11th International Conference on Genocide

11th International Conference on Genocide

Beyond Blind Spots - Understudied Cases, Places & Approaches

Co-organized and hosted by the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and the Dersim Kultur und Geschichtszentrum (DKG), Germany

Call for Papers

Click here to download the Call for Papers

Please note the online portal will open for applications in Spring 2027.

Call for Papers: INoGS 11th International Conference on Genocide and Mass Atrocity

Beyond Blind Spots - Understudied Cases, Places & Approaches

6-9 June 2028

Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany

Organized by the International Network of Genocide Scholars (INoGS)

Co-organized and hosted by the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and the Dersim Kultur und Geschichtszentrum (DKG), Germany

Conference Theme:

The goal of the 2028 conference in Bochum is to bring together scholars of genocide and mass atrocity to explore less-travelled paths to the study of mass violence. The aim is to foreground and explore cases, places and associated empirical and theoretical approaches that have so far received little or uncritical scholarly attention – but which can prove fruitful for future studies in the field of genocide and violence studies. Moreover, it is precisely the overlap between these dimensions that takes center stage: 

What methods of data collection, preservation, and analysis are productive when addressing cases that:

are poorly documented (no written records, limited access to witnesses, etc.), and those which involve significant security risks for researchers? This could be, for instance, because research is obstructed, violence and oppression are ongoing, archives are closed or purged, or witnesses are subjected to (severe) pressure, etc..

What theoretical concepts help us better understand the cases under investigation? 

This question goes hand in hand with a critical examination of our own work over the past decades, which has, for example, given rise to institutionalized witnesship; it has also involved, in some instances, problematic methods of data collection and analysis; and it has entailed a focus on a canon of theoretical concepts and approaches that has been largely accepted uncritically.

Which cases are currently understudied and/or have the potential to yield new insights regarding theoretical and empirical approaches?

Thus, the aim is not merely to document cases of extreme mass violence, but to systematically explore their potential for genocide research and for the study of collective violence in general.

Themes and Topics of Interest:

Submissions are welcome on (but not limited to) the following themes:

1. A critical examination of dominant theoretical concepts and methodological approaches; discussions of theoretical concepts and methodological approaches that have received little attention to date (e.g., non-Western approaches).

2. Obstacles to the academic and societal examination of mass crimes.

3. Critical observations regarding our field of research, such as examining blind spots at the meta-level.

4. Contemporary Genocides and Systemic Violence: Analyses of modern genocidal practices and how they manifest through economic, cultural, political, or technological systems.

5. Colonialism and Violence Against Indigenous Peoples: Historical and ongoing patterns of violence, dispossession, and erasure faced by Indigenous communities globally.

6. Racial Violence: Examining systemic racism, police brutality, socio-economic exclusion, and other forms of violence disproportionately targeting racialized and religious communities, as well as their resistance and resilience in the face of such oppression.

7. Transitional Justice and Truth Commissions: Exploring mechanisms of transitional justice, including truth commissions, reparations, and institutional reforms, as tools for addressing past atrocities and promoting accountability, reconciliation, and social healing.

8. Missing Persons and Enforced Disappearances: Investigating the patterns, motivations, and impacts of enforced disappearances in diverse geopolitical contexts, while highlighting the profound challenges faced by families and communities in dealing with fear, misinformation, and unresolved grief.

9. Authoritarian Governments, Dictatorships, and Violence: Analyzing the role of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships in perpetuating systematic violence, including state-sponsored repression, surveillance, and the suppression of dissent.

10. Comparative Analyses of Genocide and Mass Violence: Cross-cultural or historical studies that examine commonalities and divergences in the occurrence of mass atrocities.

11. Climate Change and Ecocide: Assessing the intersection of environmental destruction, climate-induced displacement, famine genocide and mass violence.

12. Migration, Refugee Camps, and Statelessness: Exploring the dynamics of forced migration, violence in refugee settings, and the systemic precariousness faced by displaced populations.

