DVPW IR Conference 2026 in Würzburg

International Order, Academic Freedom and Academic Careers

The conference focused in particular on three thematic areas that currently concern the German International Relations community:

• Global autocratisation and international order: What consequences does increasing autocratisation have for global institutions and for the international community’s capacity to address shared challenges such as climate change, migration and conflict?
• Academic freedom: How can academic freedom and the conditions for independent research be protected in the face of autocratisation and societal polarisation?
• Academic careers: What prospects do early-career researchers have in the face of increasingly constrained resources for academia and research?

These three themes shaped the discussions throughout the conference and provided numerous points of departure for scholarly and collegial exchange. Across a total of 16 roundtables and 50 panels, other key topics in International Relations were also presented, reflected upon and critically discussed. The invited students likewise made an important contribution by bringing their perspectives into the discussions.
 

Two Evening Panels on Current Challenges

Two public panel discussions were particular highlights of the programme.

Under the title “IR Research in Turbulent Times: How Free Is It (Still)?” discussed Dr. Jannis Julien Grimm, Dr. Lars Lott, Prof. Dr. Markus Ludwigs, PD Dr. Janne Mende and Dr. Eirliani Abdul Rahman the issue of academic freedom in politically and socially challenging times in the Audimax auditorium of the New University. The discussion was chaired by Prof. Dr. Sonja Grimm.

The second panel focused on “The Gaza War and (German) IR”. The panel featured Dr. Peter Lintl, Dr. Hanna Pfeifer and Prof. Dr. Raffaella A. Del Sarto, and was chaired by Dr. Jan Busse.
 

ZIB Paper Award for Cornelia Baciu

The ZIB Paper Award for Early Career Scholars was awared during the conference. We warmly congratulate Dr. Cornelia Baciu on receiving this distinction.

Our thanks go to the ZIB team led by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Stahl and Dr. Jan Busse for their support and collaboration, as well as to the jury members for making the selection.
 

Thanks to Everyone Involved

A conference of this scale is only possible through the combined efforts of many people. Our particular thanks go to the Executive Board of the International Relations Section – Dr. Dennis Redeker, Prof. Dr. Markus Lederer and Dr. Melanie Morisse – for the joint preparation and organisation of the conference.

We thank all colleagues in attendance, and especially the chairs and discussants, for their committed participation in and contribution to all roundtables and panels.

We would also like to thank the University of Würzburg, the Faculty of Human Sciences, in particular its facilities services team, the Institute of Political Science and Sociology (IPS), as well as the Press Office of the University of Würzburg for their support.

We thank the Executive Office of the German Political Science Association (DVPW), in particular Dr. Vera van Hüllen, for its professional support in organising the conference.

We also thank the Bavarian Research Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Studies FOKS, the publishers Nomos, Springer, Wochenschau Verlag, Campus, Duncker & Humblot and LIT, as well as our service providers: the Pavillon catering service, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, the music trio led by Peter Pfriem, and photographer Rudi Merkl, for supporting the conference.

Finally, a special thank you goes to the entire organising team: Tabea Yilu, Philipp Berg, Emely Bischof, Maya van der Linden, Redona Tafaj, Dr. Elena Dück, Dr. Philipp Gieg, Noemi Albrecht, Carolin Gutmüller, Mara Nelegatti, Antonia Jordan and Alexander Gerner.

The 2026 Open Conference of the International Relations Section of the German Political Science Association (DVPW) created space for discussing current challenges and strengthened scholarly exchange within the community. The discussions will continue, at the latest, at the 2027 DVPW Congress. Members of the International Relations Section will also meet for a members’ meeting as part of the Congress. We look forward to it!

Prof. Dr. Sonja Grimm on behalf of the entire organising team

Photos and Reports from the Conference