SOAS Anti-Corruption Evidence and the Institute for New Economic Thinking are convening a two-day conference for UK-based early career researchers working on governance, corruption, and related political economy issues in the Global South.
The conference will bring together early career and senior academics in a focused, discussion-led format centred on research exchange, mentorship, and network building.
Timed to coincide with the UK Anti-Corruption Summit 2026, the conference offers opportunities to connect emerging research with live policy debates and to engage with policy experts and practitioners working in the field.
As a participant, you will have the opportunity to present your research, exchange ideas with peers and senior scholars, and engage in cutting-edge discussions around research impact.
Call for Papers
We invite submissions from UK-based early career researchers working on governance and anti-corruption in the Global South, including related themes such as integrity, accountability, trust, politicaleconomy, and institutionalreform.
Contributions that move beyond diagnosing problems to engage with theorising viable reform and feasible solutions are particularly encouraged.
Submissions may address (but are not limited to) the following areas:
- Public service delivery and procurement (e.g. health, education, infrastructure)
- State capture
- Climate change and the energy transition
- Digital technology and governance
- Illicit financial flows and transnational issues (e.g. crypto, real estate, hundi/hawala)
We welcome submissions based on both ongoing and existing research. Papers do not need to be newly developed for this conference.
Eligibility
Submissions are open to UK-based early career researchers, including:
- Final-year PhD candidates
- Postdoctoral researchers (having received PhDs no more than five years ago)
- Early career faculty, including lecturers and senior lecturers (having received PhDs no more than five years ago)
Selected participants will be provided with travel within the UK and accommodation in London to facilitate participation in the event, where required.
Submission Guidelines
Applicants should:
- Complete the online application form
- Submit an extended abstract of 2,000-3,000 words by email to [email protected] by 31 March 2026
Abstracts should be submitted as a PDF file and clearly labelled using the following format: Surname_FirstName_ECR-Conference-2026_ExtendedAbstract.pdf
Please use the email subject line: ECR Conference 2026 – Extended Abstract – [Your Name]
Criteria for selection
- Quality of abstract
- Relevance, innovativeness and solution focus of applications
- Focus on Global South
- Quality of evidence (qualitative or quantitative)
Key Dates (2026)
- 31 March: Deadline for extended abstract submission
- 30 April: Notification of selected participants
- 25–26 June: Conference