Conference Location

 The University of Salerno (UNISA), Fisciano SA, Italy

Conference Date

  May 27—29, 2026 (Local Time)

Conference Organizers

Economic and Political Studies (EPS), and School of Smart Governance,

Renmin University of China, China;

University of Salerno (UNISA), Italy;

University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), Italy;

EM Normandie Business School, France

The world is navigating an era of unprecedented turbulence, shaped by cross-border dynamics ranging from climate emergencies and rapidly ageing populations to technological disruptions and geopolitical rivalries. This reality, while demanding more robust global governance, also reveals the pervasive existence of governance deficits in legitimacy, effectiveness, and inclusivity.  It is necessary to reinforce and reinvent global governance frameworks with the concerted efforts of all stakeholders to ensure peace, prosperity, and planetary sustainability for all peoples and nations.

To advance research addressing global governance gaps in an age of uncertainty, Economic and Political Studies (EPS) and the School of Smart Governance from Renmin University of China, in collaboration with the University of Salerno (UNISA), the University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), and EM Normandie Business School, will convene a research conference on May 27—29, 2026. This Call for Papers invites contributions that address global governance issues from diverse perspectives, and also encourages comparative and case-based research that draws transferable insights from specific national or regional experiences. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Global economic governance, addressing issues such as the reform of multilateral financial institutions, global supply chain governance, digital trade regulation, international tax cooperation, and fintech and cryptocurrency regulation;

· Ecological and climate governance, encompassing topics on climate-smart economic transitions, green global infrastructure development (e.g. the green BRI Initiative), and mechanisms for climate cooperation;

· Technology and digital governance, including topics on regulating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, strengthening cybersecurity, defining data sovereignty, and bridging digital divides;

· Social and inclusive governance, focusing on health security coordination, aging and care policy, spatial and gender inequality reduction, and intercultural dialogue mechanisms.

We welcome submissions from scholars, policymakers, and practitioners worldwide to present innovative research and forward-looking policy recommendations at the conference. Please do not submit papers that have been accepted for publication before the conference. We also encourage all presenters to attend the conference in person, as it provides the best opportunity for in-depth discussion, networking, and collaboration.

The preferable way for abstract submission is through the conference website at https://eps2026.sciencesconf.org/?lang=en. As an alternative option, if you experience technical issues with the online system, you may submit your abstract via email to the Editorial Office of Economic and Political Studies at journal@ruc.edu.cn.

Selected high-quality papers presented at the conference will be invited after the conference to contribute to a special issue/section on “Global Governance in Transition” in Economic and Political Studies (EPS), a Web of Science (Q1) and Scopus (Q1) listed journal hosted by Renmin University of China and published by Taylor & Francis (www.tandfonline.com/reps). Please note that all submissions invited for the special issue/section will undergo a fast-tracked, yet full, peer-review process to ensure academic rigor while accelerating publication.

IMPORTANT DATES

· Extended abstract deadline: January 15, 2026

· Notification of acceptance: January 20, 2026

· Presentation slide deadline: May 10, 2026

CONTACT

All correspondence regarding the conference should be addressed to the Editorial Office of Economic and Political Studies via email at journal@ruc.edu.cn.