STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION

Deadline: 1/31/24

The Conflict, Social Action, and Change Division is pleased to announce its 2024 Graduate Student Paper Competition. Students are encouraged to submit empirically-based papers with a theoretical contribution addressing topics pertaining to collective conflict, action, and change. Topics for submission might include, but are not limited to the following themes: political conflict, repression, and violence, social movement mobilization and protest, peace-building and conflict transformation, criminal justice reform, resistance and norm contestation, and institutional change. The winner will receive a $200 cash award, a one-year student membership to SSSP, conference registration fees, and a plaque commemorating their superb achievement.

Guidelines for submission are as follows: A paper must not yet be published or accepted for publication at the time of submission. It can, however, be under review. Papers must be authored by a current graduate student (either solely or co-authored by more than one graduate student) and may not be co-authored by a faculty member or other nonstudent. The student may not submit the same paper to more than one division. To be considered, submit:

  • a copy of the manuscript,
  • a cover letter specifying that the paper is to be considered for the Conflict, Social Action, and Change Division Graduate Student Paper Competition, and
  • a letter from each author’s advisor or mentor certifying the person’s status as a student and some brief comments about the research.

Papers should not exceed 50 doubled-spaced pages including all notes, references, and tables. Please upload your submission to both the annual meeting Call for Papers submission site AND send an electronic copy of all requested materials to the Division Chair, Clay Michael Awsumb at c.michael.awsumb@gmail.com with the subject line: “SSSP-CSAC Student Paper Competition.” The advisor’s letter can arrive separately or from the graduate student directly (if separately, please use the same subject line).