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1. Objectives

Selection of up to five (5) contributions for the Virtual Encyclopaedia on Peace and Conflict Studies and the TRAFO-Blog for Transregional Research, with a thematic focus on methodological innovations and alternative formats of knowledge production and circulation. The call has two central objectives: 

1. To expand the focus of Peace and Conflict Studies, particularly the foregrounding of contributions based on critical perspectives, such as feminist debates, postcolonial theory and decolonial thought, through the support and promotion of works that will be incorporated as part of the entries of the Virtual Encyclopaedia on Peace and Conflict Studies (https://rewritingpeaceandconflict.net/) and within a thematic series in the TRAFO ‒ Blog for Transregional Research (https://trafo.hypotheses.org/).

2. To promote the participation of researchers and activists from the Global South in the debates of the field. Early career stage researchers and co-authorship between researchers from different regions are particularly welcomed/prioritised. Likewise, contributions based on co-production processes between academics and other actors or organisations are especially welcome.

2. Background

Despite their growing diversity in theoretical and methodological approaches, peace and conflict studies remain marked by their colonial roots and trajectory. Critical views, including those inspired by postcolonial theory and decolonial thought, have pointed out that the epistemological and ontological bases of theory and practice in the field are underpinned by Eurocentric and Western assumptions rooted in colonial power structures. This constitutes a fundamental problem that not only limits and often distorts the understanding of peace, conflict and violence, but also contributes to the reproduction of the structures that underlie different forms of violence and exclusion. A central feature of coloniality in the field is manifested in the marginalisation of non-Western and indigenous epistemologies and worldviews in the dominant dynamics of knowledge production.

Against this backdrop, the Virtual Encyclopaedia is an open access platform offering an interdisciplinary collection of theoretical and conceptual debates, empirical analyses and reflections on methods and knowledge production in peace and conflict studies from critical approaches. Rather than univocal and generalising definitions, the Virtual Encyclopaedia seeks to provide readers with the necessary tools to critically approach peace and conflict studies. Based on a commitment to the critique of coloniality of knowledge and its effects on Peace and Conflict Studies, the Virtual Encyclopaedia seeks to challenge epistemic hierarchies and inequalities through the promotion and inclusion of multiple and diverse voices (in terms of disciplines, regions and professional stages) and plural perspectives, as well as the promotion of cooperative networks.
 

The TRAFO ‒ Blog serves as a discussion, information and publication platform for scholars, who are interested in transregional research and exchange. It presents questions, viewpoints and preliminary results of contemporary research and inquiry on specific issues from and on different areas and disciplines in a transregional framework. TRAFO is an acronym for “Transregionale Forschung”, but has also another meaning in German: a “Trafo” is a transformer station, alluding to the translation work and mediation function of the Forum Transregionale Studien and the Max Weber Foundation, which have been jointly issuing the TRAFO ‒ Blog since 2013.

3. Rules

1. Applicant Profile

   The call is aimed at researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, activists, social movements, collectives, artists and professionals from and/or based in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Contributions of individual or collective authorship related to the theme of the call will be accepted.

2. Benefits and responsibilities of selected individuals/groups

   Up to five (5) contribution proposals (entries) will be selected and will be recipients of:

   1. Support and advice from the work teams from the Virtual Encyclopaedia and the TRAFO ‒ Blog work teams during the process of elaboration of the contribution.

   2. Publication of selected contributions on digital platforms as entries in the Virtual Encyclopaedia on Peace and Conflict Studies and as articles in the TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research. Each text will be copy-edited, open access, and assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI).

3. Responsibilities of the selected persons/groups
   To deliver the drafts and final version of the corresponding text in due time and form. Texts must follow the criteria established in the guidelines for authors (see point 3.4.).

   1. Each text must be accompanied by an illustration or photograph proposal with clarified copyright.
       

   2. The authors should provide a short-biography and portrait for the Contributor’s page of the Virtual Encyclopaedia.

4. Characteristics of Contributions (Entries)
   The entries constitute the central unit of the Virtual Encyclopaedia. In addition to the alphabetical organisation, the entries are classified into two interrelated groups: "Theoretical and conceptual debates" and "Methods, knowledge production and dissemination".
   Encyclopaedia entries may include text, video, audio, images, illustrations, empirical examples, vignettes or music. Entries may include a variety of writing formats, for example, interviews or storytelling. Each entry should include references to other materials and suggestions for further reading. Entries should be concise and clearly related to the focus of the Encyclopaedia. They should be no longer than 2,500 words, excluding the heading, abstract, and references.

