IPSA's 75th Anniversary Conference Explored Challanges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance

IPSA is proud to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2024, marking a momentous journey of scholarly contribution to the global political science community. As part of the celebrations, IPSA presented an international conference on Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance at Concordia University in Montréal, Canada, from 25-26 April 2024.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Program Committee, panel chairs, participants, and amazing volunteers, whose contributions and tireless efforts ensured the success of the conference. The conference was presented in partnership with the Government of Québec, Concordia University, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) Canada, and the Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal (CORIM), and with collaborative support from the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA),the Société québécoise de science politique (SQSP), Future Earth, Sustainability in the Digital Age, Forum of Federations and Connexion internationale de Montréal (CIMtl). We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our partners and collaborators for their invaluable contributions to this international conference.  

Conference Program

The Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance conference featured 79 papers across 27 panels. The event drew 119 participants from 26 countries, including leading scholars, government and city officials, for a wide-ranging discussion on topics related to multi-level governance. Topics ranged from the role of the European Union as an international actor, federalism, decentralization, climate policy, and international security to contemporary issues, such as the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, technology and the digital world, migration, and governance in autocracies and hybrid regimes. Participants also explored the challenges posed by global governance in the 21st century, gender perspectives, and experiences with multi-level governance in different regions, including in Asia, Latin America, Canada, and Indigenous communities.

Roundtable Discussions
The event also featured two roundtables, which spurred an engaging dialogue on challenges and new directions in multi-level governance. On 25 April, participants gathered for the Practitioners' Roundtable on Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance, led by IPSA President Pablo Oñate. On 26 April, the Academics' Roundtable on Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance took center stage, chaired by IPSA President-Elect Yuko Kasuya.
Photo (left to right): Ghislain Picard, Sara Veilleux, Norbert Eschborn, Micheline Ayoub, Oumar Diallo and Pablo Oñate.

The 75th Anniversary Ceremony and Reception
The first day concluded with a ceremony marking IPSA’s 75th anniversary attended by many special guests, including representatives from the Québec Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie, the City of Montréal, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Canada, as well as IPSA Executive Committee members and conference participants. 

Kim Fontaine-Skronski - IPSA Executive Director
IPSA’s 75th anniversary ceremony began with an address by IPSA Executive Director Kim Fontaine-Skronski, who welcomed guests and thanked the conference partners and collaborators for their support. Dr. Fontaine-Skronski took the opportunity to announce the launch of the IPSA Timeline, a digital chronicle on the association's website, showcasing the milestones that have shaped IPSA over the past 75 years. Discover the IPSA Timeline now!   

Graham Carr - President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University
In his address, Graham Carr, President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University, welcomed conference participants to Concordia and congratulated IPSA on its 75th anniversary. Prof. Carr highlighted the collaborative efforts between IPSA and Concordia, emphasizing their shared priorities of supporting colleagues in emerging democracies and facilitating open exchanges of ideas. Prof. Carr also commended IPSA's global network and Concordia's pivotal role in its growth, citing joint initiatives such as the IPSA-Concordia Summer Institute in Applied Diplomacy. Prof. Carr concluded by highlighting Concordia's achievements in political science and the significance of IPSA's work in addressing pressing global challenges. 

Martine Biron - Québec Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie
Martine Biron, Québec Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, delivered a video message acknowledging IPSA's pivotal role in shaping political science since its foundation in 1949 and emphasizing IPSA's prominent place among the 80 international associations based in Montréal. The minister also reaffirmed the Government of Québec’s commitment to supporting IPSA and promoting mutual values.   

Alia Hassan-Cournol - City of Montréal Councillor
In her video address, Alia Hassan-Cournol, representing the Mayor of Montréal and the city administration, congratulated IPSA on its 75th anniversary. She also discussed the administration's ongoing efforts to combine theory and practice to develop public policies that create a more inclusive society.

Stéphane Paquet - President and CEO of Montréal International
In his video message, Stéphane Paquet, President and CEO of Montréal International, extended warm congratulations to IPSA on its 75th anniversary and the conference. Mr. Paquet highlighted IPSA's role as the global voice of the political science community, emphasizing its efforts to bring together diverse perspectives from around the world to advance the field of political science.

Norbert Eschborn - Director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) Canada
Norbert Eschborn, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) Canada, reflected on the themes of the conference and the enduring partnership between IPSA and KAS in the promotion of political science. He highlighted the important role played by IPSA Executive Director Kim Fontaine-Skronski in fostering a fruitful partnership between the two organizations since 2019 and acknowledged the contributions of women in advancing IPSA’s mission.

Pablo Oñate - IPSA President
IPSA President Pablo Oñate thanked the Program Committee, conference partners, and collaborators for their contributions and reiterated the importance of multi-level governance in addressing contemporary global challenges. President Oñate also took the time to reflect on IPSA’s long journey since its foundation in 1949 and its first World Congress in 1950 in Zurich. He discussed the evolution of the Association, most notably reflected in its increased gender inclusivity. He concluded by expressing his profound gratitude to IPSA’s global community and to all those who contributed to IPSA’s success. 

Photo (left to right): Norbert Eschborn (Director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation Canada), Graham Carr (President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University), Pablo Oñate (IPSA President) and Kim Fontaine-Skronski (IPSA Executive Director).

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, presented by the Forum of Federations, an international organization that develops comparative expertise on federal and decentralized governance practices. Chaired by Eric Champagne (University of Ottawa), the panel, made up of Rupak Chattopadhyay, President and CEO, Liam Whittington, Senior Program Manager, and Jamie M. Thomas, Program Officer, explored how federal and multi-level governance systems address some critical issues, with a focus on lessons from comparative international practices.

For further information and program details, please visit the conference page on the IPSA website.  If you missed the conference, you can view the full videos of the two roundtables, opening remarks, opening ceremony, and closing remarks on the conference page.

Visit by IPSA's Executive Committee 
Following the Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance Conference, members of the IPSA Executive Committee visited the IPSA Secretariat’s office spaces at Concordia University on 26 April. 

Photo (from left to right, first row): Euiyoung Kim, Keiichi Kubo, Serge Granger, Kgothatso Shai, Paul Godt, Azul A. Aguiar-Aguilar, Stephen Sawyer, Daniel Stockemer, Emilia Palonen, Annika Hinze
Second row, right side: Irasema Coronado, Madalena Meyer Resende, Vanessa Elias de Oliveira, Francesca Longo, Carmelo Cattafi
Sitting: Kim Fontaine-Skronski, Dianne Pinderhughes, Pablo Oñate, Yuko Kasuya

IPSA’s 145th Executive Committee Meeting in Montréal
IPSA held its 145th Executive Committee meeting at Concordia University in Montréal on 27-28 April 2024, following the Challenges and New Directions in Multi-Level Governance Conference. IPSA extends its heartfelt gratitude to Concordia University and the Political Science Department for their kind support and hospitality. The Montréal EC meeting provided a platform for IPSA leadership, EC members and the IPSA Secretariat to meet and discuss preparations for the upcoming 75th anniversary conference in Lisbon and the 2025 IPSA World Congress of Political Science. The next EC meeting will be held in Lisbon on 14-15 September 2024.