AAS-in-Asia Lahore 2026
The AAS-in-Asia Lahore conference, scheduled to take place in Lahore, PAK, offers a significant platform for scholars and practitioners focused on Asian studies. This event, spanning three days in the fall, brings together diverse perspectives on the region, fostering academic exchange and collaboration. Its location in South Asia provides a unique lens through which to examine the complexities and nuances of Asian societies.
Committees & topics
Topics
The Field of Asian Studies: Decolonizing Knowledge Production · Climate Policy in Asia After the Paris Agreement · Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda in Asia · International Cooperation in a Fragmenting Asian Order · Environmental Change Across Asia: Rivers, Air, and Biodiversity · Governance and Democratic Backsliding in Contemporary Asia · Social Transformation: Demography, Gender, and Digital Life in Asia
Why it matters
This conference is a crucial gathering for those engaged in Asian studies, providing an opportunity to delve into current research and emerging trends. The discussions and presentations will contribute to a deeper understanding of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities facing Asia. By convening experts from various fields, the event facilitates interdisciplinary dialogue, which is essential for comprehensive analysis of the region.
The choice of Lahore, PAK, as the host city is particularly noteworthy. It positions the conference at a geographical and cultural crossroads, offering attendees direct engagement with a vibrant South Asian context. This setting can enrich the academic discourse by integrating local perspectives and experiences into broader regional and global discussions, thereby enhancing the relevance and impact of the scholarship presented.
How to prepare
To maximize engagement with the AAS-in-Asia Lahore conference, participants should undertake thorough preparation. A key aspect involves understanding the diverse academic backgrounds and geographical focuses of the attendees, which can be approached through a form of stakeholder mapping. This will enable more targeted networking and collaboration opportunities.
Given the conference's location, it is advisable to conduct a dynamic analysis of the local and regional geopolitical landscape. This includes familiarizing oneself with key political, economic, and social trends in PAK and the broader South Asian region. Such preparation will allow for a more informed participation in discussions, particularly those concerning regional dynamics and international relations.
Furthermore, participants should consider how their research or expertise intersects with the specific context of Lahore and PAK. Exploring potential hidden stakeholders in the region related to their areas of interest can lead to unexpected insights and foster more impactful engagement strategies during and after the conference. This proactive approach ensures that attendees not only present their work but also actively contribute to and benefit from the rich environment of the conference.
Country perspectives
Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.
PakistanHost nation and a significant focal point for discussions on South Asian studies, offering unique cultural and geopolitical insights.
Role in topic
As the host country, PAK provides the immediate context for the conference, influencing discussions on regional history, culture, and contemporary issues. Its strategic location makes it central to understanding broader Asian dynamics.
United StatesKey academic contributor to Asian studies, with numerous scholars and institutions engaged in research on the region.
Role in topic
Scholars from the USA are expected to contribute significantly to the conference, bringing diverse research methodologies and theoretical frameworks to the study of Asia. Their participation often shapes global academic discourse on the region.
ChinaMajor player in Asian affairs, with its economic and political influence being a frequent subject of academic inquiry.
Role in topic
Research on CHN's evolving role in Asia, its Belt and Road Initiative, and its internal socio-political developments will likely feature prominently, offering critical perspectives on regional power dynamics.
IndiaSignificant South Asian nation, contributing to discussions on regional development, cultural heritage, and geopolitical strategies.
Role in topic
IND's perspectives on South Asian regionalism, its historical ties with PAK, and its growing global influence will be vital for a comprehensive understanding of the region's complexities.
JapanInfluential East Asian nation, providing insights into economic development, technological innovation, and cultural diplomacy in Asia.
Role in topic
JPN's experiences in modernization, its soft power initiatives, and its strategic relations within Asia will offer valuable comparative analyses and case studies for conference attendees.
Topics & background
The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.
