What is the primary focus of the ICGPIRS event?

The event is an academic conference dedicated to global politics and international relations, providing a platform for scholarly exchange.

When does the conference begin?

The conference is set to begin in August.

International Conference on Global Politics and International Relations ICGPIRS

Name: International Conference on Global Politics and International Relations ICGPIRS
Start: 2026-08-17T00:00:00Z
End: 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z
Location: Istanbul

Aug 17–18, 2026Istanbul, TurkeyIn-person

Starts in 9 daysRegistration open

The International Conference on Global Politics and International Relations (ICGPIRS) is an academic gathering focused on contemporary issues in global politics and international relations. Held in Venice, ITA, this conference provides a platform for researchers, academics, and practitioners to present their work, exchange ideas, and discuss the latest developments in the field. The event aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration on critical global challenges.

Committees & topics

Topics
Global Politics in an Era of Multipolar Competition · International Relations: Theory, Practice, and Contemporary Crises · Historical Perspectives on Global Governance · The Dynamics of International Security · Geopolitics in a Globalized World · Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution · Regional Politics and Global Implications · Foreign Policy and National Interests

Why it matters

In an increasingly interconnected and complex world, understanding the dynamics of global politics and international relations is paramount. Events like ICGPIRS offer a crucial forum for dissecting these complexities, bringing together diverse perspectives to analyze ongoing geopolitical shifts, emerging power structures, and the challenges to international cooperation. The insights generated from such conferences can inform policy-making, enhance diplomatic strategies, and contribute to a more stable global environment.

The conference's focus on current research allows for the identification of new trends and the re-evaluation of established theories in international relations. This continuous academic engagement is vital for adapting to a rapidly changing global landscape, where issues such as climate change, technological disruption, and evolving security threats demand innovative solutions. By convening experts in a setting like Venice, ITA, the conference facilitates a rich exchange that can bridge theoretical understanding with practical application.

How to prepare

Participants preparing for ICGPIRS should focus on developing robust research presentations that contribute meaningfully to the discourse on global politics and international relations. Given the broad scope, it is advisable to contextualize research within current geopolitical events and demonstrate an understanding of how various international actors are influenced by and respond to these dynamics. Consider how your work intersects with topics such as international law, security studies, political economy, or diplomatic history.

For those presenting, a strong understanding of Dynamic Analysis will be beneficial in framing arguments about evolving international systems. Additionally, considering the roles of Hidden Stakeholders and employing effective Engagement Strategies can enhance the relevance and impact of your research. When discussing specific country actions or policies, ensure to reference countries using their ISO3 codes, such as USA, CHN, or RUS, to maintain consistency and clarity in international academic discourse.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

United States

A key global actor, the United States often frames international relations through the lens of liberal internationalism and strategic competition.

Role in topic

The United States plays a significant role in shaping global political discourse, often influencing international norms, security architectures, and economic policies. Its perspective on international relations is crucial for understanding global power dynamics.

China

China's perspective emphasizes multilateralism with Chinese characteristics and a focus on economic development and national sovereignty.

Role in topic

As a rising global power, China's approach to international relations, including its Belt and Road Initiative and its stance on global governance, is a central topic of discussion. Its influence on international institutions and regional stability is profound.

Russia

Russia often views international relations through a realist lens, prioritizing national security and spheres of influence.

Role in topic

Russia's actions and policies, particularly concerning European security, energy geopolitics, and its role in various regional conflicts, are critical components of contemporary global politics.

Italy

Italy, as a member of the European Union and NATO, generally supports multilateralism and regional cooperation.

Role in topic

Hosting the conference in Venice, ITA, highlights Italy's engagement with international academic discourse and its role within European and broader international frameworks. Its perspective often reflects a balance between national interests and collective security.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Global Politics in an Era of Multipolar Competition

Global politics in the post-Cold War period was initially characterized by what scholars described as a 'unipolar moment' under American primacy, anchored by liberal institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Bretton Woods framework. The 2008 financial crisis, the rise of China, Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the deepening U.S.-China strategic rivalry have together accelerated a shift toward a multipolar — or, as some argue, a 'fragmented' — international order. Middle powers such as India, Brazil, Turkey, and the Gulf states are increasingly hedging between blocs rather than aligning, while groupings like BRICS+ and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation reflect attempts to build parallel structures. The core contemporary dispute is over the rules and legitimacy of global order itself: whether the existing UN-centered system can be reformed to reflect new power realities, or whether revisionist states will continue to chip away at norms governing sovereignty, trade, and the use of force. Climate change, migration, AI governance, and pandemic preparedness add transnational challenges that no single state can solve unilaterally, intensifying questions of burden-sharing and institutional reform, including long-stalled UN Security Council expansion.

