Article

Colonial/Postcolonial/Decolonial Working Group Constitution

1. Aims

The Colonial/Postcolonial/Decolonial (CPD) Working Group was established in 2013 to serve as a major platform to forge an active research community around the question of the colonial constitution of world order and its political, cultural, intellectual and psychological implications. Recognising theoretical and methodological heterogeneity, the group is especially interested in supporting early career scholars as well as facilitating engagements between academics and third sector organisations interested in the colonial question.

The group seeks to:

  1. To facilitate research into the colonial question across a broad array of approaches, issue areas and debates in IR;
  2. To exercise leadership in the field by organising focused debates on pressing themes via workshops, special issues and edited collections;
  3. To build relationships with cognate research centres in the UK and worldwide in order to promote IR scholarship in inter-disciplinary research, expand the networks of CPD scholars, and bring new scholars into contact with BISA;
  4. To organise, on an ad hoc basis, panels in various conferences and workshops in the UK and worldwide;
  5. To support the impact agenda by building relationships and partnerships between CPD members and the public sector, thus enhancing the public visibility of BISA; and
  6. To appropriately include early career scholars in all activities.

2.  Role of the Group Convenor(s)

2.1 Responsibilities

The convenor(s) has/have general responsibility for the management of the working group and adherence to its obligations to BISA, including regular submission of annual reports and financial statements. The convenor(s) also ensure(s) the active participation of the group in the annual BISA conference. Furthermore, the convenor(s) is/are responsible for:

  1. Recruitment of new members;
  2. Regular maintenance of the website, the database for the membership and email lists (in full compliance with the Data Protection Act);
  3. Soliciting proposals for conference panels at BISA and the International Studies Association (ISA);
  4. Actively seeking proposals for seminars, workshops, and Working Group events;
  5. Disbursement and management of Working Group funds; and
  6. Organising an Annual General Meeting.

The convenor(s) can delegate responsibility to working group members with the requisite expertise, while maintaining an overall management role. CPD actively seeks joint collaboration with other BISA working groups as well as research centres outside of BISA around common themes and those that foster interdisciplinary research activity.

2.2 Terms of office and elections

Convenors will serve two-year terms, and no more than two consecutive terms. An online ballot of working group members (current BISA membership is required in order to be eligible to vote) is need to elect convenors. Elections will be held in January (first election January 2015), and thereafter every two years. Term of office will commence in May of each year. The election will be administered by a member of the working group who is not seeking office in the working group. Only a current BISA member is eligible to stand for election. Candidates require a proposer and a seconder (both of whom must be a working group member who is a current BISA member).

3. Membership

3.1 Membership in the working group is open to anyone. Potential members need to email the convenor(s) with the following information: Name, institution, email address, and research interests. Membership is free of charge. BISA membership is not required for working group membership, but is highly encouraged. Some activities and subsidies may only be available to WG members who are also members of BISA. Information of members on the website is posted by their consent. Members can use the Jiscmail listserv that the working group runs to send emails to the working group, subject to the discretion of the convenors.

3.2 Members are encouraged to propose events for which working group funding is needed. Convenors will have the discretion to determine the viability of the proposal with due consideration to the principal aims of the working group. Proposals involving early career researchers and the potential for academic contribution will be given preference.

4. Amendments to the Constitution

Amendments to the Constitution are permissible. However, any proposed changes must first be circulated by email before the Annual General Meeting (usually scheduled at the BISA annual meetings), followed by deliberation amongst members at the AGM at which occasion a vote may be taken. A summary of the discussion must be circulated by email to the members after the AGM. Convenors can amend the constitution by adhering to BISA regulations and respect for the views of the working group membership.

5. Complaints

Any complaints concerning the administration of the working group should first be resolved through the convenors or the membership. However, in case of failure, complaints can be made to the BISA Trustee responsible for working groups. See the BISA complaints policy.