Call for papers: Imagining the future of research on South East Europe

The BISA South East Europe (SEE) Group invites paper proposals for a full-day in-person workshop to be held in London on Wednesday 1 April 2026.

This workshop is jointly organised by LSEE – Research on South East Europe at the Hellenic Observatory Centre, LSE, and King’s College London.

Workshop theme: Imagining the future of research on south-east Europe

This workshop aims to collectively reflect on and develop a forward-looking research agenda for the study of South East Europe. We welcome innovative and diverse contributions that engage with new themes, methodologies, theoretical approaches, and research designs.

We invite submissions from researchers and practitioners at all career stages, and we are particularly committed to supporting early-career researchers (ECRs), including doctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars.

Background and scope

The discipline of International Relations (IR) is undergoing a profound transformation, increasingly emphasising plurality, diversity, inclusion, and genuinely global knowledge production. This workshop seeks to explore how research from, about, and with South East Europe can contribute to and reshape these debates.

We therefore welcome paper proposals engaging with, but not limited to, the following themes:

• How can research on South East Europe inform global IR research agendas?
• What role can South East Europe play in shaping or transforming the international environment?
• What are the productive intersections and tensions between area studies and International Relations?
• How can methodological, theoretical, or epistemological innovations emerge from research on South East Europe?

Papers may engage with any of these themes through the lens of the author’s own research, regardless of the specific subject matter or empirical experiences that shape their research agenda. Moreover, in line with the values of the BISA SEE Group, this list is non-exhaustive, and we warmly welcome proposals addressing related or alternative themes.

The BISA SEE Group adopts a broad understanding of South East Europe and accordingly welcomes contributions that engage with a diverse range of cases and contexts.

Beyond academic discussion, the workshop aims to strengthen the BISA SEE scholarly community and deepen its connections with the region. The event will provide a supportive environment for early-career researchers to:

• engage with a vibrant research community,
• establish new research networks, and
• receive constructive, collegial feedback on their work.

The BISA SEE Group has secured limited funding to support early-career scholars via BISA funding and with the additional funding from LSEE - Research on South East Europe at the Hellenic Observatory Centre, LSE. Applicants who wish to be considered for financial support should indicate this clearly in their application. Please note that, due to limited resources, funding cannot be guaranteed.

Submission details and timeline

Application deadline: 15 February 2026

Notification of acceptance: 22 February 2026

Workshop date: 1 April 2026

Submit your paper by including a short abstract (max 300 words), biography (max 100 words), and please indicate whether a) you need an invitation for visa purposes (which BISA will issue should your paper be invited), and b) you need support and the amount of support that would be sufficient. Please note that our funds are limited.

Applications should be sent to the following email address: seewg.group@bisa.ac.uk, with the subject line 'BISA SEE London Workshop 2026'.