Call for Papers: AGS International Conference on Religion in International Relations

The Call for Papers is now out for the 11th AGS International Graduate Student conference. This year's edition will tackle the challenging topic of the role of religion in world affairs, under the title: "The Complexity of Religion in International Relations: Theoretical, Legal and Geopolitical Perspectives." The conference will take place in Paris on April 21st-22nd.

The goal of this conference is to explore the links between religion and politics beyond media headlines, through scholarly grounded research and analysis. "When talking about the links between religion and politics, the media often focus on Islam and recent events, but all religions, especially Catholicism, have become a central component of international relations for over forty years." says Manlio Graziano, AGS's specialist of geopolitics of religion, who will be one of the main faculty moderators of the event.The conference will seek to offer a platform for informed dialogue, in line with AGS's mission of promoting peace through education and academic research. The co-directors of the conference organization committee, Aurora Nilsen, from Norway, and Sakshi Mishra, from India, write in the call for papers: "There has been prominent focus on how religious differences create barriers to peace, and lead to war. However, all religions have deep roots in peace and have subtle conflict resolution mechanisms rooted in their scripture. Religion, like nationalism, allows its followers to rationalize peace or war depending on a variety of variables."

Participants are invited to address the links between religion and international law, NGOs, human rights, peace building, and global media. Submissions are welcome from graduate and doctoral level students, academics, and practitioners of international relations. The deadline for abstract submission is February 15th (accepted papers will then have to be sent in by March 27th.)

The AGS International Graduate Student Conference is organized every year by AGS students in the International Relations and Diplomacy program, under the impulse and supervision of Professor Ruchi Anand. Previous conferences have covered several key topics of international relations such as gender politics, environmental issues, or the influence of NGOs. Dr. Anand says: "Every year, we have graduate students, scholars and professionals from all around the world who come to share their expertise and exchange ideas. This conference has become a highlight of AGS's academic life and reaches well beyond the walls of the school and Paris."

See Call for Papers

(Photo: Kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Commons)