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The International Research Honor Society (Sigma Iota Rho, SIR) was founded in April 1987 and is headquartered on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Frank Plantin, associate director of the University of Pennsylvania's International Relations Program, serves as president of the International Research Honor Society.

International Research Honor Society

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The International Research Honor Society (Sigma Iota Rho, SIR) was founded in April 1987 and is headquartered on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Frank Plantin, associate director of the University of Pennsylvania's International Relations Program, serves as president of the International Research Honor Society.

The International Research Honor Society is a professional academic group that honors international research achievements. On the basis of standards similar to the Phi Beta Kappa, only scholars with outstanding academic achievements can become members of the International Research Honor Society.

Members of the International Research Honor Society with world-class influences: former Spanish Prime Minister Seí Asnar, 65th U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, special assistants to many U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman, foreign policy research Harvey Hitchman. U.S. Vice President Biden and former US Secretary of State Dr. Kissinger have published monographs in SIR magazine.

Chinese name

International Research Honor Society

Foreign name

Honor Society for International Studies

Origins of the International Research Honor Society

By: William Olson, Ph.D., Past President, Pro-Term, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, School of International Service, American University

Written by: William Olson

Dr. William Olson, former president of American University, emeritus professor of the Academy of Political Science and International Service,

Background Rationale

Background theoretical basis

While the question of whether "IS" is an academic discipline may remain unresolved, international studies has been around as a separate subject since the end of the First World War. And while most majors in the subject continue to be located in, or at least governed by, political science, consensus remains that this subject can best be understood and therefore studied from an interdisciplinary perspective.

While the question of whether international research is an academic subject has not yet been resolved, international research has become widespread as an independent discipline since the end of the First World War. Although most majors in international studies are placed, or at least dominated by political science, the academic consensus is that international studies are best understood and studied from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The principal disciplines generally considered to constitute the core of international studies are political science, history and economics, yet geography and demography cannot be ignored. There are increasing signs of a return to the discipline of international law, which before the First World War was about the only discipline of international focus studies in universities by scholars seeking an understanding of the relations between states.

The main disciplines generally consider political science, history, and economics to be the core of international research, but geography and demographics are also parts that cannot be ignored. There are more and more indications that scholars focus on international research has begun to return to the constraints of international law, and before World War I, the only focus of university scholars on international research was to seek understanding of the relationship between states.

A more contemporary and fundamentally novel approach rejects the focus on inter-state relations and traditional diplomacy in factor of what is of the called world society or even 'the global village.' This perspective is based upon all the interrelationships of mankind across national boundaries. 'Statecentrism' tends to be ignored by such scholars, who have been referred to as 'globalists.' The globalist approach might be seen as an essentially sociological perspective.

A more modern and fundamentally novel approach rejects the focus of world society and even global villages on inter-State relations and traditional diplomatic factors. This view is based on human relations across national borders. "Nationalism" is often ignored by such scholars as "globalists." The globalist approach may be viewed essentially as a sociological perspective.

In order to avoid the twin charges of dilettantism and smoregasbordization, IS academics have tried to introduce curricular organizations and examination requirements to the subject. Without some structure of required courses, different students who graduate with a major in international studies need have taken taken, if any, of the same subjects, especially in large universities with hundreds of offerings related to the world affairs. Conventional disciplines have tried to control the definition of what constitutes an economist, a political scientist, or a historian, demanding successful completion of a specified course of study to that end.

In order to avoid the double accusations of amateur and flashy, international research scholars try to introduce curriculum organization and examination requirements. There is no structure of required courses, and students of different international studies majors need to take some, if any, courses in the same discipline, especially in large universities, with hundreds of thousands of world affairs-related courses. The definition that traditional disciplines try to control is an economist, a political scientist, or a historian who requires the successful completion of a specified course of study as the end.

The academic structure of IS ranges from professional schools of international affairs to interdepartmental committees governing the major. Some departments offer a strict emphasis in IS. For instance, a political science major seeking an IS emphasis might take courses from the economics and history departments. The intellectual demands of the IS discipline account for its appeal to only the best students. Recognition of this field calls for special attention.

The academic structure of international studies ranges from professional colleges of international affairs to intersectoral committees that manage international studies. Some universities and departments attach special importance to international research. For example, the emphasis on international studies in political science can be seen in courses taken in economics and history. The knowledge requirements of the international research profession lead it to attract only the best students. The need for awareness in the field of international research is of particular concern.

Formation of the Society

Formation of the International Research Society

In 1983, the dean of the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC, observed during an initiation service for Pi Gamma Mu, the national political science honorary society [sic], that a high proportion of the new inductees were actually IS majors who had taken enough courses in political science to qualify for membership. A degree program in IS had been offered since 1958, but no society existed to recognize achievement of honors. Informal consultation among honor students and faculty agreed that a new Society for International Studies would be useful.

In 1983, the Dean of the American University School of International Service in the Washington area observed that when the National Institute of Political Science Honorary Society (SIC) Pi Gamma Mu launched the service, a high percentage of new members were actually international research professionals who tended to study A large number of courses in political science serve as qualifications for the National Honor Society of Political Science. Degree programs for international studies have existed as early as 1958, but there has been no relevant professional academic group to certify achievement honors. Informal consultations between honored students and faculty agreed that the new International Research Society would be very useful.

