IPSA Work-in-Progress Sessions (IPSA-WiPS) — Call for Papers

Submissions open: 31 March – 6 May 2026

RC19 – Gender Politics and Policy

After the Wave: Is the International Order Leaving Women Behind?

The 2010s witnessed a remarkable—if uneven—wave of feminist gains worldwide. The Marea Verde movement helped secure abortion legalization across Latin America. #NiUnaMenos brought femicide onto political agendas. Sweden and Canada adopted feminist foreign policies, while the Women, Peace and Security agenda advanced within international institutions. Yet many of these gains have proven fragile. Far-right governments, from Milei’s Argentina to Meloni’s Italy, have mobilized against gender equality. Authoritarian regimes, from Ortega’s Nicaragua to Putin’s Russia, have made feminist organizing an explicit target of repression. Armed conflicts in Palestine and Ukraine have generated new forms of gendered violence while subordinating women’s rights to security logics within international institutions.

This workshop asks: How are feminist gains of the 2010s being simultaneously eroded and contested—through both backlash and resistance—across international institutions, conflict zones, and transnational movements? What does this reveal about the gendered foundations of the current international order?

We welcome papers on topics including:

  • Gender backlash and anti-feminist mobilization
  • Feminist resistance and transnational solidarity
  • Women’s rights in conflict and post-conflict settings
  • International organizations and gender governance
  • Feminist foreign policy and its limits
  • Authoritarianism and repression of feminist movements
  • Comparative perspectives from the Global South and Global North
  • Empirical studies on contemporary gender politics and policy

We especially encourage empirically grounded contributions from all regions and seek to foster dialogue between scholars and students working across Global South and Global North perspectives.

Workshop Convenors

RC19 Workshop Sessions

Date Day Time
15 July Wednesday 13:00–17:00 UTC
16 July Thursday 13:00–17:00 UTC
17 July Friday 13:00–17:00 UTC

About IPSA-WiPS

IPSA-WiPS is an online event designed to create interactive workshops where IPSA members can present and discuss ongoing research in depth with scholars who share similar interests. This event emphasizes work-in-progress papers. Completed research is not required, making it an ideal venue to receive substantial feedback on developing projects in a focused scholarly environment. Participation is limited to paper presenters and chairs.

Registration Fees (USD)

Category Regular Student
Country Group A $80 $50
Country Group B & C $50 $25
Country Group D $20 Free
Important Note: IPSA membership is not required to submit a proposal. However, all accepted participants and workshop chairs must become IPSA members and register for the event.

Submit Your Proposal

https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/auth?redirect=/stages/81263/submitter

Your proposal must be in English and should include:

  • Paper Title
  • Paper Abstract (250 words maximum)
  • Author Information (full name, email, institutional affiliation, country & gender)
  • Selected Unit (topic) — List of Accepted Units
  • Agreement to be available at all times of the selected unit, 13–19 July
  • Agreement to attend all workshops of the selected unit and actively participate in discussions

For more information: https://www.ipsa.org/events/wips2026