Call for Papers: International Conference on Beyond the City: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Crime, Justice, Security and Society in Rural Contexts, 14-15 September 2026
Beyond the City: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Crime, Justice, Security and Society in Rural Contexts is an international academic conference dedicated to the study of crime, victimization, justice and security in rural and peripheral settings.
The conference will take place on 14-15 September 2026 at the Faculty of Law, University of Białystok, Mickiewicza 1, Białystok, Poland .
Rural criminology is one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing fields within contemporary criminology and social sciences. It challenges urban-centered perspectives by focusing on the specific social, cultural, economic and spatial conditions that shape life beyond cities. Rural and peripheral areas are characterized by distinct patterns of social relations, access to institutions, informal mechanisms of control and particular vulnerabilities, which require dedicated analytical and methodological approaches.
This conference is pioneering in the Polish context . For the first time, it offers a systematic, interdisciplinary and international forum for discussing rural crime and safety, bringing together perspectives from criminology, law, sociology, geography, anthropology, environmental studies and rural research. It aims to advance theoretical and empirical knowledge while strengthening dialogue between academic research and professional practice.
The conference focuses on the intersections between crime, justice, security and broader social transformations affecting rural communities, including demographic change, migration, marginalization, environmental risks and access to public institutions. Particular attention is given to the role of local support systems, non-governmental organizations and public services operating in rural and peripheral contexts.
The event will bring together researchers and practitioners from Europe, the United States and other regions, fostering international exchange, comparative perspectives and collaborative initiatives. Contributions presenting innovative theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches and policy-relevant findings are especially welcome.
THEMATIC SCOPE
We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute papers and presentations addressing, among others, the following issues:
- crime, safety and policing in rural communities,
- law, justice and access to legal protection in non-urban areas,
- domestic and gender-based violence and support for victims,
- social exclusion, marginalization and access to public and social services,
- cooperation between police, social services, NGOs and local institutions,
- organized crime and illegal markets in peripheral and border regions,
- environmental crime, green criminology and environmental justice,
- environmental security, crises and resilience of rural communities,
- social structure, change and everyday challenges of rural life,
- new theoretical, methodological and practice-oriented approaches in rural criminology.
The conference particularly welcomes contributions from practitioners working directly with rural communities, including legal professionals, law enforcement officers, social workers, NGO representatives and local public institutions.
The conference is funded by the Minister of Science under the “Regional Initiative of Excellence” program.
TYPES OF PARTICIPATION
The conference offers two forms of participation: active and passive .
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Active participants are invited to present:
- paper presentations,
- empirical research findings,
- theoretical contributions,
- case studies and practice-oriented analyses.
Presentation language: English.
Session format: thematic panels (15-20 minutes per presentation). The exact duration of each presentation will be specified at a later stage, following the completion of participant registration. Presentation display equipment will be available.
Important dates (active participants):
Abstract submission deadline: 10 June 2026
Notification of acceptance: 15 June 2026
Conference fee payment deadline: 22 June 2026
Registration (active participants): Conference Registration Form .
PASSIVE PARTICIPATION
Passive participants are welcome to:
- attend all conference sessions,
- take part in discussions,
- participate in networking and social events.
No presentation is required for passive participation.
Important dates (passive participants):
Final registration deadline: 19 June 2026
Conference fee payment deadline: 22 June 2026
Registration (passive participants): Conference Registration Form .
REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
Participation requires:
- completing the appropriate online registration form (active or passive participation),
- paying the conference fee within the indicated deadline.
For more details, refer here
