About the conference

01 Conference programme

View the conference programme to find panels that interest you, or to check when you’re presenting.

The programme is updated in real time and will always be the latest version. If you’d like to view it as a pdf, you can use the print to pdf function. You can also search for keywords or your name by using 'Ctrl' and 'f' to find what you’re looking for. Where you see an asterisk on the programme, it means there is a co-author of a paper but they are not presenting.

Due to high demand and limited room availability, we are unable to accommodate requests to reschedule panels and/or presentations.

You can view a list of all speakers at #VirtualBISA2025 to quickly find out who else is participating.

The registration deadline for conference participants has passed, but you can still register as an observer at a discounted rate!

02 Featured events

The 2025 virtual conference features three plenary roundtables, one on each day, with highly-renowned speakers on a range of topics.

Global IR: Reflections on the discipline (13 January 2-3.30pm UK time)

This roundtable will reflect on the extent to which IR can now be said to be a ‘global’ discipline, the ways in which its traditional modes of thinking about international politics have been challenged in the process, and how it can more fully integrate perspectives and ideas from around the world. 

Chair: Giorgiandrea Shani (International Christian University)

• Pinar Bilgin (Bilkent)
• Navnita Chadha Behera (Delhi University)
• Carolina Moulin (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil)
• Siba N’Zatioula Grovogui (Cornell)
• John Hobson (Sheffield)

Imagining A More Inclusive Security Agenda (14 January 10.15-11.45am UK time)

This roundtable brings together scholars, NGOs and civil society actors for a conversation on what an inclusive security agenda might actually look like, in terms of the processes of policy formulation as well as in terms of its contents. Building on a critique of existing policies, the point of this roundtable is to be imaginative, to transcend the mental restraints of what appears ‘feasible’. 

Chair: Elisabeth Schweiger (University of Stirling)

• Harmonie Toros (University of Reading)
• Laura Aumeer (Conciliation Resources)
• Toni Haastrup (University of Manchester)
• Enyseh Teimory (United Nations Association UK)

The rise of far right around the world (15 January 2-3.30pm UK time)

It is now recognised that the far-right operates globally but with uneven impact on many societies. This roundtable will reflect on how these developments impact our thinking about international politics and the character of the new global disorder. 

Chair: Liam Stanley (Sheffield)

• Nitasha Kaul (Westminster)
• Aida Hozic (Florida)
• Karin Narita (Sheffield)
• Chenchen Zhang (Durham)
• Michael C. Williams (Ottawa)

03 Session times

The timings for each session will be as follows (all UK time):

• 8.30am – 10am: Panel session A (4-5 concurrent panels each day)
• 10.15am – 11.45am: Plenary roundtable (Tuesday 14 January only)
• 12pm - 1.30pm: Panel session B (4-5 concurrent panels each day)
• 2pm - 3.30pm: Plenary roundtable (Monday 13 and Wednesday 15 January)
• 5pm - 6.30pm: Panel session C (4-5 concurrent panels each day)

Each speaker will be asked to speak for around 10-15 minutes. Panel chairs will be in contact with participants prior to the beginning of the conference.

04 Conference platform

The conference platform will be Zoom. Each session will have a different access link.

Zoom can be accessed in almost all countries, with just a few exceptions. You can use Zoom free of charge either in browser without an account, or download to your computer, laptop or phone. Each session will take place in a different Zoom room, and there will be simultaneous sessions. We will send the Zoom links for each day at the beginning of that day so that you can join sessions in which you are a participant, and any other sessions you’d like to attend.

A help desk Zoom room, with a static link maintained throughout the conference, will be available to assist you with any problems joining sessions. You will also be able to get in touch by email during the conference: virtualconferences@bisa.ac.uk

Further information will be provided to registered attendees prior to the conference. You should also read the conference Code of conduct and online participation.

05 Costs

As always, BISA members will receive a big discount on the fees paid by non-members. For our virtual conference, we have heavily subsidised the cost of tickets for Global South scholars. This applies for both members and non-members, as we understand that the cost of a membership can be prohibitive. There are also separate conference observer rates. We hope this will encourage broader international participation.