The Field of Asian Studies: Decolonizing Knowledge Production
Key players
- Pakistan
Host state; underrepresented in Asian Studies and seeking greater scholarly visibility
- United States
Historical center of area studies funding, journals, and graduate training
- China
Dominant subject of contemporary Asian Studies and increasingly restrictive of foreign research access
- India
Major producer and subject of scholarship, with growing tensions over academic freedom
- Japan
Long-established hub of Asian Studies institutions and Inter-Asia networks
SingaporeRegional node for English-language Asian Studies publishing and conferences
Climate Policy in Asia After the Paris Agreement
Key players
- China
Largest annual emitter and dominant producer of solar, batteries, and EVs
- India
Third-largest emitter; leads G77 push for climate finance and equity
- Pakistan
Highly climate-vulnerable; champion of loss and damage financing
- United States
Major historical emitter; key player in finance and technology negotiations
- Japan
Promotes 'Asia Zero Emission Community' and contested transition fuels like ammonia
IndonesiaCoal-dependent G20 economy and test case for Just Energy Transition Partnerships
Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda in Asia
Key players
- India
Largest developing economy; exporter of digital public infrastructure models
- China
Major SDG financier through BRI and the AIIB; lifted hundreds of millions from poverty
BangladeshLDC success story on health and gender; vulnerable to climate and graduation pressures
- Japan
Top ODA donor in Asia; promotes 'quality infrastructure' standards
- Pakistan
Host state facing severe debt distress and lagging SDG indicators
- Indonesia
G20 voice for Global South development financing reform
International Cooperation in a Fragmenting Asian Order
Key players
- China
Drives BRI, SCO, and BRICS+ as alternatives to Western-led order
- United States
Anchors alliance system and Quad; leads technology export controls
- India
Pivotal swing state balancing Quad, BRICS, and SCO memberships
- Pakistan
Host state; close partner of China and member of SCO
- Japan
Architect of CPTPP and 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' concept
- Indonesia
Largest ASEAN economy and convener of ASEAN-led mechanisms
Environmental Change Across Asia: Rivers, Air, and Biodiversity
Key players
- China
Upstream state on most major Asian rivers; key to glacier and biodiversity governance
- India
Major emitter and downstream state; central to South Asian air and water issues
- Pakistan
Highly water-stressed; downstream Indus state and host of Lahore's air crisis
NepalHimalayan state hosting ICIMOD and key to cryosphere diplomacy
- Indonesia
Custodian of major tropical forests and peatlands; haze diplomacy lead
VietnamLower Mekong state vulnerable to upstream damming and delta subsidence
Governance and Democratic Backsliding in Contemporary Asia
Key players
- China
Exports party-state governance model and digital surveillance technology
- India
World's largest democracy; central debate over democratic backsliding
- Pakistan
Host state navigating civil–military balance and contested electoral politics
MyanmarPost-2021 coup regime; focal point of regional governance crisis
- Indonesia
Largest Muslim-majority democracy; key test of democratic consolidation
South KoreaConsolidated democracy whose 2024 martial law episode tested institutions
Social Transformation: Demography, Gender, and Digital Life in Asia
Key players
- China
Faces rapid aging and population decline reshaping its economic model
- India
World's most populous state; site of major debates on gender, caste, and digital life
- Pakistan
Host state with large youth bulge and pressing education and gender gaps
- Japan
Super-aged society pioneering policies on care, migration, and automation
PhilippinesMajor labor-sending state; central to global migration and remittance debates
ThailandRecent leader on LGBTQ+ legal recognition and shifting social norms in ASEAN
Resources
News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for AAS-in-Asia Lahore 2026.
Lessons
Bite-sized lessons to build the basics
Courses
Guided courses that go deeper on the topic
The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance
PakistanCountry dossier
United StatesCountry dossier
ChinaCountry dossier
IndiaCountry dossier
JapanCountry dossier
SingaporeCountry dossier
IndonesiaCountry dossier
BangladeshCountry dossier
NepalCountry dossier
VietnamCountry dossier
MyanmarCountry dossier
South KoreaCountry dossier
PhilippinesCountry dossier
ThailandCountry dossier
Related conferences
By committee
- The Field of Asian Studies: Decolonizing Knowledge Production
- Climate Policy in Asia After the Paris Agreement
- Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda in Asia
- International Cooperation in a Fragmenting Asian Order
- Environmental Change Across Asia: Rivers, Air, and Biodiversity
- Governance and Democratic Backsliding in Contemporary Asia
- Social Transformation: Demography, Gender, and Digital Life in Asia