We are thrilled to announce the upcoming workshop titled “Reactionary Critiques and the Liberal International Order: Reflecting on the Failures and Promise of International Thought,” scheduled for June 16th, 2024, at CEEISA-ISA Rijeka, Croatia.

Members of the “Reactionary Internationale” – Putin, Xi, Erdogan, Khamenei, Bolsonaro, Trump, and Modi – are actively challenging the liberal international order and remaking international norms. Organised by PhD students Matti Spåra and Rhiannon Emm, together with Dr Nicholas Michelsen and Dr Pablo de Orellana from the Department of War Studies Research Centre in International Relations, this workshop will delve into how these reactionaries draw from established traditions of international theory, such as Realism, Decolonial and Global IR, as well as innovating and transgressing the IR disciplinary mainstream. We investigate how they have developed populist styles of communication for reaching global publics, and how everyday spaces are central to their critiques. This workshop will bring together leading IR scholars to explore the epistemological, methodological, and political implications of reactionary critique. The workshop seeks to advance the evolution of IR scholarship by examining this “darker side of critique” and invites participants to critically assess the limitations and possibilities of IR scholarship.

Our workshop will explore various themes, including the theoretical foundations of reactionary critiques, case studies examining critiques presented by influential actors such as Putin, the implications of reactionary thought for global order, and its impact on international relations theory.

Furthermore, we are excited to announce that there will be an event later in the year to discuss the findings and insights from the workshop.

Stay tuned for more updates and details regarding the workshop and the subsequent event.