Call for Papers: Third Humanities and International Relations Graduate Conference
In our rapidly evolving and interconnected world, the study of International Relations has expanded beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries. Leiden University’s MA in International Relations program (MAIR-Humanities), with its emphasis on humanities-oriented and multidisciplinary perspectives, contends that understanding the complexities of world affairs requires the ability to think critically and draw insights from a wide variety of fields of inquiry, theoretical perspectives, empirical sources, and analytic frames.
Collaborating with the Institute for History and the Institute for Area Studies within Leiden University’s Faculty of Humanities, the MAIR program brings together over 45 academic staff members from various disciplines and fields of inquiry in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. As one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious graduate programs in International Relations, Leiden’s MAIR fosters an intellectually rewarding and diverse learning community that cultivates a nuanced approach to International Relations, one that is deeply attuned to historical, cultural, geographic, political, and socioeconomic contexts. It equips students with the analytical tools to critically understand and engage with global challenges.
The MAIR Humanities and International Relations Graduate Conference was envisioned to serve as a site where this approach is both showcased and enhanced, opening broader dialogue with scholars and practitioners who share a commitment to multidisciplinary, humanities-based inquiry. In doing so, the Graduate Conference reinforces the program’s dedication to pushing disciplinary boundaries and cultivating innovative perspectives on international relations.
While anchored at Leiden University, the conference has served as a platform to broaden the conversation with a wide range of universities, thereby also serving as important networking opportunities with diverse scholars and practitioners. The inaugural conference, held on June 14, 2024, convened participants from over 15 countries and more than 20 institutions, including Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe, Freie Universität Berlin, the University of Hong Kong, Utrecht University, and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The 2nd Humanities and International Relations Graduate Conference held in 2025 brought together participants from Polish Academy of Science, University of Groningen, Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe, and Cornell University. Scholars and policy practitioners engaged in lively discussions on pressing global issues—humanitarianism, geopolitical power shifts, human rights, politics of digital technologies, decolonization, and transnational justice—highlighting the value of humanities-oriented and multidisciplinary approaches in international studies.
Building on this success, we invite submissions for the third edition of the conference to be held on June 10, 2026. We welcome paper proposals that critically engage with or contribute to multidisciplinary and humanities-oriented perspectives in International Relations. Submissions are encouraged from MAIR students, faculty, alumni, policy practitioners, and scholars from Leiden and beyond.
Conference Theme:
Reimagining International Relations: Humanities and Multidisciplinarity as Key Approaches.
Submission and Participation Guidelines:
If interested in contributing to this conference, please submit the title and abstract of your proposed presentation and a short biographical note (max. 100 words). Participation in the event is free of charge; however, registration is compulsory. Conference registration will open by mid-May 2026 and after the release of the conference program.
- Abstract Length: 250 words maximum
- Presentation Format: Individual paper presentations (approximately 10 to 15 minutes)
- Participation in the conference is free of charge, but accepted paper presenters and participants are fully responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and visa arrangements.
- The conference will be held fully on campus, and due to technical constraints, we are unable to accommodate online participation for regular panel presentations.
How to Submit: Submit your conference presentation proposal by filling out this online form: https://leidenuniv.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2lqPumKojNXs9oO
Key Dates:
- Submission Deadline: April 3, 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: May 4, 2026
- Conference Date: June 10, 2026
Conference Benefits:
- Engage with an international and multidisciplinary community of scholars, students, and professionals.
- Expand your academic and professional network.
Organization Team:
Organizing Team: Dr. Salvador Santino Regilme (MAIR Program Chair and Associate Professor)
Dr. Hitomi Koyama (University Lecturer, Institute for Area Studies)
Yu-Ping Ding (MAIR Student Assistant)
Aidan Baars (MAIR Program Board Student Representative)