A peace wall in Belfast

Call for papers

BISA’s half century

As BISA marks 50 years since its inauguration in 1975, we reflect on the Association’s stewardship of British International Studies over the past half century. BISA’s founding purpose was to serve the needs and reflect the interests of those engaged in research and teaching of international studies at advanced levels, and to provide an interface for policymakers and civil servants to engage with IR in the academy. With almost 30 working groups, two thriving house journals and a book series, active Postgraduate Network, and record attendance at last year’s annual conference, there are strong signs that BISA is fulfilling its stated purpose. Yet what of its limitations and challenges, too? Fifty years on, what are our needs and collective interests today, and how might those best be served?

And of British International Studies scholarship over the past 50 years – much of which supported by BISA – we ask what have been the core achievements and also failures? What do we want and need from International Studies over the next 50 years? Amidst perpetual political crisis and uncertainty, and growing calls to reshape, ‘undiscipline’ and even abolish the discipline of IR, we ask whether we are equipped for the challenges of the future. And if we are not, what should we do about that? 

Whatever challenges we face, we do so together. The BISA conference is renowned for being inclusive, diverse and friendly. We bring together a worldwide community of specialists to discuss, promote and develop international studies.

Submissions are welcomed which take up the challenges expressed in the questions above, and of any other topic relevant to the advancement of international studies broadly defined. The format for submissions will include individual papers, panels, and roundtables. We encourage submissions which demonstrate multiple perspectives, diverse panels, and a range of innovative formats. Panels and roundtables should be diverse including (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity, career stage, methodological approach, institution, and geographical location. The online system for all submission types will open on 8 October 2024.

01 An in-person conference

Our 2025 conference will take place in person in Belfast. There won't be a virtual or hybrid option. Our annual virtual conference takes place in January 2025. We also offer many virtual opportunities for participation in events throughout the year. You can find out more on our events page. We continue to be the only International Studies Association to offer coffee breaks, lunches and a networking reception as part of the conference fee, as well as conference fee and childcare bursaries. #BISA2025 will be no exception. We will also continue to invest in a comprehensive programme of virtual events throughout the year.

02 What we’re looking for

Hear from BISA Conference Programme Chair, Dr Nick Caddick, on what makes a good submission in this short three-minute video.

03 How it works

For BISA 2025 we will accept three submission types:

  • Individual paper submissions
  • Panel submissions
  • Roundtable submissions

We accept scholarly research papers and policy analysis on any topic related to International Studies in its broadest definition.

Panel - A panel is an opportunity for a group of experts working in a specific area to share papers or papers in progress. Panel submissions should ideally include four papers, a discussant and a chair, however you may also submit panels with no discussant and either four or five papers with a chair.

Roundtable - A roundtable is an opportunity for a group of experts to discuss a particular issue in depth without the constraints of having to speak to a paper. Roundtable submissions should include a minimum of four participants and a chair, up to a maximum of six participants and a chair.

Across panels and roundtables, you must give due consideration to diversity of participants including (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity, career stage, methodological approach, institution, and geographical location.

Each submission (whether a paper, panel, or roundtable) may only be made to one working group. On the proposal submission form this is called a 'track'.

The review process

Once the online submission process is closed, individual paper/panel/roundtable submissions are peer reviewed by the conference programme committee.

Initial peer review is done by BISA working group conveners who are assigned submissions based on the working group, or 'track', identified in the proposal.

Working group conveners can accept, decline or refer submissions during this process. They can also build panels composed of individual papers submitted to their working group.

Where there are individual papers with scholarly merit but for which there is no good panel fit within a working group track, the conference chairs will attempt to construct interdisciplinary panels.

Three key points to note are:

  • Selection is first and foremost based on academic quality
  • There is no limit as to the number of times an individual can appear, but we would like to give as many people as possible an opportunity to participate and will bear this in mind when making selections
  • Where there are two papers of equal academic quality and one is not a BISA member, the BISA member will be given preference.

04 Timeline

  • 8 October 2024: Submissions open
  • 14 November 2024: Deadline for all submissions - papers, roundtables and panels
  • w/e 24 January 2025: Provisional programme published and notification emails sent out
  • w/e 24 January 2025: Bursary applications open – deadline 28 February 2025
  • 14 March 2025: Presenter/Speaker, Chair, and Discussant registration closes
  • 14 March 2025: Last day for changes to the programme (please check name/affiliation are correct)
  • 17 May 2025: Final programme published
  • 1 June 2025: Registration for non-presenting delegates closes
  • 18 June 2025: Conference begins

05 Costs and bursaries

As always, BISA members will receive a big discount on the fees paid by non-members. We will also be offering bursaries. More details will follow when submissions open.

06 Our conference management system

We currently use a conference and event management system called Indico. When you click to submit your proposal you will be taken to the conference management system where you will be prompted to create an account. Once you are logged in you can submit abstracts (single paper), panels or roundtables.

We will be on hand to help with any system queries. Please contact conferences@bisa.ac.uk should you experience any difficulties.

07 Ready to submit your paper, panel or roundtable?

We encourage all scholars with an interest in International Studies to make a submission. Submissions will open on 8 October 2024.

Note you will be taken to our conference management system.

 

We are grateful for funding from the Belfast and Northern Ireland Conference Subvention Scheme to help put on #BISA2025.