IAPSS-Centro Regional para América Latina

IAPSS World-wide Network of Regional Centers

Regional centres are an outcome of IAPSS regional development policy which intends to facilitate both, the sustained interaction among the local associations from one area and the management of new members. The policy is based on the assumption that local associations from one area have the interest to develop relations among themselves, know best the area (in terms of political science institutions, students, possible opportunities) and most importantly, have access to regional funds.

IAPSS Regional Centres are to play an important role in the structure of IAPSS in the future. The network of IAPSS Regional Centres is a long term goal of IAPSS, thus the goal of implementing the Regional Centres is constant since setting time limits to implementing Regional Centres has proven to be very hard.

Regional Centres can be beneficiary to IAPSS due to variety of reasons. Culture proximity may represent an important ground for the development of an international political science students’ community. But the regional activity should not replace international interaction. It should be a complement that would allow more opportunities for political science students, more contacts and activity for local and national associations, a better image for local associations and for IAPSS, the basis for the development of an international political science students’ community and the consideration of regional issues and common interests.

Another great advantage of the Regional Centres is the fact that local and national associations will be able to structure the nature of the regional interactions in accordance with their own interests and the interests of the students they represent, ensuring in this way also the sustainability of regional activity.

There are currently two Regional Centres established, the Regional Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (Bridges Network) and the Regional Centre for Latin America.