Call for papers

Fragmenting orders, shared futures: Global politics in turbulent times

We live in an era where established global orders are fraying under the combined pressure of geopolitical realignments, technological change, accelerating environmental breakdown, and much more. How can we make sense of these profound structural shifts while living through them? And how, in these turbulent times, can we rise to the shared challenges that all living beings on earth will face in the coming years?

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 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 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.

01 An in-person conference

Our 2027 conference will take place in person in Manchester. There won't be a virtual or hybrid option. Our bi-annual virtual conference takes place in January 2027, and we offer more than 50 virtual opportunities for participation in events throughout the year. You can find out more on our events pages. 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. #BISA2027 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, Professor Simon Rushton, on what makes a good submission in this short two-minute video.

03 How it works

For BISA 2027 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'.

If you'd like to make a non-standard submission (previously we've had zine-making, dance workshops and more!) we would also be happy to hear from you. Please contact conferences@bisa.ac.uk in the first instance.

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 or track managers, 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 official limit to the number of times an individual can appear, but we want 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 author is not a BISA member, the BISA member will be given preference.

04 Timeline

• 28 September 2026: Submissions open
• 6 November 2026: Deadline for all submissions - papers, roundtables and panels
• Mid-January 2027: Provisional programme published and notification emails sent out
• Mid-January 2027: Bursary applications open – deadline 18 February 2027
• 12 March 2027: Presenter/Speaker, Chair, and Discussant registration closes
• 12 March 2027: Last day for changes to the programme (please check name/affiliation are correct)
• 5 May 2027: Final programme published
• 1 June 2027: Registration for non-presenting delegates closes
• 16 June 2026: Conference begins (workshops and public lecture will be held the previous day on 15 June)

05 Costs and bursaries

As always, BISA members will receive a large 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.

The submission deadline is 6 November at 11.59pm (UK time).

Note you will be taken to our conference management system.

Image: Courtesy of Marketing Manchester. Photographer - Stuart Aiken