Founded in 1974, holding its first conference in January 1975 at the University of Keele, The American Politics Group (APG) is the major professional organisation for the researchers and teachers in the UK whose work concentrates on the government and politics of the USA. Membership is not restricted to the UK, and APG conferences regularly attract the involvement of trans-Atlantic and European colleagues. The Group holds an annual 3-day conference in January, an annual colloquium hosted at the British Library in London in November, and various other events. In recent years the members have raised money to establish an intermittent programme of travel awards for UK postgraduate students.

• We were awarded the 2023-24 Specialist Group of the Year of the Political Studies Association.

Visit the American Politics Group website

APG Announcements

• The APG was pleased to launch a new essay competition for A-level students, FT-APG A-Level Competition. This new essay competition is part of a broader project designed at fostering engagement between the PSA American Politics Group, the Schools Programme of the Financial Times, and A-Level students, tutors and schools. This project is supported by the PSA’s Excellence and Impact Fund
• Winner to be announced shortly!

APG Previous Events

February 2026 – Online A Level Conference for students and tutors. Particularly those interested in applying for the FT-APG A-Level Competition. This event is part of a broader project designed at fostering engagement between the PSA American Politics Group, the Schools Programme of the Financial Times, and A-Level students, tutors and schools, supported by the PSA’s Excellence and Impact Fund. This event was FREE and open to all.

Unfolding Our Shared Future Talk Series The ‘Unfolding Our Shared Future: Challenge, Possibility and Potential in the 21st Century‘ talk series is a travelling festival addressing issues facing the US and UK in domestic, trans-Atlantic and global contexts. This series is delivered by the American Politics Group of the Political Studies Association and the host universities with the support of the British Association of American Studies and the US Embassy in London. Subject to adjustment, the list of events is:

• 9 October 2025: Aberystwyth University – Disinformation
• 29 October 2025: Durham University – Political Polarisation
• 20 November 2025: National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
• 22nd November 2025, Colloquim, The British Library