Extended Submission Deadline

In response to requests from colleagues across multiple time zones and academic calendars, the deadline for paper proposals has been extended to February 5, 2026. This adjustment reflects our commitment to ensuring that scholars working on questions of governance, cooperation, and development have adequate time to contribute their research to this emerging platform for hemispheric exchange.

New Travel and Publication Support

Professor Luz Marina Cabrera Suarez is currently pursuing government grant funding specifically designated for student travel to the symposium. This initiative recognizes that early-career scholars often face the most significant barriers to international conference participation, particularly those based in institutions with limited research budgets.

To add, registration fees will directly support symposium operations, with surplus funds allocated toward publishing the strongest papers presented across both research committees. This creates a clear pathway from conference presentation to scholarly dissemination - a dimension often missing from regional gatherings.

Practical Updates

Professor Jesús Tovar has secured university facilities in Acapulco and is finalizing partnerships that will benefit all participants:

  • Discount codes for Aero Mexico flights (available today)
  • Negotiated hotel rates for symposium attendees
  • Simultaneous interpretation equipment for plenary sessions

The Opportunity

Academic conferences often suffer from oversaturation - too many parallel panels, too little substantive engagement. The current submission numbers for Acapulco 2026 present the opposite scenario: an opportunity for genuine dialogue rather than performative presentation. Papers submitted by February 5th will receive serious engagement from committee members and fellow participants working at the intersection of comparative politics, regional cooperation, and development governance.

For scholars whose work bridges institutional contexts - examining how governance frameworks translate (or fail to translate) across regions, or analyzing cooperation mechanisms in an era of fragmented multilateralism - this symposium offers something increasingly rare: space for depth rather than breadth.

The organizing committee looks forward to robust exchanges in Acapulco. Those with questions about thematic fit or submission formats should contact ipsa.acapulco2026@gmail.com.