The Global South Caucus of the International Studies Association (GSCIS) is dedicated to expanding the theoretical and practical horizons of the discipline of International Relations (IR), which has been largely shaped by Western and global northern experiences. It is now fairly well recognized that the study of IR has tended to devalue the ideas and experiences of global south countries and peoples. To change this, in the interest of developing a truly global IR, the GSCIS has been championing, as a first step, the exploration, discussion, debate, and formulation of local and regional narratives and practices of the south – Africa, Asia, and Latin America/Caribbean. This workshop follows up on larger conferences we have held in Menton (2012) and Singapore (2015) as well as panels we have sponsored at the International Studies Association’s annual convention since 2012, and a workshop co-sponsored with the Philippine International Studies Organization’s workshop in March 2017.

The Havana workshop, occurring in a country which has for decades promulgated alternative approaches both domestically and internationally, will both explore southern perspectives as well as assess the relationship between these and “mainstream” IR. Within these parameters, the workshop is open to all who wish to explore theoretical, methodological, empirical, and practical/policy-oriented research in IR.