   1. Types of Entries
      The Encyclopaedia contains two types of entries:

      1. Conceptual/Theoretical: This type of entry focuses on key concepts and theories in the field of peace and conflict studies, as well as those relevant from postcolonial and decolonial perspectives. Some of the possible ways of structuring the central aim and contribution of an entry may be: offering a critique/deconstruction of existing approaches from postcolonial and decolonial perspectives, tracing the genealogy and trajectory/s of specific concepts, or proposing new conceptualisations or theoretical approaches. The entry should offer a good balance between in-depth analysis and conciseness. The expected length for conceptual/theoretical entries is 1,500-2,500 words (not including header, extended abstract, references, and suggested additional material).

      2. Empirically oriented: This type of entry critiques or illustrates a concept, theoretical approach, practices, or method based on an empirical analysis/case. Empirical entries may be diverse regarding the methodological approach, with both quantitative and qualitative research, as well as in writing styles (e.g., vignettes and storytelling). Although the empirical aspect is crucial in this type of entries, the intent is not to be a research report. Therefore, the author(s) should be explicit about the concept, theory, or method addressed in the entry and the relevance and connection of the empirical analysis/case(s). Empirical entries should not exceed 2,500 words (not including the heading, extended abstract, references, and suggested additional material).

   2. Entries’ structure
      All entries should follow a similar structure without being overly rigid, starting with the title and affiliation of the author(s). The entire entry should be structured with coherent subheadings, ending with the corresponding references. The use of tabular material, figures and other visual materials, such as videos and images, is encouraged. Entries should be organised as follows:  

      1. Title (Concrete and concise. The concept in the case of conceptually/theoretically oriented entries, and the concept and a few words about the empirical approach for empirically oriented entries).

      2. Author(s) information: Name(s) and e-mail address of author(s) (and co-author(s), institution(s), city, country and a short biography.

      3. Heading (50-100 words): Text that indicates the central content or argument of the entry. It should serve as a kind of "teaser", that is, a brief text intended to arouse the interest of the readers.

      4. Extended abstract (300-500 words), including the definition of the concept (when possible), an overview of the argument (and, if necessary, an empirical analysis). Extended abstracts should contain all relevant aspects covered in the entry and be written in a way that is understandable to audiences outside the academic community.

      5. Key words (5-6)

      6. Introduction (optional)

      7. Main text with headings and subheadings

      8. Conclusion (optional)

      9. References

      10. Cross references

      11. Further reading (optional)

      12. Each entry will include a visual element — photographs, drawings, or artwork — to accompany the text.

5. Characteristics of the proposals

   Each person/group may only participate with one proposal in this call for proposals. Proposals of individual or collective authorship must be related to the topics and focus of this call. Each proposal must contain: 

   1. Personal, academic and professional data (as the case may be) of the persons/groups/collectives participating in the proposal.

   2. Title of the project (concept or theme to be worked on in the entry).

   3. Summary (max. 500 words).

   4. Justification of the proposed concept/topic in light of the thematical approach of the call (200 words).

   5. Writing format and, if necessary, graphic or multimedia material to be included.

   6. Bibliography.

6. Criteria for the selection of proposals

   1. In a first stage the submitted proposals will be reviewed in their formal aspects in order to verify their compliance with the rules of the Call for Proposals. Proposals that do not comply with the established requirements will be rejected.

   2. Proposals that reach the next stage will be evaluated by a committee made up of the institutions involved, which will assess the quality and relevance of the proposals submitted and whose decision will be final. The evaluation and selection process for this call will consider gender equity and diversity of regional and thematic representation. Likewise, we emphasise that priority will be given to proposals based on co-production formats between academics and activists, as well as those coming from social movements and collectives.

   The Call for Proposals may be declared void or a smaller number of beneficiaries may be selected, in the event that the proposals submitted do not meet the quantity or quality requirements. Situations not foreseen in the present document will be resolved by the convening institutions.

    

7. Registration Procedure
   The application must be submitted through the online form. Printed submissions or submissions sent by e-mail will not be accepted. Applications that do not comply with the established guidelines will be technically rejected.

   1. Go to the registration form at https://rewritingpeaceandconflict.net/call-miasa-trafo/

   2. Complete the registration form. It is necessary to fill in the required data and attach the required files (in PDF format)

4. Timetable  

Call opening: 01.06.2026

Closing date for applications: 15.08.2026

Announcement of selected contributions: 30.08.2026

Delivery of initial drafts of entries: 31.10.2026

Peer review and comment process: November 2026

Submission of final versions: January 2027

Publication of contributions: January-February 2027