Call for Proposals
Exploring the Challenges and Possibilities of Peace
The 7th Benjamin V. Cohen Peace Conference invites proposals from scholars, educators, practitioners, students, community leaders, and advocates whose work advances our understanding of peace, conflict, violence, and the conditions necessary for peaceful societies. The conference will be hosted on zoom on April 9 and 10.
Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of peace and conflict studies and the legacy of Benjamin V. Cohen, the conference welcomes presentations examining the causes and consequences of violence, strategies for preventing and transforming conflict, and innovative approaches to building sustainable positive peace at intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, national, and global levels.
Special Sessions: Benjamin V. Cohen — His Contributions and Continuing Legacy
The conference will feature special sessions dedicated to exploring the life, contributions, and enduring influence of Benjamin V. Cohen on international diplomacy, peace, and global cooperation.
We invite presentations examining Benjamin V. Cohen's work, the historical context in which he served, and the relevance of his ideas and accomplishments to contemporary challenges. Potential topics include:
- Benjamin V. Cohen's contributions to international diplomacy, law, and institutions
- His role in advancing international cooperation and peaceful resolution of disputes
- The historical and political context of his work
- His influence on international relations, governance, and approaches to peace
- The continuing relevance of his principles and contributions to contemporary global challenges
- Lessons from Benjamin V. Cohen's legacy for future generations of peacebuilders
Historical research, biographical perspectives, critical analyses, and presentations connecting Benjamin V. Cohen's work to current peacebuilding efforts are particularly welcome.
General Conference Themes
1. Understanding Violence and the Roots of Conflict
- Direct violence (e.g., guns, abuse, harassment, assault, hitting, bullying, insults, manipulation, warfare, terrorism, suicide)
- Structural violence (e.g., laws, policies, structures, political, social, and economic systems)
- Cultural violence (e.g., ideologies, doctrines, norms, beliefs, attitudes, language)
- Interpersonal, family, community, school, and workplace violence
- Social, political, and economic inequalities
- Fear, alienation, isolation, and political polarization
- Trauma, emotional regulation, and the psychological dimensions of conflict
- Family disruption and community fragmentation
- Causes, dynamics, and escalation of conflict
2. Global Peace, Security, and International Relations
- International conflict, diplomacy, and cooperation
- Global and state power, governance, and international law
- Armed conflict, civil wars, territorial disputes, and state-sponsored atrocities
- Arms control, proliferation, terrorism, and violent extremism
- National, economic, physical, and cybersecurity
- International political economy, trade, and resource competition
- Treaties, tribunals
- Non-state actors, international organizations, NGOs, and transnational peace initiatives
- Evolution of diplomacy, institutional norms, and international cooperation
3. Conflict Prevention, Resolution, and Peacebuilding
- Approaches to facilitating and/or achieving positive peace
- Conflict analysis, prevention, resolution, and transformation
- Mediation, negotiation, dialogue, and reconciliation
- Community-based peacemaking and peacebuilding
- Post-conflict justice, recovery, and reconstruction
- Restorative justice and alternatives to punitive approaches
- Community engagement and collaborative problem-solving
- Interfaith and multifaith peacebuilding
- Cross-border and multidisciplinary peace initiatives
4. Justice and Community Well-Being
- Food insecurity, financial insecurity, and health disparities
- Displacement, migration, and vulnerable populations
- Human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse
- Criminal justice, diversion programs, law enforcement, and community policing
- Environmental criminology and violence prevention
- Urban planning, community design, community organizing, and peaceful communities
- Social movements, civic participation, and institutional change
5. Education, Culture, and Pathways to Peace
- Peace education and nonviolence education
- Arts, music, and creative expression for peace
- Sports for development and peace
- Mindfulness, empathy, and emotional well-being
- Health literacy
- Intercultural and interfaith understanding
- Communication, dialogue, and constructive disagreement
- Peacebuilding through community organizations and networks
6. Technology, Media, and Emerging Challenges to Peace
- Artificial intelligence and its implications for peace and conflict
- Social media, misinformation, polarization, digital communication, and cyber bullying
- Cyberwarfare, cybercrime, and digital security
- Technology-enabled harassment, manipulation, and violence
- Digital technologies for conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding
- Data centers, technological infrastructure, and their social and environmental impacts
- Technology governance, equity, and ethical responsibility
7. Environmental Sustainability, Resources, and Peace
- Climate change, environmental degradation, and conflict
- Water, food, energy, and natural resource security
- Environmental justice and resource inequalities
- Sustainability, resilience, and peaceful communities
- Climate-related displacement and human security
- Environmental cooperation and conflict prevention
- Connections among ecological systems, public health, and peace
An Invitation to Diverse Perspectives
We welcome theoretical, empirical, historical, applied, and creative approaches. Proposals may address local, national, or international concerns and may draw from disciplines including, for example, peace and conflict studies, political science, international relations, history, sociology, psychology, social work, anthropology, education, healthcare, law, public health, environmental studies, urban planning, architecture, technology, the arts, natural resources, the humanities, communication studies, graphic design, and public relations.
We particularly encourage presentations that connect research with practice, highlight collaborative solutions, or offer innovative perspectives on the challenges of building and sustaining positive peace.
Proposals addressing relevant topics beyond those listed above also are encouraged.
Proposals will be blind reviewed.
The deadline to submit proposals is February 12, 2027.
Click here to learn the proposal guidelines and to submit a proposal.