The Opening Ceremony of the 26th IPSA World Congress of Political Science began with the welcoming speech of IPSA Executive Director and master of ceremony, Kim Fontaine-Skronski, who welcomed Congress delegates, Program Co-Chairs, the Local Organizing Committee, partners, and exhibitors. Dr. Fontaine-Skronski announced that 2,854 delegates from all over the world are participating in the 26th edition of the World Congress, making it the second largest in attendance in IPSA’s history.
She pointed out that the virtual format created opportunities to launch a second call for proposals that allowed the participation of hundreds of new delegates who would not have been able to travel to Lisbon, but were able to attend in a virtual mode, to send an international call for volunteers welcoming 84 of them, and finally introduce an Observer registration category that includes a free one-day pass for IPSA members that do not have a role in the program.
Dr. Fontaine-Skronski then introduced IPSA President, Marianne Kneuer, who thanked the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and its Co-Chairs Carlos Jalali and Madalena Meyer Resende for their commitment and excellent work:
“They have overcome the multiple challenges that led us on this exciting Congress program that achieves to continue our global mission, which is to present opportunities for academic exchange and to connect and build networks across continents.”
New Nationalisms in an Open World is the official Congress theme developed by the Program Co-Chairs, Bertrand Badie and Hasret Dikici Bilgin. This central and complex theme is more relevant than ever as domestic and global political developments have increased. The COVID-19 pandemic strengthened nationalist policy. However, the pandemic also revealed the power of international cooperation, and this complexity allows us to develop, discuss publicly and draw a path to solve nationalism and its global implications.
Prof. Dr. Kneuer also thanked and recognized all the hard work made by the Program Co-Chairs, the Research Committees and Session Chairs, and the Secretariat staff in Montreal under the leadership of Kim Fontaine-Skronski.
In conclusion, the IPSA President invited IPSA delegates to the next World Congress that will be held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina in July 2023. The Congress will be organized in collaboration with the Argentine Society of Political Analysis (SAAP) and will have a strong presence from the political science communities of the Americas.
Prof. Dr. Kneuer then proceeded to honour Prof. Guy Lachapelle. As IPSA’s longest-serving Secretary-General (2000-2020), Prof. Lachapelle’s name is linked to the most impressive period of growth in the history of IPSA. Under his leadership, the Association established its permanent Secretariat in Montreal in 2006, its membership more than doubled, and IPSA saw all-time highs in World Congress participation among many other accomplishments. The IPSA family is grateful for his long-standing commitment to the organization’s growth and development.
Prof. Lachapelle talked about his journey with IPSA that started in 1995 when he was elected the President of the Quebec Political Science Association and brought the 2000 IPSA World Congress, which he described as “the Olympics of Political Science,” to Quebec City, Canada. “My only goal was to serve you, help national associations to grow, and find a place for IPSA to pursue a fruitful dialogue with colleagues from all over the world.
In his speech, Program Co-Chair Bertrand Badie discussed the Congress theme and elaborated his views on the history of nationalism. According to him, in contrast to the previous century, nationalism doesn’t rhyme anymore with emancipation or a practice of liberty. The new nationalism is different, and it’s not targeting emancipation but choosing preservation instead. Professor Badie encouraged the audience to analyze this new concept because of its impact in all Political Science fields.
After Prof. Badie’s presentation , the LOC Co-Chairs, Prof. Madalena Meyer Resende and Dr. Carlos Jalali were invited to participate in the ceremony. Dr. Jalali talked about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the organization of the Congress and how the LOC Committee was disappointed by not being able to hold it in Lisbon, where it could have been “a historical event.” On the other hand, Prof. Resende reassured that, even if this edition is being held in a virtual format, the Congress shows the diversity and vitality of the Political Science community worldwide.
The Opening Ceremony also featured a Keynote Address by the Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva.
