This panel will explore the question of what it means to be an international academic association. It considers the ways in which associations like the International Association of Mass Communication Researchers (IAMCR) and the International Communication Association (ICA) have attempted to reflect the global nature of the discipline and its questions, as well as the international make up of its membership. It also addresses the different ways – beyond leadership and membership – that “international” can be meaningful. The panellists will consider impediments of internationalization -- including issues of language, network, history, and identity. They will also reflect on the successes and failures of initiatives to advance internationalization interests, including regional conferences, comparative studies, and cross-national collaborations.
