About Us

The Network seeks to bring together scholars working on issues of statehood, sovereignty, and conflict in different regions of the world and from a variety of subfields of political science and related disciplines. It is intended to serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas among scholars who engage with a diverse set of theoretical and methodological approaches, united by their interest in advancing the understanding of the concepts of statehood and sovereignty. Members of the network contribute to academic and wider debates on conflicts related to, amongst others, secession, territory, governance, and recognition. We place extra emphasis on supporting early career researchers working in these areas.

Aims and objectives

The network’s aims and objectives are:

• enable the continuous exchange of expertise and networking through organizing research events and activities;
• encourage research mobility and collaboration opportunities for network members;
• establish a platform for coordination of applications among members to international research funding schemes;
• explore possibilities for methods training for the network members, particularly for early career researchers, such as mentoring workshops with more senior members of the network, publishing advice sessions, etc.;
• facilitate outreach and engagement with non-academic audiences, including policymakers, civil society, and the wider public.

Activities

Amongst else, activities of the network include:

• organization of a seminar series focused on offering feedback to developing work, especially of early career researchers
• organization of conference panels, including multi-panel sections at the ECPR General Conference
• organization of ad hoc events, like seminars or roundtables on significant events or research, with the participation of academics and practitioners
• workshops to promote research, such as on knowledge exchange on methods
• an annual Best Paper Award 
• writing groups