Association Française de Science Politique OFFICIELLE

What Association Française de Science Politique OFFICIELLE does

The Association Française de Science Politique (AFSP) is a French non-profit professional association (association loi 1901) serving political science researchers, teachers, and students across French universities and research institutions. Headquartered at 27 rue Saint Guillaume, Paris (at Sciences Po), it operates as the central community hub for the French political science discipline with a stated network of over 1,500 teachers, researchers, and students. Its offerings span academic publications, events, awards, and research observatories, with no commercial technology products. Core products include the peer-reviewed Revue française de science politique journal, the MagAFSP magazine, a biennial national congress (next edition: Lyon 2026), the Poli(cri)tique webinar series, the Politistes dans la Cité podcast, multiple doctoral thesis and book prizes (notably the AFSP/Fondation Mattei Dogan thesis prizes worth €2,000 each), the OALA academic freedom observatory, and the OMASP recruitment observatory. The underlying technology stack is modest: a WordPress-based website (afsp.info), newsletter distribution, podcast hosting, and webinar infrastructure — there is no proprietary platform, API, or software offering.\n\nThe association's revenue model rests on three primary streams: recurring membership fees from individuals and institutional partners (now tax-deductible with automatic payment options introduced for 2026), recurring subscription revenue from journal and magazine distribution, and biennial congress registration fees with discounted rates for partner-institution students. Go-to-market is community-led and distributed through the website, a Twitter/X account (@afspinfos), a BlueSky profile, email newsletters, and institutional partnerships with all ten Sciences Po institutions (IEPs), CNRS mixed research units, and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Customer segments are organized horizontally: a primary persona segment of individual political scientists, and a secondary business-unit segment of partner institutions. Leadership includes President Christophe Jaffrelot (CNRS/CERI Director of Research) and Secretary General Mélanie Albaret (Université Clermont Auvergne/CMH). Founded as an association with documented prize activity since 2007, AFSP shows no parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity — consistent with its non-profit, community-association character.

Name

Association Française de Science Politique OFFICIELLE

Legal name

Association Française de Science Politique

Website

https://afsp.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The AFSP is a French non-profit professional association serving over 1,500 political science teachers, researchers, and students across French universities. It publishes the Revue française de science politique, hosts biennial congresses, awards thesis prizes, and runs webinars, podcasts, and discipline observatories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The AFSP generates revenue through annual membership fees from individual members (teachers, researchers, students) and institutional partners (IEPs, universities, research laboratories). The association introduced tax-deductible memberships and automatic payment options in 2026.
2. Publications: The AFSP publishes the Revue française de science politique, the MagAFSP magazine, and various collaborative dossiers. Members receive discounted subscriptions to the journal.
3. Congress and events: Revenue generated from congress registrations, with reduced fees for student members of partner institutions attending the biennial national congresses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Association Française de Science Politique (AFSP) is a non-profit professional association that provides membership services to political science teachers, researchers, and students in France. It delivers academic publications (Revue française de science politique, MagAFSP), biennial national congresses, thesis and book prizes, research groups, podcasts, webinars, observatories on academic careers and academic freedom, and a member directory. It does not sell software or technology products; its offering is organized around scholarly community services and knowledge dissemination.

Product overview

The Association Française de Science Politique (AFSP) is a professional association for political science researchers in France, not a technology company. Its offerings include academic publications (Revue française de science politique, MagAFSP), awards (Prix de thèse, Prix du livre, Prix d'excellence, Prix Guy Michelat), events (biennial national congresses, webinars), audio content (Politistes dans la Cité podcast), research observatories (OMASP), and member directories. These are membership services and scholarly resources, not commercial technology products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MagAFSP: Magazine publication of the association
• Poli(cri)tique
• Politistes dans la Cité
• SPRI
• OALA (Observatoire des atteintes à la liberté académique)
• OMASP (Observatoire des métiers académiques de la science politique)

