IFSH Researchers at EISA Pan-European Conference in Lisbon

From 1 to 4 September, the Pan-European Conference of the European International Studies Association (EISA) took place in Lisbon. The annual event is the largest conference on International Relations in Europe. This year’s conference was held under the theme “Even Better Than the Real Thing? Questioning Knowledge Production, Positionality and Authenticity in IR”. IFSH was represented by numerous researchers who presented their work and exchanged ideas with colleagues from around the world.

Benjamin Hofbauer, Christine Hentschel (University of Hamburg), Delf Rothe and Ursula Schröder presented their concept of “extreme adaptation” in the field of climate change adaptation, which they developed in the CLICCS II research project. Ursula Schröder also presented a paper (co-authored with Holger Niemann) on perceptions of possible futures for European security in times of fundamental change. Delf Rothe participated in a roundtable on the politics of “companionship”, which was moderated by Ursula Schröder. He also chaired a panel on the anthropocene as well as another panel exploring ideas for a “World System Science Approach” in International Relations.

Together with Andrew Neal (University of Edinburgh), Hendrik Hegemann organised one of the conference sections, comprising nine panels, under the title “The Diffusion of Security: Concepts, Practices, Politics”. Furthermore, he presented a paper, also with Andrew Neal, on how national security strategies address threats to democracy and chaired a panel on counterterrorism and border security.

Franziska Stärk presented the findings of her research on bureaucratic politics in the field of German nuclear weapons policy. She also chaired a panel on nuclear semiotics.

In his presentation, Lukas Mengelkamp discussed how military deterrence strategies can be reconciled with the goal of decarbonisation.

Anne Menzel presented a paper on fascised femininity, in which she analysed different performances of racist and antifeminist femininity. In addition, she participated in two roundtables, one on peace in the “pluriverse” and another on current possibilities and challenges for progressive politics.