2027 CES Conference in the Netherlands

Conference co-chairs: Vera Scepanovic (Leiden University), Joost Augusteijn (Leiden University), Natascha van der Zwan (Groningen University), and Annick Masselot (University of Canterbury)

We are now accepting proposals for the 2027 conference! Deadline has been extended to October 23, 2026.

Securing Europe? Reimagining power, prosperity and connection in a troubled world

Across Europe, many citizens experience a sense of disempowerment in the face of mass violence and genocide, shortages of ‘critical’ raw materials and essential hospital staff, rising bills and relentless data breaches. The ambient dread pouring off the screens in our pockets is fuelling a growing conviction that key developments shaping Europe’s present are no longer fully in its control. It is little wonder, then, that security in all its forms has come to dominate the political and public debate, often accompanied by a narrow repertoire of proposed solutions. Autonomy is increasingly prized over interdependence, hard borders and expanding defence budgets prioritised over social welfare and international solidarity, and democratic norms subverted in the name of protection.

The 2027 CES conference invites scholars from different disciplines to examine the choices shaping Europe today and to explore what it would mean to truly make Europe secure. Contributions using diverse and interdisciplinary lenses are welcome, especially those addressing questions such as: How could European citizens genuinely benefit from European alternatives in sectors currently dominated by global firms? How much of the world’s resources and markets must Europe continue to command to sustain its prosperity? Is prioritizing defence over social security a necessary trade-off, or a false one? Can Europe enhance its security and resilience without addressing its structural inequalities? What are the costs of underestimating the threats from external actors, and what are the dangers of exaggerating them?