Call for Papers: Annual Conflict & Change PhD Workshop 2026
PhD workshop: 18th-19th May
Deadline for abstracts: 15th February
The year 2025 has ushered in major changes in global politics. As the United States is scaling back from multilateral relationships, raising questions over the stability of the Liberal International Order, the European Union tries to increase its unity and rearm itself, while China projects itself as a potentially stable trading partner for many countries. At the same time, we see civil conflicts persist and become increasingly deadly. Most notably, the conflict in Sudan may be one of the worst humanitarian crises of this decade, both in terms of death toll and displacement. Another emergent phenomenon has been the Gen Z protests that took place in Asia: in Nepal, massive bottom-up mobilization brought down the government and led to the appointment of a new prime minister. At the same time, the trend of democratic backsliding across the world maintains momentum. How do we make sense of these emerging issues that challenge established theories, and what can peace and conflict studies contribute to a better understanding of these phenomena?
The Conflict & Change annual workshop for PhD and doctoral students across the UK and Europe provides a platform for a discussion of these and similar issues, bringing together insights from various disciplines on the causes, consequences, and solutions to conflict, institutional change, and unrest.
The workshop focuses on the work of early career researchers, provides an opportunity to receive feedback from senior academics from the Conflict & Change research cluster at UCL, and fosters a strong community engaged in cutting-edge research. The workshop will be held on 18th-19th May, 2026. Supported and hosted by the Conflict & Change research cluster at the UCL Department of Political Science, the workshop brings together doctoral students from various disciplines in the social sciences, humanities, and beyond, such as political science, economics, sociology, geography, and computer science. Papers on all issues related to peace and conflict, contentious politics, mobilisation, institutional change, human rights, and migration are welcome.
The two-day workshop will take place in London at UCL’s Bloomsbury campus and will feature research presentations and discussions, a keynote speech, a workshop dinner, and additional opportunities to socialize. Unfortunately, we cannot provide any funding for travelling and accommodation at this time.
Please submit an abstract (no more than 250 words) by 12th January via the link below. For questions and enquiries, please contact Seth MacCutcheon (seth.maccutcheon.24@ucl.ac.uk).
