Image: Richard Barltrop
Call for Papers
Yemen has had a short history as a unified state since unification in 1990, and as a fragmented state since the escalation of war in 2014-15. Since the start of this war, the prevailing international and United Nations vision for a peace process for Yemen has been of a ceasefire, a Yemeni-led “political process” of talks, and a future unified government and state. The truce since April 2022 – at first formal, and then informal – has been a positive step in reducing conflict. But a clear end to war, such as an effective permanent ceasefire, has not been reached, and a process of Yemeni-led peace talks such as envisaged by the internationally-mediated peace process has remained distant.
What does Yemen’s political, economic and social history and experience, since unification and before, tell us about what is realistic for the coming decade and beyond?
This workshop will provide an opportunity to develop answers to this question through exploring topics within four main themes: peace, governance, economy and society.
Proposals for papers to be presented at the workshop are invited on any aspect within these themes, for example:
- Peace: Yemeni, UN, regional and Western approaches to peacemaking, mediation and peacebuilding in Yemen
- Governance: the Sana’a-based government, the internationally recognised government, political parties, Southern Yemen, local governance
- Economy: the reported and actual economies, international and Yemeni humanitarian and development aid, environmental issues
- Society: culture, education, gender, ideology and religion
Preference will be given to papers that include consideration of what the past and present in Yemen imply about what is realistic for a better future. Through bringing together papers that contribute to answering the question above, the workshop will aim to have a strong relevance for policy – be that Yemeni or international policy.
The workshop will be cross-disciplinary and proposals that are within a single field or are interdisciplinary will be equally considered. Papers from Yemeni researchers in Yemen will be welcomed. The workshop will be in-person, with the possibility of online participation for those unable to attend in person.
There will be a limited travel fund available with priority going to those without access to institutional funding. Please state in your submission whether you would like to be considered for the travel fund. The funding will be administered as a reimbursement following the workshop.
Download the call for papers
Submission guidelines
Please send your proposed paper title, a 300-word abstract and a short bio by Monday 2 December to Mec.events@lse.ac.uk.
Please use the title of the workshop as the subject line of the e-mail.
Proposals should aim to lead to papers of 4,000-6,000 words length. The workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to present and discuss draft or complete papers in panels arranged by theme or otherwise as effective. Potential outlets for publication of papers will be discussed with participants at the workshop.
If you require any further information or additional assistance, please contact Nadine Almanasfi mec.events@lse.ac.uk.
This workshop has been organised by Dr Richard Barltrop, Visiting Senior Fellow at the LSE Middle East Centre.