--- title: "XIII 2026 — La Plata | Model Diplomat" description: "XIII Congreso de Relaciones Internacionales 2026 is a professional conference in La Plata, Argentina, Nov 25–27, 2026." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/professional/xiii-congreso-de-relaciones-internacionales-2026" --- # XIII Congreso de Relaciones Internacionales 2026 Nov 25–27, 2026[La Plata, Argentina](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=La%20Plata%2C%20Argentina)In-person Starts in 18 days[Registration open](https://www.iri.edu.ar/index.php/2026/03/27/congreso-2026/) The XIII Congreso de Relaciones Internacionales is an academic conference hosted in La Plata, ARG, focusing on international relations. This event serves as a crucial forum for scholars and practitioners to engage with contemporary global issues and explore evolving dynamics in international affairs. Participants will have the opportunity to present research, exchange ideas, and contribute to the discourse on various facets of global governance, regional integration, and foreign policy. ## Committees & topics - Topics International Political Relations · International Economic Relations · International Security · New Developments in International Law · International Cooperation · Regional Integration Processes · Human Rights in the International Order · Gender(s) and International Relations ## Why it matters This conference holds significant importance as it convenes experts in international relations within a key South American intellectual hub. The discussions and research presented here can influence policy considerations and academic understanding of complex global challenges. By fostering dialogue among diverse perspectives, the congress contributes to a more nuanced appreciation of international relations, particularly concerning regional specificities and their broader implications. The gathering in La Plata, ARG, provides a unique lens through which to examine international relations, offering insights that might differ from those originating in other geopolitical centers. This regional focus is vital for understanding how global trends manifest and are addressed at a local and regional level, thereby enriching the overall field of international studies. The insights generated from such forums are instrumental in developing comprehensive strategies for international cooperation and conflict resolution. ## How to prepare To effectively engage with the discussions at this congress, participants should consider conducting thorough research on the current geopolitical landscape, with a particular emphasis on South American perspectives. Understanding the historical and contemporary foreign policy positions of countries like ARG will be beneficial. Reviewing recent academic publications and policy papers from institutions in the region can provide a strong foundation for contributions. Delegates should prepare to articulate their positions clearly and concisely, drawing on robust evidence and theoretical frameworks. Familiarity with various \engagement strategies\ will be useful for navigating discussions and fostering productive exchanges. Additionally, considering the \[hidden stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders)\ in any given international issue can lead to a more comprehensive and impactful analysis during the conference proceedings. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 3 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [Argentina](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [As the host nation, ARG provides a regional perspective on international relations, often emphasizing multilateralism and South-South cooperation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [ARG plays a central role by hosting this significant international relations congress in La Plata, facilitating a platform for regional and global academic exchange. Its foreign policy often reflects a commitment to regional integration and a nuanced approach to global power dynamics.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [BRA is a major regional power in South America, advocating for a multipolar world order and active participation in global governance.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [BRA's perspective is crucial for understanding South American international relations, given its economic and political influence. Its engagement in discussions on regional security, trade, and environmental issues will be highly relevant.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Chile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [CHL often adopts a pragmatic foreign policy focused on trade liberalization and integration into global markets.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [CHL's experience with open markets and its Pacific Rim orientation offers a distinct South American viewpoint, particularly in discussions concerning international trade and economic diplomacy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### International Political Relations International political relations in the contemporary era are defined by the erosion of the post–Cold War unipolar moment and the emergence of a more contested, multipolar order. The United States, which dominated global politics following the Soviet collapse in 1991, now faces sustained strategic competition from a rising China and a revisionist Russia, whose 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked the most significant rupture of European security norms since 1945. Middle powers such as India, Brazil, Turkey, and the Gulf states have simultaneously asserted more autonomous foreign policies, often refusing to align fully with either Washington or Beijing. The liberal international order built around the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions, and a network of alliances is under visible strain. The UN Security Council has been repeatedly paralyzed by vetoes over Ukraine, Syria, and Gaza, while forums such as the BRICS (expanded in 2024 to include new members) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have grown as alternative platforms. Debates today center on whether the international system is transitioning to a stable multipolarity, a bipolar US-China rivalry, or a fragmented 'multi-order' world in which regional powers shape distinct spheres. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Anchor of the Western alliance system and primary defender of the liberal order](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Principal strategic competitor advancing an alternative vision of global governance](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Revisionist power challenging European security through the war in Ukraine](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Leading non-aligned middle power balancing between blocs](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) - [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Voice of the Global South within BRICS and G20 diplomacy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Core European actor shaping EU foreign policy and transatlantic ties](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) 2 ### International Economic Relations The global economy is undergoing its most significant reorganization since the Bretton Woods era. After three decades of hyper-globalization driven by WTO accession (notably China's in 2001) and the proliferation of global value chains, the 2008 financial crisis, the US-China trade war launched in 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine have together triggered a shift toward 'de-risking,' friend-shoring, and industrial policy. The United States' CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act, the European Union's Green Deal Industrial Plan, and China's Made in China 2025 strategy reflect a broad return of the state to economic management. This fragmentation coexists with persistent interdependence: trade as a share of global GDP remains historically high, and the dollar continues to dominate reserves and trade invoicing despite incremental de-dollarization efforts. Sovereign debt distress across low-income countries, climate finance shortfalls relative to COP commitments, and disputes over the reform of the IMF, World Bank, and WTO dispute settlement system structure today's debates. Tensions over export controls on advanced semiconductors, critical minerals, and green technologies illustrate how economic policy has become inseparable from national security. