Introductory Note
In 1987 the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) was established in order to revive UN studies. Research and teaching were in the doldrums. Neither the United Nations in particular, nor multilateralism in general, were central to the concerns of faculty, students, or policy-makers. Especially in the United States, UN-bashing was popular while serious scholarly studies of the organization and the policies, processes and institutions surrounding it were few and limited in scope.

Since that time, the agenda of world politics and the world organization - and the associated range of approaches, assumptions, issues and values included in the study of the UN system and contemporary multilateralism - have expanded dramatically. Set within this context, the theme of the 25th anniversary ACUNS Annual Meeting will be continuity and change - in the UN system, in related multilateral institutions, actors and forms of agency engaged in attempting to manage the overloaded agenda of contemporary multilateralism(s), and in scholarly and policy-oriented understandings of the field.

To what extent is the United Nations today equipped to help address and solve current as well as emerging future global challenges? What are the durable features and 'truths' of the UN system, versus the proposed adaptations and anachronisms that have failed? Would, and should, the Charter's framers be pleased or disappointed by subsequent adaptations? What about ACUNS' founding mothers and fathers - to what extent would (do) they recognize and appreciate the field of scholarship and practice today, given their critical role in supporting, sustaining and promoting excellence and innovation in UN studies and in UN practice a quarter of a century ago?

As the Academic Council on the United Nations System celebrates its 25th anniversary, our members and interested colleagues - scholars and practitioners of all kinds with an interest in the United Nations, multilateral institutions and global governance - will have a wide and challenging agenda to consider at the 2012 Annual Meeting.

CALL FOR PAPERS - WORKSHOP PANELS
The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) now is accepting workshop paper and panel proposals for presentation at its twenty-fifth anniversary Annual Meeting, to be held 13-15 June 2012 at
The Graduate Center, City University of New York (GC-CUNY).

Proposals on the Annual Meeting theme - "New Norms, New Actors, a New United Nations? Continuity and Change, ACUNS at 25" - as well as on the topics highlighted in the four Plenary sessions and the introductory note, in addition to other topics relating to the UN system and to the broader mandate of the Council, will be considered.

Please note that proposals will be accepted and evaluated, and panel spaces will be allotted, on a first-come rolling basis subsequent to the issuance of this Call. Once all spaces are filled, a waiting list will be established for any subsequent proposals.

Current ACUNS members in good standing (including new or newly-renewed members) will be given priority consideration for their proposals, but non-members also are welcome to submit proposals. In order to present at the Meeting, Council membership will be required; this includes all persons participating in a full panel team proposal.

To submit an individual proposal or a full panel proposal you will be required to upload full contact information, a paper title(s), a max. 200 word abstract(s), and a max 250 word bio(s). If you have any questions regarding the submission process, please contact Brenda Burns at bburns@wlu.ca. The final deadline for uploading proposals is Friday, 20 April 2012.