The Programme Committee invites proposals for participation in the 2023 Canadian Political Science Association Annual Conference to be held from Tuesday, May 30 to Thursday, June 1 at York University, Toronto, Ontario, which is located on the traditional land of the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat, and the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.


Territory, Place, and Power

The 2023 meeting is set to mark the first in-person conference since 2019 and offers a critical opportunity to reinvigorate our disciplinary engagements and commitments. With this in mind, this year’s theme is Territory, Place, and Power. From global pandemic(s) and physical/social distancing requirements, climate emergencies and energy transitions, calls for decolonization and land back, to secessionist movements, wars of aggression and forced migrations, a theme of Territory, Place, and Power invites us to reflect on our relationships with territory and land, to reimagine our conceptions of place and belonging, and to interrogate the role of power in how we navigate these relations and spaces in a time of global tumult. We invite proposals that speak to this overarching theme.
The Programme Committee also invites submissions in all areas of political science, spanning one or more of our 16 disciplinary sections and competitions (3MT and Posters).
The CPSA conference has always been globally-focused, and we invite scholars from around the world to participate and present their work.
Reconciliation and EDID
The CPSA continues to prioritize the work of the CPSA Reconciliation and EDID committees as well as broader efforts to decolonize the academic world. It subscribes to the principles of accessibility, diversity, decolonization, equity, inherent human dignity, inclusion, and inclusive excellence. Thus, we particularly welcome proposals that contribute to a diverse and inclusive representation of the Canadian political science community, and those that address all forms of discrimination, bigotry, prejudice, and injustice, including, but not limited to, those rooted in racism, ableism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism.
Workshops
The Programme Committee has also organized workshops that focus on specialized themes of interest for political scientists. Explore them HERE and submit your proposal!
New Practitioners Section
We especially welcome submissions for our newly-created Practitioners Section. A practitioner is a political scientist whose main professional activity is, or has been, outside the academic world (e.g., in government, political parties, consulting, journalism, lobbying, think tanks, and international or civil society organizations). The section welcomes a wide variety of perspectives on political science and its application in Canadian society.
Back to Congress!
The 2023 CPSA Annual Conference is held within the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences (Congress). With the theme Reckonings and Re-Imaginings, Congress 2023 “will focus on new reckonings for how to live in non-hierarchical relationships that respect our human differences, while protecting the environment we depend on.” The Programme Committee also welcomes submissions that relate to the Congress’s theme.

2023 CPSA – Conference’s Format
We are excited to welcome you back to an in-person conference! 
The 2023 Canadian Political Science Association Annual Conference will be held in person from Tuesday, May 30 to Thursday, June 1 at York University, Toronto, Ontario

EDID PRE-CONFERENCE Workshop (May 28 and 29, 2023) 
This pre-conference workshop will take place in person on Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29, 2023, before the official start of the 2023 CPSA Conference.

Pre-conference participants, paper-givers, poster and three minute thesis presenters must be prepared to attend the conference and to make their presentations in person.

Hybrid Format for 2023 CPSA Special Events and 2023 Congress Events

In addition to our in-person conference, in recognition of the growing demand for virtual participation, we will offer a virtual registration option to attend pre-conference and conference’s plenaries and keynote sessions, the CPSA Presidential Address, CPSA Reconciliation Committee events, and to present papers in a limited number of special panels that will be pre-selected by section heads. These special events and limited number of special panels will be identified with the label “hybrid format” in the online programme.

The 2023 Congress’ Big Thinking series, the open programming organized by York University, and pre-selected Career Corner series will be also available for remote participation.

Annual Conference of the International Studies Association (ISA) Canada Region
ISA Canada is proud to host its annual conference in partnership with the CPSA. For the eighteenth consecutive year, ISA Canada will co-organize with the CPSA the International Relations section of the 2023 Annual Conference. ISA Canada encourages its members to submit proposals on areas of interest in the study of international relations. ISA Canada is a region of the International Studies Association (ISA), the premier international association of international relations scholars.

Questions? Contact the CPSA Conference Team.

Submit Proposal   


   2023 Programme Committee    Workshops    Submission and Type of Proposals     Participation Information and Fees     Conference Documents
2023 CPSA Deadlines and Important Dates
Deadline to submit your proposals
Submission outcome notification
Deadline CPSA Membership Fees
Deadline Registration (early bird)
Paper for the conference
Conference dates