Call for Papers: Annual Conference of the “Critical Security Studies” Working Group of the German Political Science Association (DVPW), 5-6 November 2026
in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg
The field of Critical Security Studies (CSS) brings together diverse perspectives on the politics and practices of (in)security. What these approaches share is, above all, a commitment to moving beyond classical, often narrow frameworks that focus on military (national) security alone. Taking up a critical impetus, a central epistemological interest often lies in examining how social and political power relations produce and reconfigure the form and function of security institutions and security discourses, and the normative implications arising thereby. The field is inherently interdisciplinary; contributions stem not only from International Relations and other subfields of political science, but also from criminology, sociology, law, geography, or history.
The field of Critical Security Studies (CSS) brings together diverse perspectives on the politics and practices of (in)security
. What these approaches share is, above all, a commitment to moving beyond classical, often narrow frameworks that focus on military (national) security alone.
Taking up a critical impetus, a central epistemological interest often lies in examining how social and political power relations produce and reconfigure the form and function of security institutions and security discourses, and the normative implications arising thereby. The field is inherently interdisciplinary;
contributions stem not only from International Relations and other subfields of political science, but also from criminology, sociology, law, geography, or history.
While we particularly welcome contributions that reflect on crisis, war, and critique from a critical security perspective, contributions may address a wide range of topics and perspectives and explore innovative approaches or intersections with other fields and disciplines, since the conference seeks to foster exchange and networking within the broader field. We explicitly encourage early career scholars to apply. Conference presentations may be based on papers / chapters addressing specific research questions; however, a full traditional academic conference paper is not required. Papers may be presented in German or English. Please submit proposals for conference contributions (max. 200 words) by June 16, 2026 to: kritischesicherheitsstudien@dvpw.de.
The conference will take place from November 5-6, 2026, at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg. On-site catering with snacks and beverages will be provided, but participants must cover their costs for lunch and dinner as well as travel and accommodation costs. The program will be organized to allow arrival on November 5 and departure on November 6.
For more details, refer here
