BISA October Updates

Engaging the International
Studies community

BISA Update
October 2025

Inside this issue:

A year in working groups - 2024/25
Introducing new BISA Chair Juanita Elias: Priorities and plans for 2025-2027
#BISA2026 conference keynote announced
Nominations for Academy of Social Science Fellowships
The latest research from Review of International Studies (RIS)
In discussion: New Voices in Cultural Relations Prize 2025 winner - Zoha Siddiqui
Call for papers: Africa and International Studies early-career best paper prize 2026
An update from the European Journal of International Security (EJIS)
Could you be the next Foreign Policy Working Group convener?
Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world
Event recording: Navigating the publishing landscape
80 years of the United Nations - Special collection
Call for expressions of interest – climate negotiation simulation 2025
Ecocide: a 21st century international crime in the making?
Call for papers: financialisation of development
Call for conveners: International Political Economy
In memoriam: Professor A J R (‘John’) Groom

A South East Europe Working Group panel at the BISA 2025 conference

A year in working groups - 2024/25

Working groups are at the heart of BISA, so each year we bring you a summary of their activities over the previous 12 months. We hope this shows the strength, depth and hard work of each of the working groups. We are extremely grateful to the conveners who are all volunteers.

Juanita elias on a roundtable at the Euriopa hotel in Belfast

Introducing new BISA Chair Juanita Elias: Priorities and plans for 2025-2027

Incoming BISA Chair Professor Juanita Elias (University of Warwick) introduces herself and her three top priorities for BISA during her tenure. Working with the Director/CEO, BISA staff team and trustees, her aims are broadly: widening membership and engagement; embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do; and representing the discipline of International Studies.

#BISA2026 conference keynote announced

We are excited to announce that the keynote speaker for #BISA2026 will be leading scholar Professor Kimberly Hutchings, currently based at Queen Mary, University of London. The title of Kimberly’s keynote will be ‘Violence and the Meaning of Peace’.

Nominations for Academy of Social Science Fellowships

Twice a year, the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS) asks its learned societies to put forward distinguished scholars of the social sciences as fellows of the Academy. Nominations received are put to an AcSS committee for ratification. We would like to offer our membership an opportunity to put forward names.

The latest research from Review of International Studies (RIS)

Article authors either provide a video abstract to embed with their article, or post on our website, to bring you accessible summaries of their article that allow you to digest the key points. This month you can watch a video abstract for: Constructing business authority in global governance: A Bourdieusian account of multi-level meaning fixation by Adrian Calmettes and Dominic J Pfister. You can also read a written summary of Susan Strange meets the everyday: The mundane sources of structural power by Kasper Arabi; and Abusing the international solidarity principle: Human rights, international solidarity, and the EU’s bilateral migration deals by Jamal Barnes and Samuel M Makinda.

In discussion: New Voices in Cultural Relations Prize 2025 winner - Zoha Siddiqui

Zoha Siddiqui won the joint BISA and British Council prize – New Voices in Cultural Relations - for her Masters' dissertation 'Motherhood-Based Advocacy for Transitional Justice in Northern Ireland'. Here Zoha talks to Juliet Dryden (BISA) and Christine Wilson (British Council) about the findings from her dissertation and why it’s important.

Call for papers: Africa and International Studies Working Group early-career best paper prize 2026

The AISWG and the editorial team at the Review of International Studies are pleased to announce a prize for the best early-career researcher paper. The prize is aimed at supporting the research and writing development of our early-career members. In addition to being invited to present at the BISA annual conference (supported by a modest travel stipend), the winning scholar will be mentored through the RIS publication process.

An update from the European Journal of International Security (EJIS)

Our journal EJIS have announced that Matthew Ford (Associate Professor at the Swedish Defence University) and Simone Tholens (Associate Professor of International Relations at John Cabot University, and part-time assistant professor at the European University Institute) are joining EJIS as associate editors. There are also new cyber-related articles on FirstView.

A female academic writing on post it notes on a white board in collaboration with a male colleague

Could you be the next Foreign Policy Working Group convener?

The Foreign Policy Working Group is looking for a team of at least two conveners, at least one of which must be from a UK university. You must already have been awarded your PhD. Becoming a working group convener is a great opportunity to shape your area of research and expand your networks. Conveners put on at least two events each year for members and the wider BISA community. They are responsible for the selection of panels submitted to their conference track. If you are interested please send an expression of interest to office@bisa.ac.uk by 27 October.

Beyond frameworks: Alternative pathways for AI governance in a fragmented world

Dr Alp Cenk Arslan provides some fascinating reflections on alternative mechanisms that can supplement AI governance frameworks based in core principles of community engagement, support, and respect. The International Studies in Emerging Technologies Working Group will be publishing a series of these short-form articles, so do look out for more.

A selection of journals on a table in the library

Event recording: Navigating the publishing landscape

Publishing plays a crucial role in research dissemination, yet it can be challenging. This session, from the Africa in International Studies Working Group, addressed the crucial steps in ensuring the effective navigation of the publishing process. They talked about targeting the appropriate journal for your research, understanding the peer review process, and managing expectations.

Watch now

80 years of the United Nations - Special collection

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Our journal Review of International Studies has put together a collection of articles that explore the founding of the UN, the relationship between the organisation and states, the role of the public, and the ideas that helped create the current international system. The collection is free to read until the end of 2025.

A group of climate simulation students at Chatham House in 2024

Call for expressions of interest – climate negotiation simulation 2025

The call for expressions of interest from academic leads to take part in our annual climate negotiation simulation event for students is open. We’re pleased to once again convene the event in partnership with Chatham House. It will take place on Monday 1 December 2025 at Chatham House, 10 St James Square London. Call deadline: 19 October.

Ecocide: a 21st century international crime in the making?

Suwita Hani Randhawa was awarded a BISA Early Career Small Research Grant (ECSRG). The grant allowed Suwita to research the criminalisation of ecocide in global politics. Here she discusses the research and her conclusions. Should the Rome Statute, the International Criminal Court's founding treaty, be amended to include ecocide as an additional crime?

A dark woodland with the words 'Spotlight series' overlayed

Call for papers: financialisation of development

The Global Politics and Development Working Group invite abstract submissions for a panel on the financialisation of development at #BISA2026. We would like the panel to explore how financial instruments, private equity, and blended finance are reshaping development policy and practice, and what this means for inclusive and sustainable growth. Deadline: 24 October.

Call for conveners: International Political Economy

The International Political Economy Working Group (IPEG) is looking to recruit up to six new co-conveners to join the convener team as the current convenors come to the end of their two-year terms. Responsibilities of the co-conveners include organising the annual workshop, coordinating conference submissions, running the book prize and overseeing communications. Deadline 3 November.

In memoriam: Professor A J R (‘John’) Groom

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Professor A J R Groom - a former BISA Chair. Richard Whitman, Professor of Politics and International Relations, and Director of Research and Innovation at the University of Kent, outlines some of Professor Groom's main contributions and achievements during his successful career in international relations.

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