[Air-L] Call for Papers || Workshop on International Relations in the Digital Age: Governing - and Being Governed by - Technology

[Rebecca Scharlach]

Dear all, my colleagues Dennis Redeker and Berenike Prem are organizing a workshop that could be of potential interest for some of you: 

Workshop on International Relations in the Digital Age: Governing - and Being Governed by - Technology


26 and 27 March 2026 | University of Bremen, Germany

Organized by the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI) and the Institute for Intercultural and International Studies (InIIS), University of Bremen, and the International Relations Section (IB-Sektion) of the German Political Science Association (DVPW)

In cooperation with the World International Studies Committee (WISC), the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS), and the EU Horizon Europe project to “Reignite Multilateralism via Technology” (REMIT, grant agreement No 101094228)

Artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, small satellites, and other emerging technologies are transforming the conduct and understanding of international relations. These developments reshape the global distribution of power, challenge established governance mechanisms, and create new forms of dependence, influence, and contestation. They add to ongoing debates about the governance of digital technologies and services, such as the conflict between the EU and US over the regulation of social media platforms.

This workshop explores how global politics is both governing technology and governed by technology. It aims to foster dialogue between scholars of International Relations (IR), Science and Technology Studies (STS), and global governance to examine how technological change influences diplomacy, international cooperation, and global order. At the same time, we seek to understand technology itself as an outcome of political, economic, and social processes - asking what factors drive technological innovation, diffusion, and regulation across different global contexts. We welcome theoretical, empirical, and normative contributions that engage with these intersections and address a wide range of emerging technologies, including but not limited to AI, quantum, space, or bio-technologies.

Possible themes include (but are not limited to):

The geopolitics of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructures
Quantum technologies and the future of strategic stability
Small satellites (LEOs) and space governance
Security of telecommunication infrastructures, including sub-sea cables
Digital sovereignty and the global political economy of technology (incl. microchips)
Norms, standards, and emerging institutions of global tech governance
Global conflicts over platform regulation and taxation (e.g., DSA)
Postcolonial, feminist, and critical perspectives on technology and IR
New actors and constellations in global technology politics, including the role of the Global South, small states, tech corporations, and tech companies
Conceptual and methodological innovations for studying technology in IR
Socio-technical imaginaries and visions of emerging technologies in global politics
The workshop will provide a focused, discussion-oriented environment. Short-form papers (3,000-6,000 words) will be pre-circulated, and each session will include designated discussants to facilitate in-depth engagement. In addition to short-form papers, we also welcome alternative contribution formats (e.g., posters, idea pitches, data or method showcases) to foster diverse forms of engagement. We especially encourage submissions from early-career researchers. A limited number of travel grants are available provided by the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, contingent on early-career status or otherwise demonstrated need (more information upon acceptance). There is no registration fee.

Following the workshop, we plan to develop a thematic forum for publication, bringing together selected contributions for broader dissemination and debate.

Abstract deadline: 1 December 2025 
Notification of acceptance: 10 December 2025 
Short papers, etc. due: 10 March 2026 
Workshop dates: 26-27 March 2026

Please submit an abstract of around 300 words and a short bio (max. 100 words) to: IB-Sektion at dvpw.de <mailto:IB-Sektion at dvpw.de>
Website: https://zemki.uni-bremen.de/en/cfp-workshop-ir-digital-age/

Organizing Committee:

Dr. Dennis Redeker – redeker at uni-bremen.de <mailto:redeker at uni-bremen.de> 
Dr. Berenike Prem – berenike.prem at uni-bremen.de <mailto:berenike.prem at uni-bremen.de>
--
Dr. Rebecca Scharlach (she/her)
Postdoctoral Researcher 
Platform Governance, Media & Technology Lab
Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI)
University of Bremen 
scharlach at uni-bremen.de
rebeccascharlach.com