Products and services

• Revue française de science politique The official peer-reviewed journal of the AFSP, publishing original research articles in political science, distributed to members and institutional subscribers.
• Congrès national AFSP Biennial national congress bringing together the French political science community for presentations, networking, and the awarding of thesis and book prizes. The 18th Congress is scheduled for Lyon in 2026.
• MagAFSP Association magazine featuring articles, dossiers, and news on political science research, distributed to members and the broader community.
• Prix de thèse AFSP / Fondation Mattei Dogan Four thesis prizes of €2,000 each awarded biennially in partnership with the Fondation Mattei Dogan to recognize the best doctoral dissertations in political science defended during the preceding two-year period.
• Prix du livre de science politique Prize awarded by the AFSP to recognize outstanding books in political science published by French-speaking authors.
• Prix d'excellence Excellence prize awarded by the AFSP to recognize outstanding contributions to the discipline of political science.
• Prix Guy Michelat Named prize awarded by the AFSP for outstanding contributions to political science; honor named in tribute to Guy Michelat.
• Politistes dans la Cité (podcast) Podcast series featuring interviews with political scientists and discussions on political science research topics, distributed online.
• Webinaires Poli(cri)tique Webinar series addressing current political topics and research, including academic freedom and political analysis, hosted online for members and the public.
• OMASP — Observatoire des métiers académiques de la science politique Observatory tracking academic recruitment and career paths in political science in France, providing information on hiring procedures, calendars, and recruitment outcomes.
• Annuaire AFSP Online directory of AFSP members including researchers, professors, students, and other political science professionals, accessible to members.
• OALA — Observatoire des atteintes à la liberté académique Observatory monitoring and reporting on violations of academic freedom, providing public communiqués and resources to the academic community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network of 1500+ teachers, researchers and students in political science

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Sciences Po Paris (Fondation nationale des sciences politiques)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Paris is a key institutional partner of AFSP, hosting the association's headquarters. The FNSP manages the Institut d'études politiques de Paris and has played a determining role in the constitution and dissemination of political science in France for 70 years.
• Sciences Po Aix-en-ProvencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Aix is a regional IEP that partnered with AFSP for congresses in 1996 and 2015. Its research center CHERPA supports political science research with approximately 150 researchers including 30 permanent faculty members and over 70 doctoral students.
• Sciences Po BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Bordeaux is identified as a major pole of political science research in France with two CNRS mixed research units. Partner for AFSP Congress 1988. The institution has a 30% scholarship rate and over 25% international students.
• Sciences Po GrenobleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated in 1948, Sciences Po Grenoble is distinguished by the quality and volume of research activities from PACTE laboratory, one of the largest social science research centers in France. Partner for AFSP Congress 2009.
• Sciences Po LillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Lille has approximately 30 faculty members and maintains partnerships with several CNRS laboratories including CECILLE, CERAPS, CLERSE, CRDP, and IRHIS. Partner for AFSP Congress 2002.
• Sciences Po LyonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Lyon is the host institution for the 18th AFSP Congress in 2026. Founded in 1948, it maintains partnerships with over 150 international universities and hosts the journal Mots. Partner for AFSP Congress 2005.
• Sciences Po RennescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Rennes is a young IEP established in 1991, known for being the first IEP to require a mandatory year abroad. Partner for AFSP Congress 1999. Its CRAPE laboratory brings together approximately 100 researchers.
• Sciences Po Saint-Germain-en-LayecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe newest IEP opened in 2014, organized in partnership with UCP and UVSQ. It is developing a regional political science research partnership at the Île-de-France level involving four renowned laboratories including CESDIP, THEMA, PRINTEMPS, and CEE.
• Sciences Po StrasbourgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Strasbourg created post-WWII for modernizing the French state. Partner for AFSP Congress 2011. The institution focuses on European cooperation and cross-border collaborations, working with SAGE laboratory.
• Sciences Po ToulousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciences Po Toulouse established in 1948 is one of 10 IEPs in France with approximately 1700 students. Partner for AFSP Congress 2007. Research is conducted through LaSSP and LEREPS laboratories.
• CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CNRS is the French national research agency and a key partner of AFSP through its numerous mixed research units (UMR) dedicated to political science across French universities. Many AFSP members are affiliated with CNRS research laboratories.
• Université Paris 1 Panthéon-SorbonnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité Paris 1 houses the UFR de Science politique (created in 1969), the only French university institution exclusively devoted to political science. Its CESSP laboratory (UMR 8209) with CNRS and EHESS hosts 56 permanent members and 165 doctoral students.
• ARENES (Laboratoire)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARENES (formerly CRAPE) is a multidisciplinary research unit founded in 1973, bringing together 170 members from sociology, political science, history, communication, geography, and public health. It organized a summer school on mixed methods in 2024 in partnership with AFSP.
• CEPEL (Centre d'Études Politiques de l'Europe Latine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEPEL is a CNRS mixed research unit (UMR 5112) hosted by Université de Montpellier, specializing in comparative analysis of democratic governance transformations. Partner for AFSP Congress 2017.
• CERAPS (Centre d'Études et de Recherches Administratives, Politiques et Sociales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERAPS is a CNRS mixed research unit at Université de Lille 2, representing the largest CNRS laboratory for political science and public law north of Paris with 39 faculty members, 11 CNRS researchers, and about 60 doctoral students.
• CERSA (Centre d'Études et de Recherches de Sciences Administratives et Politiques)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERSA (UMR 7106) is a mixed research unit under Université Panthéon-Assas - Paris 2 and CNRS, dedicated to studying administrative phenomena at national, local, and international levels.
• CESDIP (Centre de recherches Sociologiques sur le Droit et les Institutions pénales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESDIP (UMR 8183) is a scientific and independent research center under CNRS and Ministry of Justice, also affiliated with Université Versailles-Saint-Quentin and Cergy Paris Université. Specializes in criminal institutions and deviance studies.
• CMH (Centre Michel de L'Hospital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMH (UR 4232) is a research unit in legal and political sciences at Université Clermont Auvergne, bringing together legal scholars and political scientists organized around three research axes.
• CRESPPA (Centre de Recherches Sociologiques et Politiques de Paris)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRESPPA (UMR 7217) is a major research unit bringing together CNRS, Université Paris 8, and Université Paris Ouest-Nanterre. It unites over 80 permanent researchers including 16 CNRS researchers in political science and sociology.
• CURAPP (Centre Universitaire de Recherches Administratives et Politiques de Picardie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCURAPP-ESS (UMR 7319) was created in 1971 at Université de Picardie and is associated with CNRS, covering political science, sociology, philosophy, and law research.
• CUREJ (laboratoire de recherche de l'Université de Rouen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUREJ (EA 4703) created in 2012 federates legal and political science researchers at Université de Rouen, serving as the main laboratory for political scientists at the university.
• IRISSO (Institut de recherche interdisciplinaire en sciences sociales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRISSO is a mixed research unit at Université Paris Dauphine-PSL, CNRS, and INRAE, bringing together about 100 political scientists, sociologists, and economists studying economic worlds, public action, and politization.
• Institut de recherche Montesquieu (IRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRM (UR 7434) at Université de Bordeaux became an institutional partner of AFSP in 2026. The laboratory groups historians of law and political scientists with 23 faculty members and 40 doctoral students.
• ISP (Institut des Sciences sociales du Politique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISP (UMR 7220) is a CNRS mixed research unit at Université Paris Ouest and ENS Paris-Saclay, with research focuses on law, power, public action, political identities, conflicts, and circulation of men and knowledge.
• LIPHA (Laboratoire interdisciplinaire d'étude du politique Hannah Arendt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIPHA is a research laboratory created in 2013 at Université Paris Est Créteil and Gustave Eiffel University, analyzing ethical and political controversies and public action with 73 members and 54 doctoral students.
• PACTE (laboratoire de sciences sociales)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPACTE (UMR 5194) is a major social science laboratory at Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, and Sciences Po Grenoble, bringing together over 100 researchers and 170 doctoral students in geography, political science, sociology, and urban planning.
• Réseau des associations francophones de science politiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFSP participates in the network of francophone political science associations, promoting international collaboration among French-speaking political scientists.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• International Studies Association (ISA): Major international association focused on international relations, an adjacent discipline to AFSP's political science. Operates annual conventions and journals (International Studies Quarterly, International Studies Review) that intersect with AFSP's SPRI research group.

