Notice of the BRISMES Annual General Meeting | 24 June 2026

Item 5: Approval of Membership Fees 

Rationale 

Since the large-scale changes in BRISMES Council’s membership in 2019/2020, there has been a welcome and exciting expansion of our work, in terms of areas including events, academic freedom, advocacy, prizes, and support for early career scholars. This has necessitated an increase in staffing levels, and our staffing costs furthermore increase annually, as our staff become more experienced, and to reflect changes in the cost of living. We have also been subject to rising costs because of inflation, which has been unusually high (relative to the UK context) in recent years. 

We are therefore now in a position where our costs regularly exceed our income. In the calendar year 2026, we expect our expenditure to be about £12,000 higher than our income. This is an unsustainable situation, which – if it continued – would threaten the viability of the Charity. The Officers and Council have agreed upon the need to take a series of measures to balance our income and expenditure, and to do so in ways that are equitable and allow us to continue the Society’s work. In that wider context, the Officers believe it is necessary to raise membership fees for 2027 (BRISMES membership runs by calendar year for all members) and require membership approval at the AGM.  

BRISMES’ membership fee structure has remained the same since calendar year 2021. In 2020, BRISMES Council approved a new membership fee structure, which increased membership fees for many higher earners, while reducing the membership fees for many lower earners.  This system is – by design – heavily progressive, asking our members who earn more to contribute more through their membership fees. This will remain a feature of our membership structure moving forward. However, one of the challenges we face is that in recent years our membership has become increasingly ‘junior.’ Of our 497 members (as of late 2025), 237 are ‘students or recently graduated (within 2 years).’ This is in many ways very positive – it demonstrates we are of interest and relevance to the newest generation of scholars, and these members make fantastic contributions to BRISMES – but it also affects our income.  

Our current membership fees, which have remained unchanged since 2021, are as follows:  

As part of the process of formulating this proposal, Council compared the fees to those of other UK associations, including the British International Studies Association (BISA), the British Sociological Association (BSA) and the Political Studies Association (PSA). Because different associations have different fee structures, it is challenging to make direct comparisons. In general terms, however, compared to BISA, our fees are higher for the highest earners (over £80,000), but lower for all income brackets below that, and lower for students. Compared to BSA, our fees are noticeably lower for academics and early career scholars (although BSA has a larger discount for those in some Global South countries). Our fees are also lower for students and retired. Compared to the PSA, our fees are higher for waged academics and students (but lower for retired and unwaged categories). 

BRISMES Council is proposing to raise the membership fees by £25 for those earning over £60,000; by £20 for those earning between £30,000 and £59,999; and by £15 for those earning below £29,999, for students (including those who graduated in the past two years), retired members and the unwaged. There is currently a 20% discount for scholars based in the Global South, and a 10% discount for paying by standing order. These discounts will remain. 

Ordinary Resolution  

THAT, in accordance with the Articles of Association, the membership fees for the various categories of membership (prior to the calculation of any reduced rates), as determined by the directors, be and are hereby approved with effect from 1 January 2027, as follows:  

Notes to the Resolution:

• This is an ordinary resolution and will be passed if a simple majority of members voting are in favour. 

• The directors approved the proposed fees on 17 March 2026, subject to member approval at AGM.  

• This resolution is proposed in accordance with the Articles of Association of BRISMES. 

• Members will be asked to vote on this resolution at the meeting.