International Organizations and the Making of the Modern World

International Organizations and the Making of the Modern World

Organizer
International Center for Drug Policy Studies, SHU; Center for the History of Global Development, SHU; Center for History of International Organizations, SYSU
Venue
Shanghai University
ZIP
-
Location
Shanghai
Country
China
Takes place
In Attendance
From - Until
06.06.2025 - 08.06.2025
Deadline
15.02.2025
By
Connections Redaktion, Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics, Universität Leipzig

To mark the 80th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations, we invite submissions for a conference exploring the history, impact, and evolving role of international organizations. We encourage papers on the United Nations and all its affiliated organizations, including its predecessor, the League of Nations. This conference will be hosted by Shanghai University (SHU). It follows a first meeting organized by Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) in November 2024 and forms part of a new line of research by these universities on questions of the history of international governance.

International Organizations and the Making of the Modern World

On 26 June 1945, representatives of the 50 countries attending the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco signed the Charter of the United Nations, thereby laying the groundwork for the establishment of the most elaborate system of international organizations in human history. Though their beginning lies in increasing globalization in the 19th century, it was after the Second World War that international organizations have proliferated to the point that they now outnumber states, and they have been profoundly embedded in virtually all topics of everyday activities, ranging from security, health and education to economic development and environment. To varying degrees, they have had an impact on all of these topics by setting agendas, initiating new ideas, providing authoritative knowledge, facilitating cooperation, implementing international programs and projects and generally contributing to global governance.

Since its inception, the UN and its predecessors—most notably the League of Nations—have been hailed as pillars of a more peaceful and just world. However, they have also faced significant criticism, ranging from accusations of perpetuating outdated, Eurocentric power structures to being seen as bloated bureaucracies that fail to keep pace with a changing world and the rise of the Global South. New organizations, based in various parts of the world, have since emerged.

To mark the 80th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations, we invite submissions for a conference exploring the history, impact, and evolving role of international organizations. We encourage papers on the United Nations and all its affiliated organizations, including its predecessor, the League of Nations. This conference will be hosted by Shanghai University (SHU). It follows a first meeting organized by Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) in November 2024 and forms part of a new line of research by these universities on questions of the history of international governance.

This conference seeks to explore the complex history and multifaceted role of international organizations in shaping the global order. We welcome papers that interrogate, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- The Concept and Reality of Global Governance: What does global governance mean in theory and practice? How have international organizations contributed to or hindered the development of a fairer global system?
- International Organizations and Technical Governance: What role have organizations like the UN played in the evolution of technical governance, particularly in areas such as health, environment, trade, and drugissues.
- Colonialism, Decolonization, and Development: How have international organizations navigated the legacies of colonialism? What has been their role in the processes of decolonization and post-colonial development?
- Debates within International Organizations: What internal debates have shaped the policies and priorities of the UN and its affiliated bodies? How have differing visions for global governance been reconciled (or not) within these institutions?
- Shifting Power Relations: How have shifting power dynamics—such as the rise of the Global South, emerging economies, and regional organizations—challenged traditional global governance structures? What does this mean for the future of international organizations?
- Different Perspectives on Project of International Organizations: how have actors and participants on different sides view activities of international organizations (government representatives, organization staff, field workers, local populations etc)?

Submission Details:
Participants may present their research in English or Chinese at their discretion, but communication in English is encouraged.
Conference materials, including Title, Abstracts of 300-400 words, and a brief biography (maximum 200 words), should be submitted as one file by 15 February, 2025 to zhangyongan@shu.edu.cn (Yongan Zhang, SHU), iborowy@i.shu.edu.cn (Iris Borowy, SHU) and shihfei@mail.sysu.edu.cn (Hongfei Shi, SYSU).
Authors of accepted submissions will be informed by 1 March, 2025. They will be required to submit a text of approximately 5,000 words no later than 20 May 2025. A publication of selected papers, based on quality and coherence, is planned.
The conference will be held 6 – 8 June, 2025 at Shanghai University. All local costs will be covered by the organizers.

We look forward to your contributions as we engage with the rich, complex, and evolving history of international organizations and their role in shaping global governance.

Contact (announcement)

zhangyongan@shu.edu.cn (Yongan Zhang, SHU), iborowy@i.shu.edu.cn (Iris Borowy, SHU) and shihfei@mail.sysu.edu.cn (Hongfei Shi, SYSU)

Editors Information
Published on
17.01.2025
Classification
Additional Informations
Country Event
Language(s) of event
English
Language of announcement