foreign Policy Activism: Ethnic Lobby, Social Movement, and Transnationalism Dimensions (Jason Kirk)
• Understanding Communication 福利亚洲国产精品 the Environment and Security: Narratives of Climate Change and Foreign Policy (Laura Roselle and Sharon Spray)
• Framing the Unwanted: The Case of the French Roma Expulsions as a Window onto European Union Principles and Human Rights Norms (Safia Swimelar)
• In addition to presenting academic research, members of the Department also served as panel chairs, panel discussants, or spoke as part of roundtable discussions on their specific areas of expertise:
• International Relations in a Multi-Level Media System: The Influence of Interplay Among New, Traditional, Domestic and Global Media on International Relations – Panel Chair (Laura Roselle)
• The Global Information Age and Foreign-Policy Making – Discussant (Laura Roselle)
• Visualizing Human Rights – Roundtable Participant (Safia Swimelar)

Finally, members of the Department participated in professional service events and meetings at the conference. Sean Giovanello, in his capacity as President of the International Studies Association –South (ISA-South), participated in the International Studies Association Board of Governors Meeting. Additionally, Sean partook in both the ISA Regional Presidents Meeting and the ISA Professional Development Committee meeting. Professor Giovanello also chaired the ISA-South region Business Meeting. Among the meeting attendees were Jason Kirk and Laura Roselle.

Laura Roselle, former chair of the International Communications section of ISA, took part in a multi-day, invite only working group that focused upon the New Media and Foreign Policy.

The theme of the meeting was The Politics of International Diffusion: Regional and Global Dimensions.

The conference was organized by Sean Giovanello, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Elon and Vice President of ISA South, and Laura Roselle, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Communication Section of the International Studies Association. The Political Science Department was heavily involved in the meeting, with a variety of faculty members serving as panel chairs, discussants, or workshop organizers. Political Science faculty members involved in the meeting included Sharon Spray, Jason Kirk, Safia Swimelar, Chalmers Brumbaugh, and Mileah Kromer. Brian Digre, Professor of History and Director of the International Studies Program at Elon, chaired a panel and also delivered a welcome address to attendees at the Friday evening Welcome Reception. Nancy Harris, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, spoke at the Saturday afternoon Awards Luncheon, and drew parallels between ISA’s mission and the Elon commitment to internationalizing its campus and curriculum.

Sarah Naiman, an International Studies Major from the Class of 2012, presented a paper titled, “The Naxalite Movement and the State: Implications for Counterinsurgency Policies.” The paper is part of her Elon College Fellows Project, which is mentored by Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jason Kirk.  Kirk also presented a paper at the conference, titled “Keeping an Eye on South Asian Skies: Washington’s ‘Pivotal Deterrence’ In India-Pakistan Crises, 1990-2008.” Andrew Black, class of 2011, returned to campus to present a paper titled, “Rhetorical Battlefields: Transnational Islamist Insurgency, Dialectical Strategy, and post-Ba’athist Iraq from 2005-2007.” Black’s research was an outgrowth of his senior seminar project, mentored by Roselle. David Levine, Assistant Professor at the Elon School of Law, presented his research titled “The Social Layer of Freedom of Information Law.”

Attendees were treated to a captivating address by the two keynote speakers at the conference, Ben O’Loughlin and Alister Miskimmon. O’Loughlin is a Professor of International Relations and Co-Director of the New Political Communication Unit at Royal Holloway, University of London. Miskimmon is Senior Lecturer in European Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London. O’Loughlin and Miskimmon are widely published and have pioneered research on Strategic Narratives, an increasingly important way of explaining policy formulation and adoption in international politics. Longtime collaborators with Roselle, O’Loughlin and Miskimmon led a wide ranging discussion about the use of strategic narratives and their increasing relevance in explaining important issues in the field of international studies.

The 2012 ISA-South Annual Meeting will be held in Atlanta.