The dean sought the assistance of Professor Theodore Couloumbis to designate the appropriate Greek letters standing for three basic qualities of the study of international affairs. Sigma stands for "synesis," the Greek word meaning prudence, iota for "ideodoi," meaning ideals, and rho for "rhomi," meaning power. The School of International Service at American University endorsed this development with enthusiasm.

Dr. William Olson, Dean of the American University's School of International Services, sought the help of Professor Theo Columbus to designate appropriate Greek letters to represent the three basic qualities of international affairs research. Sigma stands for "synesis", the Greek word for prudence, extremely small, iota stands for "ideodoi", meaning ideal, and rho stands for "rhomi" meaning for power. American University's School of International Services enthusiastically supports this development.

On the basis of the standard similar to those of Phi Beta Kappa, students with outstanding academic records were invited to become the first twenty members of Sigma Iota Rho. The first inaugural dinner for twelve students was held in Washington on May 9, 1984, with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, alumni, staff and faculty, including the founding dean, in attendance. The society was certified as a "recognized organization of the American University" by the Advisor for Organizations / Greek Life, Gwendolyn P. Miller, on August 22, 1984.

Based on standards similar to the Phi Beta Kappa, students with outstanding academic performance were invited to be called the first 20 members of the International Research Honor Society (Sigma Iota Rho, SIR). The first banquet for the first group of 20 members was held in Washington on May 9, 1984. The banquet was attended by the chairman of the board of directors of the American University, the founding dean of the International Research Honor Society, Dr. William Olson, alumni, and faculty. On August 22, 1984, Gwendolyn Miller, consultant to Greek Life Organization, announced that "The International Institute of Honor Research became an organization recognized by American universities."

Presentation to the International Studies Association

Report to the International Research Association

The next logical step was to present the idea to an informal gathering of the International Studies Association. The annual meeting of this group of teachers and other practitioners from dlerse disciplines, although mostly from the political science field, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel located in Washington , DC, in 1985 provided the opportunity. Roughly twenty-five people took part in discussion which revealed considerable interest. A striking feature of the comment from faculty members from various colleges and universities was that IS students tended to be among the most outstanding, but they possessed little sense of identity with the field of international studies. It was generally agreed to take the idea to form a society back to respective campuses for reaction, with plans to report at the next meeting of the ISA whether any interest was shown in Sigma Iota Rho.

The next logical step is to present the ideas of the International Research Honor Society to an informal gathering of the International Research Association. In 1985, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, teachers and practitioners from a variety of disciplines, although mostly from the field of politics, participated in the annual conference of the International Research Association. About 25 people participated in the discussion and showed considerable interest. A distinguishing feature of the review is that the members of the International Research Association from different universities comment that members of the International Research Honor Society are the most outstanding in the field of international research, but they have little recognition in the field of international research. Everyone agreed to bring the idea of the International Research Honor Society back to their respective campus reactions, and plan to report it to the International Research Association at the next annual meeting to see if the association recognizes the International Research Honor Society.

By the time of the 1986 ISA annual meeting in California, some had already taken steps to form Sigma Iota Rho chapter. Attendance at the second informal discussion concerning the new honor society was nearly double that of the previous year.

At the 1986 annual ISA conference in California, some participants have begun to establish a branch of the International Research Honor Society. The number of people attending the second informal seminar on the International Research Honor Society was almost double that of 1985.

A formal organizational meeting was held April 16, 1987 in the Palladium Room of the Omni Hotel in Washington. Roger Coate of the University of South Carolina was elected unanimously as the President of the meeting. Dean William Olson, also from the University of South Carolina , was chosen as Director of Sigma Iota Rho. Grant T. Hammond was selected President-elect. Twenty-six colleges and universities presented petitions for the establishment of local chapters.

The official organizational meeting of the International Institute of Honors was held at the Omni Hotel in Washington, DC on April 16, 1987. Professor Roger Court of the University of South Carolina was unanimously elected president of the society at the conference. William Olson, dean of the University of South Carolina, was elected director of the society. Grant T. Hammond is a candidate for president of the Institute. Twenty-six colleges and universities have filed petitions to establish local chapters.

On April 8, 1989, a Certificate of Incorporation was presented by Anne Piorkowsky to Angela Ford, Notary Public in the District of Columbia, who certified its acceptance.

On April 8, 1989, Anne Pilkowski filed an application for the registration of the International Research Honor Society with Angela Ford in the District of Columbia and was certified by a notary public.

Since this time, the location of SIR's National Office has been relocated. Most recently it was based at the James Madison University until 2002.

Since then, the headquarters of the International Research Honor Society has been relocated to James Madison University until 2002.

Since 2002, SIR's National Office has been located at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Moreover, at this same time, Dr. Frank Plantan of the University of Pennsylvania became the organization's most recent president.

Since 2002, the headquarters of the International Research Honor Society has been relocated to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In the same year, Dr. Frank Plantin, associate director of the University of Pennsylvania's International Relations Program, has served as the president of the International Research Honor Society.

William Olson, Ph.D.

William Olson

SIGMA IOTA RHO CHAPTER

International Research Honor Society Chapter

Currently there are 160 active chapters spread across 40 states in the United States. Chapters are also located internationally, in the United Kingdom and France. This tally is projected to increase throughout the forthcoming academic year as new chapter applications are reviewed continuously on a rolling basis .

So far, the International Institute of Honors has 140 branches in 40 states. There are also international chapters in the UK and France. In the new school year, the number of chapters will also increase due to continuous chapter applications.

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