QUB hosted the 2023 General Conference of the Political Studies Association of Ireland. With more than 200 participants, the conference reflects the vibrant and dynamic community within the field of political studies. 

The Conference events took place at the Assembly Buildings Conference Centre, The Europa Hotel and Belfast City Hall, and was the largest gathering of members of the association in its 40 years' history.

This year's conference welcomed Professor Nicole Bolleyer, Chair of Comparative Political Science at LMU Munich, who delivered the prestigious Peter Mair Lecture.

Furthermore, the conference presented a significant moment by awarding the inaugural joint PSAI Fellowship to two esteemed scholars: Professor Michael Gallagher, Emeritus Professor of Comparative Politics at Trinity College Dublin, and Professor John Coakley, Emeritus Professor in the School of Politics & International Relations at University College Dublin and Distinguished International Professor at Queen’s University Belfast. This fellowship was a recognition of their exceptional and distinguished contributions to the study of Irish politics.

Finally, the PSAI awards every year prizes to recognise exceptional contributions to research in the field of political studies.  This year's winners were:

Dr Gail Ritchie (Queen's University Belfast) for best Ph.D. Thesis defended in 2022

Prof Bredan O'Leary (University of Pennsylvania) for best book published in 2022

Dr Alan Duggan (University of Nottingham and Stirling), Dr Michele Crepaz (Queen's University Belfast) and Dr Liam Kneafsey (Trinity College Dublin) for best conference paper.