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Issuer of the dominant reserve currency and architect of new industrial and export-control policies](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Largest trading nation and central player in global manufacturing and BRI lending](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [EU economic anchor navigating energy transition and decoupling pressures](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Major creditor and coordinator of supply-chain resilience initiatives](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Fastest-growing major economy and key voice on Global South debt and reform](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) - [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Commodity powerhouse leading G20 discussions on tax and financial reform](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) 3 ### International Security International security has entered a period of acute volatility. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine reintroduced large-scale interstate war to Europe and prompted NATO's enlargement to include Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024), while the October 2023 Hamas attack and the ensuing war in Gaza have destabilized the Middle East, drawing in Iran-backed actors from Lebanon to Yemen. In the Indo-Pacific, tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and North Korea's accelerating nuclear and missile programs have driven sharp increases in defense spending and the consolidation of arrangements such as AUKUS and the Quad. Classical concerns over nuclear deterrence have returned alongside new domains of competition. The New START treaty between the US and Russia is suspended and set to expire in 2026 with no successor in sight; cyber operations, space militarization, and the weaponization of artificial intelligence are reshaping the character of conflict. Non-state threats — from the resurgence of jihadist groups in the Sahel to transnational criminal networks in the Americas — compound the agenda, while UN peacekeeping faces a crisis of legitimacy after withdrawals from Mali and the DRC. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Principal security guarantor through NATO and Indo-Pacific alliances](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Belligerent in Ukraine and central actor in nuclear arms control](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Rapidly expanding military power reshaping Indo-Pacific deterrence](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Ukraine](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) [Frontline state whose defense has redefined European security](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) - [Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Regional power driving Middle Eastern proxy dynamics and nuclear concerns](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) - [North Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) [Nuclear-armed state escalating missile testing and Russia cooperation](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) 4 ### New Developments in International Law International law is in a phase of rapid doctrinal evolution under significant political stress. The International Court of Justice has issued landmark rulings and advisory opinions on South Africa's genocide case against Israel (2024), on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, and on states' obligations regarding climate change (2025). The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for sitting heads of state including Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, testing the court's reach and the cooperation obligations of states parties. New normative frontiers are also taking shape. The 2023 BBNJ Agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, ongoing negotiations on a UN cybercrime convention and a binding plastics treaty, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (2024), and debates over autonomous weapons systems at the CCW illustrate how international law is expanding into the environmental, digital, and technological domains. At the same time, selective compliance, US ambivalence toward the ICC, and Russian and Chinese challenges to liberal interpretations of sovereignty and human rights raise questions about the universality and enforceability of the system. Key players - [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Host of the ICJ and ICC and key proponent of international justice](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Influential non-party to the ICC shaping interpretation of jus ad bellum](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Lead state in the genocide case at the ICJ and Global South legal advocate](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Target of ICC warrants and challenger to liberal international law](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Promoter of state-centric reinterpretations of sovereignty and human rights](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Active litigator in universal jurisdiction and climate-law proceedings](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) 5 ### International Cooperation International cooperation, institutionalized after 1945 through the UN system and reinforced by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in 2015, is at a midpoint of stocktaking and reform. With only five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN has acknowledged that most targets are off-track, a gap deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic, debt crises, and conflict-driven displacement at record highs. The 2024 Summit of the Future and its Pact for the Future sought to revitalize multilateralism through reforms to the international financial architecture, digital governance, and Security Council representation. Climate cooperation under the UNFCCC remains the most consequential test. The 2023 Loss and Damage Fund operationalized at COP28 and the new collective quantified goal on climate finance agreed at COP29 in Baku have not closed the gap between pledges and needs. Development cooperation is increasingly polycentric: traditional OECD-DAC donors operate alongside Chinese Belt and Road financing, Gulf development funds, and South-South initiatives, raising questions about coordination, conditionality, and effectiveness. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Largest single donor and influential voice in IFI reform](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Leading South-South cooperation provider through BRI and new development banks](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Major climate and development financier within EU frameworks](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Convener of the Paris Pact for People and the Planet on financial architecture](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [G20 host advancing the hunger and inequality agenda](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) - [Kenya](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/kenya) [Leading African voice on climate finance and SDG financing reform](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/kenya) 6 ### Regional Integration Processes Regional integration projects, once seen as the natural complement to globalization, are adapting unevenly to a more fragmented world. The European Union remains the most advanced model, deepening fiscal and defense cooperation through NextGenerationEU, the European Peace Facility, and accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, while navigating internal disputes over rule of law. In Latin America, Mercosur has finalized — though not yet ratified — its agreement with the EU, the Pacific Alliance continues to operate, and broader regional bodies such as UNASUR and CELAC have struggled to consolidate amid ideological divergence. Elsewhere, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), operational since 2021, represents the most ambitious new integration project, while ASEAN maintains its centrality in Indo-Pacific diplomacy despite the Myanmar crisis. