Young Scholars Conference: March 26-27 2026
AWC Young Scholars Conference
CALL FOR PAPERS: America’s Nuclear Crossroads: Deterrence, Diplomacy, and Disarmament in the 21st Century
The University of Texas at Austin
The America in the World Consortium invites Ph.D. students, early-career scholars, and early-career policy practitioners to submit paper proposals for a one-day conference on America’s role in the world, particularly focused on U.S. nuclear strategy, including deterrence, diplomacy, and disarmament. This conference aims to investigate the shifts in U.S. nuclear policy during the 21st century towards the Middle East, Russia, and the Indo-Pacific, as well as how these regions and actors have responded to America’s strategic posture.
Within this context, we are seeking works that explore the strategic implications of, and interactions surrounding, America’s nuclear policies in varying contexts, including deterrence and containment, escalation, rising actors, and historical perspectives. We also welcome papers that examine how other nations have adapted their own policies, strategies, or capabilities in response to changes in U.S. conventional and nuclear forces.
To ensure a wide range of perspectives, the organizers welcome proposals from PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, early career academic professionals, and early career policy practitioners. Disciplines of interest are not limited, but generally include history, political science, international relations, public policy, and area studies. We are interested in thought-provoking works at various stages of readiness. Please send a 2-page abstract of your proposed presentation to papers@awconsortium.org by Monday, December 15, 2025. Presentations will be 12-15 minutes, with 5 additional minutes for Q&A. The organizers will review proposals immediately but will hold responses until shortly after December 15.
The AWC, in collaboration with its academic partners—the Clements Center for National Security (UT-Austin), the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs (JHU-SAIS), the Duke University Program in American Grand Strategy, and the University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education—will convene this interdisciplinary conference to examine America’s influence on global dynamics, foster transnational cooperation and security, and address pressing foreign issues. In each of the conference themes above, we seek to provide fresh insights, foster future scholarship, and stimulate discussions that ultimately contribute to a thorough understanding of America’s role in the world. The AWC will cover travel, meals, and lodging for paper presenters who are selected to participate.
Please contact Emma Rogers (emma.rogers@austin.utexas.edu) with any questions regarding the conference.
Organized by the America in the World Consortium at The Clements Center for National Security