About

The Committee on Concepts and Methods (C&M) is a Research Committee of the International Political Science Association (IPSA). Founded by Giovanni Sartori and friends, it was the first research committee recognized by IPSA in 1970. C&M remains one of the most active IPSA Research Committees. Its institutional home, and sponsor, traditionally rotates with its Chair. It is currently housed at the University of Texas at Austin, after recent stays at CIDE in Mexico City and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. C&M promotes conceptual and methodological discussion in political science. It provides a forum of debate for adherents of methodological schools who otherwise tend to conduct their deliberations at separate tables.

The committee publishes two Working Paper Series. Political Concepts focuses on concept analysis and language-use in politics, Political Methodology on research design, theory building, and theory testing in the study of politics.
The triennial C&M Award on Concept Analysis in Political Science rewards conceptual work of excellence in the study of politics. The triennial Best C&M Working Paper Award recognizes outstanding contributions to our working paper series.
The C&M collection of syllabi covers graduate and undergraduate courses on political language, concepts, and measurement.
Les Intraduisibles, the Dictionary of Untranslatable Terms in Politics, discusses political terms of difficult translation from and into English.

News from Members reports on research projects, publications, conferences, and professional news from C&M members.
Membership in C&M is open to scholars worldwide and is free. It allows you to submit news, post course syllabi, vote in C&M elections, and share contact information and research interests with other members.

News & Highlights

Conference Seed Funding (2021 competition). IPSA provides seed funding (up to $1500) to its Research Committees (RC) for small conferences. If you have an idea for a meeting on some aspect of "Concepts and Methods," please send your suggestion by February 24th to Zach Elkins (zelkins@austin.utexas.edu) and Tobias Hofmann (tobias.hofmann@fu-berlin.de). Be sure to describe the purpose of the meeting and how the funds would be used. The most promising and impactful idea will be chosen to represent our Committee in the competition.

IPSA 2021 has gone virtual. IPSA will contact participants on February 10 with details about your participation. Lisbon will have to wait for yet another year.

IPSA Brisbane Meeting: For those headed to Brisbane, the C&M business meeting will be held Sunday, July 22, 12:45-1:45 pm, in room Foyer/Door 1/4-T20. Please join us to meet other members and to discuss current initiatives.

2018 Concept Award. Congratulations to Alisha Holland, the 2008 winner for her work, "Forbearance." See details here.

In Memoriam. On April 4, 2017, we lost a great one. Giovanni Sartori was not only one of the most creative and influential thinkers of our time, but he was also somebody who built and fostered intellectual communities, including this research committee. To say that he will be missed is an enormous understatement.