MAJOR CONFERENCE:
SOCIETIES UNDER STRESS
28 July – 30 July 2027
Face to Face Conference at The University of Sussex
The Royal Anthropological Institute is delighted to announce their next major conference that will take place at the University of Sussex, 28 to 30 July 2027. The theme of the conference is Societies Under Stress.
The conference will be face to face only. However, in order to have as wide a possible a discussion as possible, we will be running a series of virtual events beforehand. These will be recorded and placed on our website in order to ensure their wide dissemination.
We are entering into an era which appears to be unprecedented in terms of the multiple stresses, whether from famine, economic decline, war, health or climate that countries and often whole groups of countries and their respective societies are exposed to. We hope to encourage a cross-disciplinary dialogue with institutions and departments that have an interest in discussing these pressing questions together. We welcome panels which treat broadly the way that anthropologists and others may study societies under stress: the way that they may react unexpectedly, what happens to human relations, social organisation, and human cultures in such contexts.
There is likewise a pressing need to understand better how, why and with what justification humanitarian intervention may take place. In a rapidly changing world, how do we care for each other locally, nationally and transnationally? Recent fundamental changes in the readiness with which international actions are funded, as well as a deeper appreciation of the complexity of relations between the donor and beneficiaries appear to have given rise to a reticence but with what consequences?
Without in any way wishing to restrict themes that might be covered, proposals would be particular welcome which offer topics in the following areas aimed at stimulating discussion
How can case studies based on anthropological fieldwork help us understand the consequences of stress on communities?
How can we develop capacity to understand better what happens in human societies during times of economic contraction; with loss of population; with conflict, often with all these occurring at the same time?
How do societies cope with pandemics or with threats due to climate change?
How can societies continue to help one another through humanitarian actions, even as our basic categories (legal and otherwise) of international assistance are being rethought?
How can we study changes in culture, including material culture, in societies under extreme stress, such as displacement or dispersal?
How can we understand resilience better? How may societies recover from unusual stress?
How can we understand better the changing international and transnational frameworks that are aimed at alleviating localised stress?
A panel may consist of conventional paper presentations, or consist of a round-table or workshop. It may include also explorations of film or other multi-modal presentations.
The conference will be in person, with virtual events taking place before hand in order to enable a preliminary discussion of the conference’s themes, and also hear from those who are unable to attend in person to be part of its discussions.
Further details, and the conference fee, will be placed in due course on the conference’s webpages on the RAI website.
Inquiries
Inquiries may be addressed to [email protected]
CONFERENCE SUMMARY DETAILS
DATES: 28 July – 30 July 2027
LOCATION: University of Sussex
CONFERENCE TYPE: In person
IMPORTANT DATES:
Call for Panels opens on 30 September 2026 and closes on 1 December 2026
Call for Papers opens on 14 December 2026 and closes on 1 March 2027
Registration opens on 15 March 2027
CONFERENCE FEES:
RAI Fellows: £295
RAI Members: £360
Non-members: £390
Concessions (students; unemployed; retired persons): £200
Delegates with low income from low income countries: £150 (https://g2lm-lic.iza.org/call-phase-iv/list-of-lic/)
- All fees include a light lunch
- Conference Delegates will benefit from a reduced rate.