Regional players

• Deutsche Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft (DVPW): The German Political Science Association, the national body for political scientists in Germany. Directly comparable in mission and services but focused on the German academic ecosystem rather than France.
• Political Studies Association (PSA, UK): The principal UK professional association for political scientists, with comparable membership, publications (Political Studies, Politics journal), and annual conference structure. Regional peer that intersects with AFSP's francophone and European scope.
• Société québécoise de science politique: Quebec francophone political science association and a natural peer in the Réseau des associations francophones de science politique. Operates congresses and a journal (Recherches sociographiques) with structural parallels to AFSP.
• Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA): National Canadian political science association hosting the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences and publishing the Canadian Journal of Political Science. Comparable in structure and offerings but serves a different national market.

Direct peers

• International Political Science Association (IPSA): Global umbrella organization for political science with national association members including AFSP's network peer. Publishes International Political Science Review, organizes world congresses, and is the most direct international counterpart to AFSP.
• American Political Science Association (APSA): The primary US professional association for political science, offering near-identical services: peer-reviewed journals (American Political Science Review), annual congress, member directories, awards, research committees, and academic freedom advocacy. APSA is the most direct international analog to AFSP.
• European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR): European academic network for political scientists that organizes joint sessions, workshops, and conferences, and publishes the European Journal of Political Research. Directly comparable in mission to AFSP but operating at a pan-European rather than national level.
• European Political Science Association (EPSA): European-level association organizing the annual General Conference and publishing the European Political Science Review. Overlaps with AFSP on European networking and academic publishing, though AFSP remains primarily national.

Others

• Association française pour l'avancement des sciences (AFAS): French association promoting science broadly, including social sciences. Has historical congresses and a national reach, representing a broader/more general scientific professional society from which AFSP is a specialized spinoff in political science.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afspinfos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-fran%C3%A7aise-de-science-politique-officielle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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