After a successful iteration of the same conference at UCSB last year, the Center for Cold War Studies and International History at UCSB, is partnering with the London School of Economics and George Washington University to host the International Graduate Student Conference on the Cold War on May 7–9, 2026. This conference rotates annually among UCSB, LSE, and GWU. This time, it will be held at LSE.
Event Date: Thursday 7 May 2026 to Saturday 9 May 2026
Event Location: London School of Economics and Political Science
Event Contacts:
- Conference Convener – Prof Piers Ludlow
- Administrative Assistant – Dr Jeff Hawn
- Conference email: cwsih.gradconference.2026@gmail.com
The Cold War Studies Project at the Department of International History of the London
School of Economics and Political Science along with the George Washington University
Cold War Group (GWCW), the Center for Cold War Studies and International History (CCWS)
of the University of California at Santa Barbara are pleased to announce their 2026
International Graduate Student Conference on the Cold War, to take place at the London
School of Economics and Political Science, Thursday 7 May to Saturday 9 May 2026.
The conference is an excellent opportunity for graduate students to present papers and
receive critical feedback from peers and experts in the field. We encourage submissions by
graduate students working on any aspect of the Cold War, broadly defined. Of particular
interest are papers that employ newly available primary sources or non-traditional
methodologies.
To be considered, each prospective participant should submit a two-page proposal and a
brief academic c.v. (in Word or pdf format) to Jeff Hawn at:
cwsih.gradconference.2026@gmail.com by Friday February 27, 2026.
Notification of acceptance will occur by Friday 6 March 2026.
Successful applicants will be expected to email their papers (no longer than 8000 words
excluding footnotes and bibliography) by Friday 10 April 2026.
Students should not apply to the conference unless they are prepared, upon admission, to
attend the conference for its full substantive duration.