Key players

International Relations: Theory, Practice, and Contemporary Crises

International relations as a discipline emerged from the aftermath of the First World War, with the founding of the League of Nations and the first IR chair at Aberystwyth in 1919. Successive 'great debates' — between realists and liberals, traditionalists and behavioralists, rationalists and constructivists — have shaped how states interpret anarchy, cooperation, and identity in world politics. The UN Charter system, built in 1945, codified sovereign equality, non-intervention, and collective security, but Cold War bipolarity and subsequent crises in the Balkans, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Ukraine have repeatedly tested its limits. Today, international relations practice is strained by simultaneous pressures: war in Europe, conflict in Gaza and the wider Middle East, U.S.-China decoupling in technology and trade, and the weakening of dispute-settlement mechanisms such as the WTO Appellate Body. Norms developed over decades — including the Responsibility to Protect, nuclear non-proliferation under the NPT, and international humanitarian law — are increasingly contested in practice even where formally upheld. Debates now focus on whether liberal institutionalism can adapt, or whether a more transactional, balance-of-power logic will define the coming decades.

Key players

Historical Perspectives on Global Governance

Modern global governance traces its institutional roots to the 1815 Concert of Europe, the Hague Conferences of 1899 and 1907, and the 1919 League of Nations — the first universal political organization, ultimately undone by U.S. non-participation and its failure to deter aggression in Manchuria, Ethiopia, and Europe. The United Nations, established in 1945, sought to remedy these weaknesses through a Security Council with enforcement powers, while the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF, World Bank) and the GATT/WTO created an economic governance pillar. Decolonization in the 1950s–70s transformed the General Assembly and gave rise to demands for a New International Economic Order. The post-Cold War era saw an expansion of governance into human rights (ICC, 1998), environment (UNFCCC, Kyoto, Paris), and health (revised IHR, 2005). Yet recurring crises — the 2003 Iraq War, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19, and Security Council paralysis over Syria and Ukraine — have exposed legitimacy and effectiveness gaps. Current debates revolve around UNSC reform (the G4 and Ezulwini Consensus proposals), IMF/World Bank quota reform, and whether new bodies are needed for AI, pandemics, and climate finance, or whether existing institutions can be revitalized.

Key players

The Dynamics of International Security

International security has expanded far beyond its Cold War focus on interstate war and nuclear deterrence. The 1990s introduced 'human security,' civil-war intervention, and the Responsibility to Protect, while the post-9/11 era centered counterterrorism and counter-insurgency. The 2010s brought a return of great-power competition, marked by Russia's actions in Ukraine since 2014, China's military buildup and maritime assertiveness, and renewed nuclear modernization across the P5. Emerging domains — cyber, outer space, and autonomous weapons — are now subject to active but contested rule-making in forums such as the UN GGE, OEWG on ICTs, and the CCW Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. The contemporary security agenda is defined by simultaneous, overlapping threats: the war in Ukraine and its nuclear signaling; conflict in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Red Sea; instability across the Sahel following coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger; and the world's largest displacement crisis in Sudan. Arms-control architecture is fraying — New START expires in February 2026, the INF Treaty collapsed in 2019, and the CTBT remains unratified by key states. Debates focus on how to manage escalation between nuclear powers, regulate dual-use technologies, and uphold international humanitarian law in protracted conflicts.

Key players

Geopolitics in a Globalized World

Globalization, accelerated after the end of the Cold War and China's 2001 WTO accession, integrated production, finance, and information flows to an unprecedented degree. Yet the 2008 financial crisis, Brexit in 2016, the U.S.-China trade war from 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine exposed the vulnerabilities of just-in-time supply chains, energy interdependence, and reliance on chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb, the Suez and Panama Canals, and Taiwan's semiconductor fabs. 'Geoeconomics' — the use of economic instruments for strategic ends — has surged, encompassing sanctions, export controls (notably U.S. semiconductor restrictions on China), industrial policy (CHIPS Act, EU Chips Act, Made in China 2025), and connectivity initiatives like the Belt and Road and the EU's Global Gateway. The core dispute is whether globalization is being reversed, restructured ('de-risking' rather than decoupling), or simply re-routed through new partners such as Vietnam, Mexico, and India. Resource competition over critical minerals — lithium, cobalt, rare earths — and energy transitions intersect with traditional geopolitics in the Arctic, the South China Sea, and Africa's Sahel and Great Lakes regions. The question for policymakers is how to balance national security, economic efficiency, and climate imperatives in a more contested global economy.

