The Committee on Political Sociology was born at the end of the 50s thanks to the initiative of distinguished sociologists and political scientists, such as Seymour Martin Lipset and Stein Rokkan, concerned about the understanding of the interrelationships between political and social forces in the light of transnational and interdisciplinary comparisons. The formal recognition of political sociology as an international field of study actually started with the proposal to establish this new research committee at the 1959 IV World Congress of the International Sociological Association (ISA). During the 70s, the strong inclination of the CPS towards political science led to its affiliation to the International Political Science Association (IPSA). The CPS thus has this unique feature of having a dual affiliation to ISA (Research Committee 18) and IPSA (Research Committee 06). It brings together sociologists and political scientists from different latitudes and its mission consists in increasing the theoretical and practical significance of political sociology as a discipline dedicated to the study of the relationship between political and sociological phenomena; establishing a community of scholars who have scientific interests in this field; facilitating communication inside this community as well as the dissemination of research findings an ideas; organizing international conferences as well as panels at the world congresses and other events of the two associations.

The board elected for the period 2014-2018 can be viewed here. You can read a letter from the former chair Piero Ignazi and an introduction letter from the current chair at this link.

Past boards can be viewed here.