Task Force on Difference, Inequality, and Developing Societies

For the most up-to-date information on the work of the Task Force on Difference and Inequality in the Developing World, please see the Task Force's new website at www.apsanet.org/~globalinequality/.

Established by President Susanne Rudolph in 2003, the Task Force on Difference, Inequality, and Developing Societies is part of APSA's efforts to support the problem-oriented study of politics and encourage political scientists to establish a public presence. The Task Force has three goals:

First, to foster America's capacity to understand, engage with, and learn from cultures, ideologies and religions beyond those in the Atlantic community. 

Second, to assemble what the discipline of political science knows about the key questions of global difference and inequality. 

Third, to present and disseminate its findings in ways that will shape public discourse and be used by policy makers.

Task Force members include:                                         

• Leslie Elliott Armijo, Reed College
• Marc Blecher, Oberlin College
• Valerie Bunce, Cornell University
• Kiren A. Chaudhry, University of California, Berkeley
• John Echeverri-Gent, University of Virginia (Chair)
• John W. Harbeson, CUNY-City College and The Graduate College
• Evelyne Huber, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Bronwyn Leebaw, University of California, Riverside
• Aseema Sinha, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Susan L. Woodward, The Graduate College, CUNY
• Dan Brumberg, Georgetown University
• Loren Ryter, Cornell University

TASK FORCE NEWS & EVENTS

April 2006: John Echeverri-Gent, along with Robert Wade (London School of Economics) participated in a roundtable discussion on the work of the Task Force at the annual conference of the Political Studies Association (UK).

March 2006: A draft version of the Task Force's work was presented at the International Studies Association's annual meeting in San Diego, CA.  Task Force members who participated included John Echeverri-Gent, Aseema Sinha, Leslie Elliott Armijo, Bronwyn Leebaw, and Susan Woodward.

The Task Force co-sponsored a Conference on Difference and Inequality in Developing Societies at the University of Virginia from April 21-23, 2005.  The conference addressed the following themes:

• Inequality and Difference in Developing Societies: How Do Recent Trends Affect Americans?" (A special public forum) 
• Difference and Inequality: The Construction and Deconstruction of Analytical Frames 
• Inequalities and Differences in the Development of International Governance 
• Trajectories of Inequality and Difference in Latin American and the Middle East  
• Growth and Inequality in the World's Most Rapidly Expanding Economies  
• Who's Rights? Defining Political Rights in an Era of Globalization  
• America's Role: Promoting Democracy, Ignoring Differences and/or Antagonizing Conflict?  
• America's Interest in Equality and Difference in an Interdependent World

More on the Conference

Download Conference Papers

Conference Podcast

Upon completion of its work, the Task Force will produce:

1. a report designed for public consumption to present its findings; 
2. an edited volume that will include the complete research behind the public report;
3. a supporting website to provide resources related to research and education on questions of global difference and inequality;
4. teaching materials for educators.  

For more information, contact Bahram Rajaee, APSA Director of International and External Relations.