University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
June 18-21, 2026 

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Policy Statement

The Journal of Resistance Studies is an international, interdisciplinary and peer- reviewed scientific journal that explores unarmed resistance. The focus is on critical understandings of resistance strategies, discourses, tactics, effects, causes, contexts and experiences. Our aim is to advance an understanding of how resistance might undermine repression, injustices and domination of any kind, as well as how resistance might nurture autonomous subjectivity, as e.g. constructive work, alternative communities, oppositional ways of thinking. We invite journal articles or book reviews and debate contributions.

The core social phenomenon, ‘resistance’, will be covered in a broad sense, focusing on its nonmilitary articulations. The Journal aims to include analysis of all kinds of unarmed resistance, applying diverse means and techniques. Even if we do not invite analysis that primarily focuses on military means, the relationships and tensions between unarmed and armed resistance are of interest. Empirical examples will include those that combine means, and where organized violence occurs sporadically in otherwise nonviolent struggles.

There are other outlets for critical studies of wars and terror, and this journal exists in order to fill a gap and develop a neglected area: resistance by other means. We are, however, interested in critical analysis of hegemonic labeling of resistance as e.g. ‘violent’, ‘armed’ or ‘terror’.

The Journal of Resistance Studies welcomes critical reflections, evaluations, theoretical developments or more empirical based analysis. We encourage a broad and critical discussion on the possibilities, forms, and conditions, as well as problematics of ‘resistance’. We avoid dogmatic agendas and do not favor any particular framework, and encourage a debate on definitions of ‘resistance’.

Our long term ambition is to further the development of a heterodox scientific field of ‘resistance studies’, a field that critically engages with and learns from other relevant fields that discuss similar phenomena while using other key concepts, such as e.g. activism, contention, deconstruction, disengagement, disobedience, disruption, encroachment, identity politics, insurgency, mimicry, multitude, performativity, protest, queering, rebellion, refusal, riot, revolution, social movement, or other relevant concepts.

The Journal of Resistance Studies exists for those interested in how human liberation can be furthered with the help of creative innovations and mobilizations of unarmed ‘resistance’.

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submit a presentation, panel or workshop proposal, or paper for the award

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Before we get started

Thanks for considering a submission to the 'Intergalactic' Conference on Resistance Studies! Before we get started, we just want to make sure that everything is ready.

The Call for Papers for the Conference is open to both academics and other people who implement resistance through activism, art, community, everyday efforts, and much more. All submissions, not matter your background, should:

  • Have a clear focus on 'resistance' and how resistance influences power relations
  • Contribute to our theoretical understanding of resistance; if you are not from an academic background, we still expect you to articulate coherently how your presentation or proposal contributes to our understanding and practice of resistance, for example, how you sharing your knowledge could help or enrich other activists or researchers

We are open to a wide diversity of worldviews and creative ways of presenting and engaging with resistance, whether drawing from literature, personal experience, cultural understandings or more.

For academic submission, it would be helpful for you to check out our policy statement.

If you have ready, we look forward to reading your submission. Let's go!

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Note: Full paper submissions will be required to be considered for publication. Deadline for full paper submission is May 1st, 2026.

Uploading your full text is optional, except if you are applying for the Award. For all other applicants, you will have the opportunity do upload a full paper later if you wish, by 1st May 2026.

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Panel Proposals

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We might suggest additional presenters to join your panel, who might be from academic or non academic backgrounds.

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Workshop Proposals

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Join the Resistance Studies Community

Are you a researcher or activist interested in nonviolent resistance?

We’re building a community of scholars, activists, and thinkers dedicated to understanding and advancing nonviolent resistance through research and action.

By subscribing to our mailing list, you will:

  • Stay updated on new research and articles that push the conversation forward.
  • Be notified of open calls for papers and get reminders about dates and deadlines.
  • Connect with a growing network of people who, like you, are committed to making a difference.

Our vision is to build a space for collaboration and collective growth. We are interested in hearing from you, learn about new perspectives, think about opportunities for more join initiatives and creative ideas to advance nonviolent resistance. All of this can be possible if we keep in touch with likeminded thinkers.

 Let’s build this movement together.

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Before we get started

Thanks for considering a submission to the Journal of Resistance Studies! Before we get started, we just want to make sure that everything is ready. JRS receives more submissions than we can publish. As a journal for a relatively new academic field, it is important for us to publish texts that contribute to developing 'Resistance Studies' with theoretical ideas, high quality empirical material, interesting analysis, and/or cases from a wide spectra of societal contexts.

Does your article:

  • Have a clear focus on 'resistance' and how resistance influences power relations?
  • Contribute to our theoretical understanding of resistance, or is a better fit for the sociology of social movement field?
  • Include an abstract, citations, and a reference list?
  • Does it follow the guidelines in our policy statement?

If you have answered yes to these questions, we look forward to reading your submission. Let's go!

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