13. Paramilitary Forces and Private Perpetrators: Examining the role of non-state actors in perpetuating violence and the challenges of holding them accountable.

14. Cultural Genocide, Cultural Vandalism and Bans on Cultural Expression: Addressing the erasure of cultural identities, practices and places (nature, architecture, infrastructure) through systemic policies and societal pressures.

15. Gendered Violence in Mass Atrocities: Exploring how gender intersects with genocidal practices, including sexual violence, reproductive control, and targeted attacks.

16. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Analyzing the role of ICT and AI tools in enabling, obscuring and documenting mass violence, hate crimes, and resistance.

17. Conflict Resolution and Mediation Initiatives: Investigating practices and policies aimed at mitigating violence and fostering sustainable peace.

18. International Norms and the Conceptual Limits of Genocide: Examining the evolution of international legal frameworks surrounding genocide, considering how political, cultural, and historical contexts shape its interpretation and application, and how international norms can be expanded or redefined to better address emerging forms of mass violence.

19. Victimhood and Resistance: Highlighting the experiences and agency of survivors and communities affected by violence, including acts of resistance and resilience.

Submission Guidelines:

Affiliation with an academic institution is not required and we especially support applications from emerging scholars and scholars from the global south. We also encourage contributions from individuals within affected communities, as well as professionals working in museums, NGOs, and other organizations. Our goal is to foster inclusive and interdisciplinary discussions, centering the voices and experiences of those impacted by state violence, both historically and in the present.

We welcome interdisciplinary and theoretically informed approaches as well as transdisciplinary dialogue. Submissions can include theoretical reflections, case studies, and empirical research and contributions from diverse disciplines, including history, law, political science, psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, environmental studies and medical studies.

We look forward to your submissions and to advancing critical conversations about the complex nature of disguised violence in its historical and contemporary forms. 

Funding:

Please note that applications for funding to support conference participation will be limited to emerging scholars and scholars from the Global South (including Eastern Europe). Funding for applicants in these categories will be allocated only as available and cannot be guaranteed. We are a small conference and funding is limited. For those applying as an emerging scholar or as from the Global South, there will be an opportunity to register your level of financial need as a part of the application process. 

Application Instructions:

The deadline for submissions is 30 July 2027; the online portal accepting applications will open in Spring 2027. Submissions should be in English.

We will accept proposals for different types of applications (Multiple proposals are allowed):

An individual paper proposal should include a title, an abstract (up to 250 words), and a short biographical note (up to 150 words). Those papers will be coordinated into panels by conference organizers.

A panel proposal should consist of three papers and a respondent, or four papers. It should include a panel title, a brief description of the full session (up to 150 words), abstracts for each paper (up to 250 words each), and short biographical notes for each presenter (up to 150 words each).

A roundtable proposal should consist of four or more discussants. It should include a title, a description of the roundtable (up to 250 words), and a short biographical note for each discussant (up to 150 words each). Note that roundtables should focus on an upcoming or ongoing project, publication, or collaboration. Roundtables should distinctly differ from a panel proposal and should provide a cohesive discussion rather than present individual research. Past roundtables have included reflections on recent and upcoming books, but we are open to options. If you have questions or if you want to discuss an idea, please email us at conference2028@inogs.com well in advance of the submission due date.

New to INoGS:

There will be a How-to Academia and Connect Fair during this conference. New to INoGS conferences, we foresee that How-to Academia will provide opportunities to learn about i) grant-writing and funding opportunities in Germany and the larger European funding landscape; ii) the submission, publication, and review process of key journals in the field; iii) field work related concerns, such as language and practicalities; iv) job application process.  The Connect Fair will provide an opportunity for those interested in being paired with senior or junior scholars to discuss lessons learned, expanding networks, disciplinary and interdisciplinary questions, etc.. Interest in participating in both sessions can be registered during the application process.

If you are interested in submitting a paper in a language other than English, please email us at conference2028@inogs.com.