The REL blog promotes the exchange of ideas among scholars working at the intersection of religion and international relations, broadly construed. It features commentary and analyses about ongoing and recently completed research projects, deliberations in the field, and current topics of public debate. Contributions are encouraged from colleagues, especially graduate students and early-career researchers, working across both disciplinary and international boundaries. To express interest in submitting to the REL blog, or for any questions, please contact The REL Communications Officer, Astha Chadha (astha2602@gmail.com).

Starting in autumn 2024, the REL blog will feature a series of forums to spotlight the diverse range of research being conducted in the field and inspire discussion of the pressing questions that characterize the study of religion and international relations. The first forum, to be posted in early November 2024, will feature the pathbreaking research of PhD candidates.
A winter 2025 forum will highlight new monographs in the field.
And a spring 2025 forum will continue conversations started at 2025 ISA Annual Meeting by featuring synopses of presented work in progress and the award-winning research celebrated by the section.

Calls for each forum will be issued around one month before the planned posting of submissions.

The inaugural forum of the REL blog brings into focus the groundbreaking research of current doctoral candidates. Too often we only see the end product of these multi-year projects. Yet, PhD dissertations are often tackling some of the biggest questions in the field and in innovative ways. These first significant research projects also come with inevitable challenges for which support from colleagues can prove essential. This forum, therefore, seeks to draw attention to the wide and thoughtful range of research pushing the field forward, as well as create an encouraging environment for doctoral candidates to interact with other colleagues.

Submissions from doctoral candidates are invited for posts between 500 and 700 words that (a) summarize a dissertation project and its findings and/or (b) reflect on the research process. The research detailed can be at any stage, offering reflection on how a research question was identified or a research design was developed, the challenges to conducting the research or the analysis, or discussion of the broader implications of a project.

The deadline for submissions is 25 October 2024, although colleagues are welcome to submit sooner. Submissions, as well as any questions, may be sent directly to REL Vice Chair, Jason Klocek (jason.klocek@nottingham.ac.uk).