YSI Pre-conference @ STOREP 2026

The Keynesian Working Group, in collaboration with the Italian Post-Keynesian Network (IPKN), warmly invites young scholars to submit abstracts for the 2026 YSI–STOREP Pre-Conference on “The Political Economy of War, Militarism, and Geopolitical Conflict”. The pre-conference will take place at University of Naples – Federico II, Italy, on June 24–25, 2026.

Since 2018, YSI has organized a pre-conference ahead of STOREP’s annual meeting, fostering a vibrant space for intellectual exchange between senior scholars and young researchers interested in political economy and the history of economic thought, particularly within Keynesian and heterodox traditions. Building on this long-standing collaboration, the 2026 edition focuses on the renewed centrality of war, militarism, and geopolitical conflict in contemporary capitalism.

In recent years, rising military expenditures, rearmament strategies, and geopolitical fragmentation have profoundly reshaped growth patterns, industrial structures, public budgets, and international dependencies. Yet, the economic analysis of war and militarism remains relatively underexplored. This pre-conference aims to provide a dedicated space for young scholars to critically examine the economics of war, the structural interdependencies between countries, and the changing role of the state as a strategic economic actor in an era of geopolitical transformation.

The event will combine different participation formats, including paper presentations by graduate students and early-career researchers, alongside seminars and lectures by senior scholars affiliated with STOREP and IPKN. Particular emphasis will be placed on constructive feedback, collective discussion, and the development of future research collaborations.

We welcome contributions engaging with, but not limited to, the following themes:

🪖 The Economics of War and Militarism
How do military spending, rearmament, and defense industries affect growth, employment, innovation, and income distribution? What are the macroeconomic and structural consequences of permanent war economies?

🏭 Geopolitics, Industrial Structures, and Strategic Sectors
How are geopolitical conflicts reshaping industrial policy, strategic autonomy, and global production networks? What role does the state play in directing investment and restructuring key sectors?

🌍 International Interdependencies and Global Fragmentation
How do sanctions, trade restrictions, and geopolitical blocs transform international economic relations? What are the implications for dependency, uneven development, and global inequalities?

🏛️ The State, Public Budgets, and Political Economy
How does the return of militarism interact with fiscal policy, public debt, welfare states, and democratic governance? What tensions emerge between military priorities and social or environmental objectives?

📚 War Economy in Economic Thought: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
How have economists theorized the relationship between war, militarism, and economic organization across different historical and theoretical contexts? How is this relationship being conceptualized within contemporary economic paradigms?

How to Apply

Interested participants are invited to submit an abstract of up to 300 words, outlining their research question, methodology, and main arguments.

Selected participants will have the opportunity to present their work and receive detailed feedback from peers and senior scholars. Partial travel stipends and accommodation support may be available for selected participants, subject to funding availability.

Key Details

Event: YSI–STOREP Pre-Conference
Title: The Political Economy of War, Militarism, and Geopolitical Conflict
Dates: June 24–25, 2026
Location: Department of Law, University of Naples – Federico II.
Deadline for Applications: April 3 (Extended)