Academics’ Roundtable on Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance at IPSA’s 75th Anniversary Conference 26 April

Academics’ Roundtable on Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance
The Academics’ Roundtable on Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance, chaired by Yuko Kasuya (IPSA President-Elect and Professor of Political Science at Keio University), was the main event of the second and final day of the conference. The roundtable brought together distinguished scholars, each offering unique insights derived from their extensive research and academic expertise: Daniel Salée (Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Concordia University); Vanessa Elias de Oliveira (Associate Professor of Political Science in Public Policy, Federal University of ABC, São Paolo); Serge Granger (Professor, School of Applied Politics, Université de Sherbrooke) and Francesca Longo (Professor of Political Science and International Relations and Vice-Rector for International Relations, University of Catania). 

Global Governance Challenges in the 21st Century: Learning from Comparative Practice in Multi-Level Countries Panel
One of the highlights of the second day was the panel on Global Governance Challenges in the 21st Century: Learning from Comparative Practice in Multi-Level Countries, organized by the Forum of Federations, an international organization that develops comparative expertise on the practice of federal and decentralized governance. 

The Forum of Federations' panel presented a range of key governance issues with implications for federal and multilevel states. Economic inequalities and disillusionment with status quo politics are exacerbating challenges around state fragility. Climate change poses an existential threat to countries in the Global North and South, and the devastating impacts of extreme weather events are being felt across the globe. Governments face these challenges in the context of a rapidly changing technological landscape. The increasing digitalization of society, and the development of increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence, have the potential to seriously disrupt economic models, threatening jobs and livelihoods in the process. Chaired by Eric Champagne (University of Ottawa), the panel was composed of Rupak Chattopadhyay, President and CEO; Liam Whittington, Senior Program Manager; and Jamie M. Thomas, Program Officer, who explored how federal and multi-level systems of governance are addressing some of these critical issues with a focus on lessons from comparative international practice.

 

Closing Remarks
The conference concluded with closing remarks delivered by Pablo Oñate, IPSA President and Program Committee Chair of the 75th anniversary Montréal conference. Prof. Oñate expressed his gratitude to his fellow Program Committee members: Yuko Kasuya, IPSA President-Elect and Professor of Political Science at Keio University; Daniel Salée, Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at Concordia University; and Daniel Stockemer, Co-editor of International Political Science Review and Professor of Political Science at the University of Ottawa. 

President Oñate referenced several key observations from the conference, emphasizing the significant potential of multilevel governance while acknowledging its inherent challenges. He also expressed his gratitude for the numerous academic papers submitted to IPSA for the conference, noting the diverse perspectives presented. Prof. Oñate concluded by expressing his gratitude to all participants, panelists, partners, and collaborators, colleagues, IPSA staff, and volunteers for their invaluable contributions to the success of this event.

Finally, Prof. Oñate extended an invitation to all conference participants to join IPSA's next 75th anniversary conference on Democratization and Autocratization, scheduled for 11-13 September 2024 in Lisbon.

For more information and program details, please visit the conference page on the IPSA website. If you missed the conference, the full videos of the two roundtables will soon be available on the conference page.