1. Purpose and Scope

The European International Studies Association (EISA) is committed to providing a professional, inclusive, and respectful environment for scholarly exchange. This Code of Conduct gives practical effect to EISA’s mission statement commitment to ‘ethical academic engagement’ and ‘universal principles of human rights’.

The EISA Constitution (Article IV/4) provides that members may lose membership ‘due to unprofessional conduct, while the member accused must be granted the right to be heard in advance’. This Code sets out the standards of professional conduct expected at EISA activities.

This Code applies to everyone participating in EISA activities, including attendees, speakers, panel organisers, and board members, regardless of membership status. It covers all EISA-organised activities and spaces: PEC, EWIS, workshops, online events, and official EISA online spaces including social media. The same standards apply in physical and virtual settings.

2. Core Principles

Respect, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination. Everyone participating in EISA activities is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of status, career stage, institutional affiliation, or background. Participants should be mindful of the impact of their words and actions, particularly on those in more vulnerable positions. EISA is committed to creating environments where all can participate fully, free from discrimination based on gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, immigration status, or other characteristics.

Safety and Wellbeing. Participants should be able to engage in EISA activities without fear of harassment, bullying, or harm. EISA takes responsibility for fostering safe environments at its events and in its spaces.

Academic Freedom. Robust scholarly debate is essential to our discipline; critique of ideas, theories, and arguments is encouraged and protected. Harassment, intimidation, and attempts to silence scholarly perspectives are incompatible with academic freedom.

Accountability and Transparency. EISA commits to clear processes for raising concerns, responding appropriately, and protecting those who report in good faith from retaliation.

Conduct incompatible with these principles includes harassment, discrimination, bullying, sexual misconduct, attempts to silence scholarly perspectives, and retaliation.

3. Review

This Code of Conduct will be reviewed by the Governing Board at least every three years, or sooner if circumstances require.

The EISA board, May 2026 

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