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the USMCA review process scheduled for 2026, and Eurasian Economic Union dynamics in the post-Soviet space illustrate the diversity of integration logics — from deep institutional union to flexible trade arrangements — and the tension between open regionalism and emerging trade blocs. Key players - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Engine of EU integration and enlargement policy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Largest Mercosur economy driving the bloc's external agenda](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) - [Argentina](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [Mercosur co-founder reshaping its stance under new economic policy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) - [Mexico](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) [Pivot of North American integration through the USMCA](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) - [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [ASEAN's largest economy and 2023 chair shaping regional architecture](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) - [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Key driver of the African Continental Free Trade Area](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) 7 ### Human Rights in the International Order The international human rights regime, anchored in the 1948 Universal Declaration and elaborated through the core UN treaties and regional systems, is facing one of its most contested moments. Armed conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and the Sahel have produced mass atrocities and record forced displacement — more than 120 million people, according to UNHCR — while authoritarian consolidation and democratic backsliding have been documented across every region. The Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review and special procedures continue to operate, but selectivity, politicization, and non-cooperation by powerful states limit their impact. New frontiers include the human rights implications of artificial intelligence and surveillance, climate-induced displacement following the 2025 ICJ advisory opinion linking climate obligations to human rights, and the rights of LGBTQ+ persons amid growing legislative backlash in several states. Business and human rights frameworks, including the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (2024), are expanding the role of non-state actors, while debates persist between universalist and culturally relativist understandings of rights, particularly in fora dominated by Global South majorities. Key players - [Switzerland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/switzerland) [Host of the UN Human Rights Council and OHCHR](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/switzerland) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Influential HRC member promoting civil and political rights agendas](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Promoter of a development-centered, sovereignty-respecting rights paradigm](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Expelled from the Council of Europe and subject of major rights scrutiny](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Leading Global South voice on Palestine and economic and social rights](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) - [Mexico](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) [Active proponent of migration, gender, and disappearances agendas](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) 8 ### Gender(s) and International Relations Gender entered the formal international agenda with the 1979 CEDAW Convention, the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, which recognized the differentiated impact of conflict on women and the importance of their participation in peace processes. Subsequent resolutions and the proliferation of National Action Plans have institutionalized the WPS agenda, while Feminist Foreign Policies — pioneered by Sweden in 2014 and later adopted by Canada, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Chile, and others — have sought to mainstream gender across diplomacy, trade, and development. Thirty years after Beijing, however, progress is uneven and contested. UN Women reports that no country is on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, conflict-related sexual violence persists from Ukraine to Sudan, and the rollback of reproductive rights and protections for LGBTQ+ persons has accelerated in multiple regions. Sweden's 2022 abandonment of its Feminist Foreign Policy label and Argentina's 2023 closure of its gender ministry illustrate the political fragility of these frameworks. Debates today extend beyond women's rights to broader questions of gender identity, intersectionality, masculinities, and the gendered dimensions of climate change, migration, and digital violence. Key players - [Mexico](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) [Co-host of the Generation Equality Forum and active feminist foreign policy state](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Implementer of a comprehensive feminist foreign and development policy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Pioneer of feminist international assistance and trade policy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) - [Chile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Latin American leader on feminist foreign policy and gender parity](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) - [Spain](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [EU advocate for feminist diplomacy and SRHR within multilateral fora](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) - [Argentina](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [Bellwether of regional backlash following dismantling of gender institutions](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for XIII Congreso de Relaciones Internacionales 2026. Recent reporting to ground your prep [US Job Openings at 6.7M](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-job-openings-at-67m-implications-for-2026-elections) [Trump's Economic Reset](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-economic-reset-aiming-to-tackle-high-gas-prices) [Trump's Economic Approval Hits 30% Amid Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-economic-approval-plummets-to-30-amid-iran-tensions) [GOP Promotes Trump's Tax Savings on Deadline](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/gop-highlights-trumps-tax-savings-on-filing-deadline-day) Lessons Bite-sized lessons to build the basics [Hidden Stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders) [Engagement Strategies](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/engagement-strategies) [Dynamic Analysis](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/dynamic-analysis) [Stakeholder Mapping Workshop](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/stakeholder-workshop) Courses Guided courses that go deeper on the topic [Advanced Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/advanced-negotiation) [Multilateral Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/multilateral-negotiation) [Policy Brief Writing](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/policy-brief) [Conflict Resolution](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/conflict-resolution) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [Argentina](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/argentina) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Ukraine](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/ukraine) [Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [North Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/north-korea) [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Kenya](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/kenya) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/kenya) [Mexico](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/mexico) [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Switzerland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/switzerland) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/switzerland) [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Chile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Spain](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) ## Frequently asked questions - - Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. 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