Designed as an interactive platform for developing ongoing research, IPSA-WiPS enables scholars to present work in progress, receive substantive peer feedback, and engage with colleagues working on related theoretical, methodological, and policy questions. Beyond individual presentations, the initiative seeks to foster longer-term scholarly cooperation and generate opportunities for future joint publications, special journal issues, edited volumes, research networks, and collaborative project proposals.

Within this framework, RC35 organized two dedicated workshop sessions on 13 and 14 July 2026, bringing together researchers working across the fields of technology, climate change, global governance, international relations, international political economy, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.

The RC35 Unit, entitled “Technology, Climate Change, and Re-Globalisation: Formal and Qualitative Approaches to Global Governance, Trade and Development,” was chaired by Prof. Miguel Rocha de Sousa, Chair of IPSA RC35, and co-chaired by Dr. Preeti Sharma.

The two-day programme provided an interdisciplinary forum for scholars to exchange ideas, critically engage with ongoing research, and explore new avenues for international academic collaboration.

Day One: Climate Change, Environmental Governance and Emerging Global Challenges

 

The first RC35 session, held on 13 July 2026, focused particularly on the intersections between climate change, environmental governance, social vulnerability, international regulation, and emerging technologies.

Tulika Chakravorty presented “Climate Change and Coastal Marginalisation: Gendered Vulnerabilities in Fishing Communities of West Bengal, India,” examining how climate change and environmental pressures intersect with gender and socio-economic vulnerabilities within fishing communities in West Bengal.

Rong Bao presented “From Baseline to Beyond: How States at Different Global Economy Positions Construct the Compliance-Discretion Boundary under the Implementation of CITES,” addressing how states occupying different positions within the global economy approach the relationship between international compliance requirements and domestic discretion in implementing international environmental commitments.

Nora Rosado presented “The Water Footprint of Artificial Intelligence and the Right to a Healthy Environment: Emerging Legal Challenges in International Governance,” bringing the environmental implications of artificial intelligence into the discussion by examining AI's water footprint alongside emerging questions concerning environmental rights and international governance.

Together, the presentations generated a broader discussion on the relationship between environmental sustainability, technological development, international regulatory frameworks, and the distribution of vulnerabilities within an increasingly interconnected global system.

Day Two: Technology, International Security and the Changing Global Order

 

The second RC35 session, held on 14 July 2026, shifted attention towards international security, technological transformation, data governance, artificial intelligence, and the evolving structure of the international order.

Fuad Aleskerov and Ana Semenova presented “Network Analysis of International Conflicts,” exploring the application of network analytical approaches to understanding patterns, relationships, and dynamics within international conflicts.

Gautami Nair presented “Technology, Data Governance and Reconfiguration of the Existing World Order,” examining how technological transformation and emerging approaches to data governance are contributing to changes in global political structures and the configuration of the contemporary international order.

Shahzaib Ali Naik presented “The Politics of AI Dependence: Technological Hegemony and the Struggle for Digital Sovereignty,” addressing one of the increasingly significant debates surrounding artificial intelligence: the relationship between technological dependence, global power asymmetries, technological hegemony, and states’ pursuit of digital sovereignty.

The second-day discussions highlighted how rapidly evolving technologies are becoming increasingly intertwined with questions of power, sovereignty, security, governance, and international political transformation.

Building Research Networks Beyond WiPS 2026

 

Taken together, the two RC35 sessions demonstrated the value of bringing diverse theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, geographical experiences, and research agendas into sustained scholarly conversation.

Importantly, the workshops extended beyond the conventional format of presenting completed research. By centring work in progress, participants were able to engage directly with developing arguments, exchange constructive feedback, identify conceptual and methodological connections across projects, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

In this respect, RC35's participation in IPSA-WiPS 2026 represented not only a successful academic event but also an important platform for strengthening international scholarly networks and creating foundations for continued research cooperation.

The diversity of topics addressed across the two sessions—from climate vulnerability and environmental governance to international conflict, data governance, artificial intelligence, technological dependence, and digital sovereignty—also reflected RC35's interdisciplinary and globally oriented research agenda at the intersection of technology and development.

The workshops further demonstrated the Committee's capacity to connect researchers working across disciplines, institutions, methodological traditions, and geographical contexts around shared global challenges.

Reflecting on the event, RC35 Chair Prof. Miguel Rocha de Sousa highlighted the productive nature of the two sessions and the timely discussions generated around international relations, technology, development, and climate change. He also expressed his appreciation to the presenters and participants whose contributions made the sessions a fruitful venue for scholarly exchange.

Looking Ahead: From Collaboration to Rome 2027

 

The successful conclusion of the RC35 workshops at IPSA-WiPS 2026 reinforces the Committee's commitment to building and sustaining an active international academic community, facilitating meaningful intellectual exchange among its members, and creating opportunities for collaborative research beyond individual conferences and workshops.

Building upon the connections established and strengthened during WiPS 2026, RC35 aims to further develop international research partnerships, collaborative publications, research networks, and new academic initiatives in the period ahead.

IPSA RC35 extends its sincere appreciation to all presenters, participants, chairs, and the IPSA community whose engagement contributed to the success of the sessions.

With the momentum generated through WiPS 2026, RC35 looks forward to continuing and expanding these scholarly exchanges and to bringing its growing international research community together again at the 28th IPSA World Congress in Rome, Italy, in July 2027.

The conversation continues—from exchanging research in progress to building lasting international academic collaboration.

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Prepared by Dr. Özlem Pınar ORAN | IPSA RC35 Member