Monarch Supports the ACUNS 2026 Call for Submissions
Monarch Switzerland is pleased to support the Call for Submissions for the 2026 ACUNS Annual Meeting, taking place 1–3 July 2026 at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.
As a reminder of our longstanding engagement, Monarch has contributed consistently to global dialogue on international governance, multilateral reform, and policy leadership as an ACUNS member since 2010.
This year’s theme — “Multilateralism Under Challenge & the Future of the Pact” — aligns closely with Monarch’s academic mission and complements our expanding doctoral portfolio, including the PhD in International Relations and PhD in Economics. These research pathways explore the complexity of global governance, economic resilience, and the lived realities of international policy transformation.
About the 2026 ACUNS Annual Meeting
Theme: Multilateralism Under Challenge & the Future of the Pact
Dates: 1–3 July 2026
Location: Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Hosted by: ACUNS & Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
Submissions are welcomed from scholars, practitioners, UN staff, and students in the form of:
- Research Papers
- Policy Briefs
- Roundtables
- Research–Policy Tools
Key Themes
The ACUNS 2026 Annual Meeting invites contributions that critically engage with the most pressing questions confronting the international system. The thematic areas below reflect the breadth of contemporary global governance challenges as well as the interdisciplinary nature of scholarship ACUNS seeks to promote. Contributors are encouraged to frame their submissions in ways that illuminate emerging dynamics, propose innovative pathways for reform, and advance constructive dialogue between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. These themes also provide a valuable platform for Monarch scholars to connect their research with global debates shaping the future of multilateral cooperation.
- UN Pact for the Future, UN80, and Charter reform
- Reform challenges within multilateral institutions
- Regional governance and global coordination
- International law and international courts
- Peace, security, and conflict prevention
- Global economic governance; financing for development
- Human rights, refugees, and humanitarian action
- Climate change and environmental governance
- Digital governance, science, and technology
- Civil society, local communities, and youth.
Keynote Speakers
- Adriana Abdenur, Co-President, Global Fund for a New Economy
- Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, UN Peace Operations
- Kitty van der Heijden, Assistant Secretary-General, UNICEF
Submisson Details
Deadline: 15 January 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
Submission Portal: ACUNS 2026 Annual Meeting webpage
Eligibility: Scholars, practitioners, UN personnel, and students
Applicants are encouraged to prepare polished, theme-aligned submissions to strengthen their chances of acceptance.
Opportunities For Monarch Scholars
The ACUNS Annual Meeting presents an exceptional platform for Monarch scholars to engage meaningfully with the global governance community. Monarch Switzerland’s academic culture is grounded in a deep commitment to social justice, ethical inquiry, and the lived experiences of individuals and communities affected by international policy. This orientation aligns naturally with ACUNS’s mandate to bridge scholarship and practice in the service of multilateral cooperation and systemic reform.
Across our doctoral ecosystem — including the PhD in International Relations, PhD in Economics, PhD in Business Research, Doctor of Social Science, Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Leadership, and the broader MGRI research community — candidates are encouraged to pursue research that interrogates entrenched power dynamics, exposes inequities, and illuminates new pathways toward more inclusive and humane systems. The Annual Meeting provides a venue where such research can resonate, particularly in sessions focused on peacebuilding, global inequality, humanitarian assistance, environmental vulnerability, and the future of multilateral governance.
Participation in ACUNS enables Monarch candidates to:
-
-
Showcase the applied relevance of their qualitative and phenomenological research, demonstrating how lived experience can inform policy innovation and institutional transformation.
-
Engage with United Nations officials, diplomats, policy practitioners, and global scholars, strengthening their professional networks within the multilateral system.
-
Contribute to international debates that mirror Monarch’s own mission: the pursuit of ethical leadership, the advancement of human dignity, and the strengthening of institutions that promote peace and equitable development.
-
Position their doctoral work within global conversations on governance, development finance, digital transformation, security, and climate justice, thereby reinforcing the policy relevance of their academic contributions.
-
Enhance their scholarly visibility, particularly for candidates preparing for publication, seeking speaking opportunities, or wishing to connect their dissertation work to real-world impact.
-
As an Institutional Member of ACUNS since 2010, Monarch actively encourages its emerging scholars to participate in this global forum. Faculty supervisors remain available to assist candidates in shaping their submissions to ensure strong thematic alignment and academic rigor consistent with both ACUNS expectations and Monarch’s research ethos.
