We are very pleased to have won Specialist Group of the Year of the Political Studies Association 2023-24.
Accepted by American Politics Group Chair Professor Philip John Davies and Vice Chair Dr Dafydd Townley at the Political Studies Association 2024 Annual Conference at the University of Strathclyde, this prize is awarded to the most ‘outstanding, impactful and engaging’ Specialist Group.
Commenting on winning the prize Chair Professor Philip John Davies said:
‘This award recognises the energy, engagement, and intellectual commitment of the American Politics Group’s members. Thank you all for making the Group’s 50th anniversary year so special. With such a vibrant and supportive community of scholars and friends this begins the next half century on a very high note indeed!’
Likewise, Vice Chair Dr Dafydd Townley said:
‘I had the pleasure of receiving the Specialist Group of the Year Award on behalf of the group at the University of Strathclyde alongside Philip John Davies. In the last year, the American Politics Group has, among other things, organised conferences around the UK with 8 different UK universities in conjunction with the US Embassy, held its annual conference at Queen Mary University of London, held its annual colloquium that showcased the Congress to Campus Programme at the Eccles Centre of the British Library, supported an ECR conference at the University of Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute and supported doctoral and ECR research through the awards of 7 travel awards amounting to over £5000, as well as providing financial support to the panel of APG doctoral researchers selected to represent the PSA at the American Political Science Association annual conference in Los Angeles. This year is proving just as busy for Phil and I and, as chair and vice chair of the APG respectively, we hope to be as supportive over the next twelve months to all of our members. Thank you to everyone that has been a part of this great year.’
Lead Applicant and American Politics Group Web Team Lead Dr Peter Finn said:
‘Winning Specialist Group of the Year is truly fantastic. As a group we are incredibly active, with a core of members running a broad range of activities and events. In the last two years we have, among other things, run our annual conferences and colloquiums, our paper, travel, and book prizes, formalised our newsletter, set up a website, run events with the US embassy and the British Association of American Studies, published a briefing paper on the 2022 midterms and supported ECRs in multiple ways. Thanks to all who have contributed! It is incredibly satisfying to see all of the work of our members being recognised.’
This award was further recognised in the June 2024 edition of
PSA News. The APG was praised as follows:
‘One of our largest and longest established specialist groups, we commend them for achieving impressive partnerships with US organisations and scholars, and for its leadership in supporting American political research and analysis over a number of years.’
The June 2024 edition of PSA News, which also features a response from the APG convenors on p.19, is below:
