The format of the Joint Sessions of Workshops, unique to the ECPR, has made them a leading forum for substantive discussion and collaboration between political science scholars from across the world, at all stages of their career. They are now recognised as one of the major highlights of the worlds political science calendar. In 2016, the Joint Sessions will be hosted across three universities - Scuola Normale Superiore, Scuola Superiore SantAnna and the University of Pisa.
Workshops are closed gatherings of 15-20 participants, which last for about five days. Topics of discussion are precisely defined, and only scholars currently working in the Workshops field, and with a Paper or research document for discussion, are invited to participate. Participants may attend only one Workshop, and must stay for the duration of the event. This format ensures intensive collaboration which often results not only in thorough critiques of the new research being presented, but in new research groups being formed to take that work forward.
The Joint Sessions of Workshops have been held in a different European city, at an ECPR Full-Member university, each spring since 1973. The 2016 event will be unusual in that it will bring together three separate institutions; their staff, students, university buildings and facilities, all to host what will undoubtedly be a must-attend event in this beautiful and historic city.