Key players

Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution

Modern diplomacy is governed by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and a layered architecture of bilateral, multilateral, and track-two channels. Conflict resolution mechanisms range from UN good offices and special envoys, to regional bodies such as the African Union, ECOWAS, ASEAN, and the OSCE, to ad hoc formats like the Normandy, Astana, and Minsk processes. Landmark settlements — Camp David (1978), Dayton (1995), the Good Friday Agreement (1998), and the 2016 Colombian peace accord — illustrate that durable agreements typically require sustained external mediation, security guarantees, and inclusive political processes. The contemporary picture is more difficult. Mediation in Ukraine has stalled, Gaza ceasefire talks brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have repeatedly collapsed and resumed, and Sudan's Jeddah process has struggled to produce sustained humanitarian pauses. At the same time, new mediators — Qatar, Norway, Turkey, Oman, and the UAE — are increasingly active, while China's 2023 brokering of Saudi-Iranian rapprochement signaled a more pluralistic mediation landscape. Debates center on the role of sanctions versus engagement, the inclusion of armed non-state actors, and whether AI and digital diplomacy enhance or undermine confidential negotiation.

Key players

Regional Politics and Global Implications

Regional orders increasingly shape global outcomes. In Europe, Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered NATO's enlargement to Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024) and reoriented EU energy and defense policy. In the Indo-Pacific, tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula have produced overlapping frameworks — the Quad, AUKUS, and trilateral U.S.-Japan-Korea cooperation — while ASEAN seeks to preserve centrality. The Middle East has been reshaped by the 2020 Abraham Accords, the 2023 Saudi-Iran normalization, and the war in Gaza following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, with spillover to Lebanon, the Red Sea, and Iraq. Africa is contending with a 'coup belt' across the Sahel and the withdrawal of French and UN missions, alongside the devastating war in Sudan and renewed conflict in the eastern DRC. Latin America faces democratic backsliding in some states and migration pressures linked to Venezuela and Haiti. Each of these regional crises has global implications — for energy markets, migration, food security (notably Black Sea and Red Sea shipping), and great-power alignment — illustrating how local conflicts increasingly drive systemic outcomes.

Key players

Foreign Policy and National Interests

Foreign policy is the formal expression of how states pursue national interests — security, prosperity, values, and prestige — within international constraints. Classical frameworks distinguish between realist, liberal, and constructivist approaches, while practitioners rely on tools ranging from diplomacy and alliances to sanctions, foreign aid, military force, and, increasingly, technology and trade policy. National security strategies, such as the U.S. National Security Strategy, China's white papers, and the EU Strategic Compass (2022), articulate priorities that have converged on great-power competition, technology leadership, and resilience to transnational shocks. A defining contemporary feature is the blurring of domestic and foreign policy: industrial policy, immigration, and climate commitments are now central foreign-policy instruments. 'Strategic autonomy' (EU), 'multi-alignment' (India), 'dual circulation' (China), and 'foreign policy for the middle class' (United States) reflect varied attempts to reconcile globalization's costs with security imperatives. Tensions persist between values-based commitments — human rights, democracy promotion — and transactional partnerships with strategically important authoritarian states, raising enduring questions about consistency, credibility, and the limits of national interest as a guide to action.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for International Conference on Global Politics and International Relations ICGPIRS.

Recent reporting to ground your prep

Rahul Gandhi Defends Tamil Nadu's Autonomy

India's 131st Amendment Bill

Actor Vijay's Political Move

West Bengal 2026 Election

Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Gender Dynamics Across Cultures

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Conflict Resolution

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Media & Press Relations

Turkey August 2026

By committee

Frequently asked questions

International Conference on Global Politics and International Relations ICGPIRS

Aug 17–18, 2026Istanbul, TurkeyIn-person

Starts in 9 daysRegistration open

Committees & topics

Topics
Global Politics in an Era of Multipolar Competition · International Relations: Theory, Practice, and Contemporary Crises · Historical Perspectives on Global Governance · The Dynamics of International Security · Geopolitics in a Globalized World · Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution · Regional Politics and Global Implications · Foreign Policy and National Interests

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

United States

A key global actor, the United States often frames international relations through the lens of liberal internationalism and strategic competition.

Role in topic

China

China's perspective emphasizes multilateralism with Chinese characteristics and a focus on economic development and national sovereignty.

Role in topic

Russia

Russia often views international relations through a realist lens, prioritizing national security and spheres of influence.

Role in topic

Russia's actions and policies, particularly concerning European security, energy geopolitics, and its role in various regional conflicts, are critical components of contemporary global politics.

Italy

Italy, as a member of the European Union and NATO, generally supports multilateralism and regional cooperation.

Role in topic