Russian International Studies Association (RISA)

4th Convention

Space and Time in World Politics and International Relations

All political events take place in certain space and time. Space and time are the basic parameters of politics, as such they set objective framework of political activity of any kind. The international status of a state is, first and foremost, its position in space in respect of its partners and opponents. How are the spatial dimensions of world politics evolving today? How is the spatiality of modern politics connected to territoriality and sovereignty?

The time factor in its turn also affects world politics and international relations. Where has the “Modernity” begun and when does it end? When has the “Axial age” in world politics begun and what does this concept imply? 

Both the objective and subjective features of space and time are subject to dynamics, they are changing as a result of global processes. Thus globalization “compresses” world space and “accelerates” time.

The issues related to the role of space and time in world politics are being actively studied and debated in contemporary political science and international studies. The study of world political development, international and interstate crises, geopolitical studies, problems of Modernity and Post-Modernity, strategic planning issues, etc. – these are only some of the research issues that deal with space and time as significant factors of world politics and international relations.

The main theme of the 4th RISA Convention encompasses a wide range of problems and allows nearly every scholar to initiate a discussion and participate in a debate on a manifold of relevant issues of world politics and international relations. Among these are:

• What is the meaning of “Modernity” in world politics and international relations and how “modern” are they?
• What makes contemporary politics global? How is its unity in space and time achieved?
• Is the dynamics of spatial and temporal changes in the contemporary world subject to influence?
• What is the significance of geopolitical factors in contemporary world politics?
• What new fields of world politics are being born as a result of globalization – transnational, supranational, geo-economic, cross-cultural, etc.?
• When and how do the “windows of opportunity” for radical changes in world politics appear?
• What are the possible scenarios of global political dynamics?
• Do cycles exist in world politics?
• What are the spatiotemporal parameters of contemporary international crises?
• Is there a common vector of global political development?
• What role does simultaneity of political processes play in the development of today’s world?
• What is the place of Russia and other countries (regions) in contemporary spatial and temporal system of political coordinates?
• How can countries that are on different stages of development interact and understand each other?
• How does the temporal factor affect the processes of foreign policy planning and taking decision-making in the context of the acceleration of changes?
• What are the spatial and temporal configurations of modern international organizations, alliances, coalitions?

The Program Committee of the 4th Convention of the Russian International Studies Association is also open to other suggestions regarding the issues of world politics and international relations. The deadline for submitting requests for reports and sections is April 15th, 2006.

RISA President - Rector of MGIMO-University, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Doctor of Political Sciences, Corresponding Member of Russian Academy of Sciences – University prof. Anatoly V. Torkunov.

Chairman of the Program Committee of the 4th RISA Convention – Vice-President of RISA, Vice-Rector of MGIMO – University prof. Andrei Yu. Melville.