The following types of proposal are welcomed at CESS conferences. Click the links to find out more about each type and the information required when submitting a proposal.

Open Panels

This year, CESS is running a two-stage call, where alongside the call for pre-organized (or closed) panels and other formats, colleagues may propose open panels. An open panel is a title and abstract for a possible panel – a suggestion as to a perspective/topic that possible papers could centre around. Those proposing an open panel need not have pre-populated their panel with set contributors (as with closed panels). Rather, open panels accepted by the Conference Committee will be listed on the site and at the Call for Papers stage, those wishing to propose individual papers will be encouraged to first look at the open panels to see whether their work could be angled towards an open panel. Such papers will be proposed directly via the website to the open panels, whose convenors will decide which to accept. 

As not all colleagues’ work will necessarily fit such open panels, there will remain an opportunity to propose a stand-alone individual paper which the Conference Committee may organize into sessions. However, the Committee strongly urges authors to see if they can fit their work into an existing open panel.

Individual Papers

Individual paper presenters are papers that are written by one author or a group of authors working together. If your paper is co-authored, please also read the rules about participation limits. If accepted, they are included in a panel with a total of 3-4 papers. The CESS Conference Committee assembles accepted papers into panels under a common theme, and arranges to have a Chair and Discussant for the panel.

When submitting, you will first need to choose the theme that is most appropriate for your paper. A list of these will be displayed in the submission system. You will then need to enter your contact data, a paper title, and type or paste in an abstract (250-400 words). Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Individual paper submissions are only accepted in English.

You may find our guidelines for writing abstracts helpful.

Pre-Organized Panels

A pre-organized panel is comprised of 3-4 presenters, a Chair, and a Discussant. The panel is unified by a commonality or interrelatedness between the papers of the presenters. The Chair and Discussant should not also be presenters. We strongly encourage panels that are comparative across regions, that demonstrate different disciplinary approaches to a common theme, and which are comprised of presenters from a range of institutions.

This is a multi-step submission process. Do not leave your submission until the last minute!

Pre-organized panel proposals are initially submitted by one person who is designated the Panel convener. The convener must submit: their contact information; a proposed panel title; the names (with institutions) of the proposed Chair and Discussant; an abstract (250-400 words) explaining the rationale for the panel and how the papers are interrelated; and a discipline/theme (selected from a list) most appropriate for the panel.

Once the proposal is submitted, the convener will be automatically emailed a confirmation within which is a weblink for paper proposals. The convenor must share this with the panel’s presenters so that each can enter their contact information, paper title and abstract (250-400 words). The panel convenor will receive notifications of each paper submission to their panel. It is the responsibility of the convenor to ensure that the presenters upload their information by the deadline.

Panel submissions lacking individual abstracts or other key information will not be considered. Panels that lack a proposed Chair or Discussant may be considered, but the strongest consideration will be given to complete panel submissions.

For regional conferences: If one or more pre-organized panel presenters wish to present in a language other than English, the convener should indicate the proposed language of presentation in the panel abstract. Abstracts submitted in another language should be accompanied by an English language translation or summary (see also: CESS Conference Language Policy).

If a panelist withdraws from a pre-organized panel, the CESS Conference Committee may place another presenter on the panel. We will try to communicate with the organizer to ensure the acceptability of the fit, but this may not be possible when withdrawals occur late in the planning process.

Scholarship-in-Progress

This category highlights emerging academic work and offers spaces for constructive feedback and scholarly exchange. It includes:

Author-Critic Forums
These sessions feature recently published books, inviting critical engagement from a panel of discussants and the author. They provide an opportunity to reflect on the book’s contributions and stimulate dialogue across disciplines.

Book-in-Progress Panels
Designed for authors working on book manuscripts, these panels bring together up to four peer reviewers and one or two authors to discuss early-stage projects. Open to recent PhD graduates turning dissertations into books, editors developing volumes, and other scholars seeking input on their work. Discussions are confidential and subject to a strict no-disclosure policy without the author’s consent.

Submission Guidelines:

Authors must commit to participating and share their drafts with panelists in advance.

A convener must submit the proposal and include the following:
Contact information
Working title(s) and author(s)
A 250–400 word description outlining the project’s relevance to Central Eurasian Studies and the panelists’ suitability
Selected theme/discipline (from a provided list)

After submission, the convener will receive a confirmation email with a link to be shared with panelists for them to upload their contact information.
The convener is responsible for ensuring all required materials are submitted before the deadline.
Note: This is a multi-step process—early submissions are strongly encouraged.

Events-in-Progress

This category focuses on the evolving political, social, economic, and cultural dynamics within the Central Eurasian region. Panels in this stream are intended to explore current developments through timely analysis and discussion. Submissions may address a wide range of contemporary issues, encouraging cross-disciplinary insights and engagement with real-time events shaping the region.

Submission Guidelines:

A convener must submit the proposal and include the following:
Contact information
Working title(s) and author(s)
A 250–400 word description outlining the project’s relevance to Central Eurasian Studies and the panelists’ suitability
Selected theme/discipline (from a provided list)

After submission, the convener will receive a confirmation email with a link to be shared with panelists for them to upload their contact information.
The convener is responsible for ensuring all required materials are submitted before the deadline.

Note: This is a multi-step process—early submissions are strongly encouraged.

Roundtables

Roundtables serve as key discussion formats in Central Eurasian Studies. A roundtable consists of a moderator and 4-6 commentators who discuss a well-defined theme, such as recent developments in the field or theoretical advancements. Commentators share perspectives rather than research findings, with initial remarks lasting 5-7 minutes before the discussion opens to audience participation.

A roundtable may be an author-critic forum, which brings together three or four critics to discuss a recently published book expected to have a significant impact on Central Eurasian Studies. Each critic presents for 10-12 minutes, followed by a response from the book’s author. A chair moderates the discussion, ensuring a balanced exchange between the critics, author, and audience. Before submitting a forum proposal, the author must commit to participation, and they may arrange for critics to receive copies of the book in advance.

Roundtable proposals require a multi-step submission process. A designated convener must submit their contact details, the session title, an abstract (250-400 words), and a relevant theme from a provided list. Upon submission, the convener receives an email with a confirmation link, which they must share with the proposed participants to complete their submissions. Conveners are responsible for ensuring all participants upload their information before the deadline. Early submission is strongly advised.

Workshops

Workshops offer training-type interactive sessions for conference delegates. They take place during the course of the Annual Conference programming. Workshops in the past have addressed such matters as publishing, field research, ethics, or working with the media. We are open to suggestions of new directions and new formats, and we will be keen to support well-justified proposals that attempt objectives that have not been tried before.

Note: This is a multi-step process—early submissions are strongly encouraged.

Workshop proposals should be submitted by one person representing the group, the convener. The convener enters their contact data, the Workshop title, types or copy-pastes in a description of the aims and intended outcomes of the workshop and its relevance to CESS conference participants (250-400 words), and then selects the theme that is most appropriate for the Workshop. Once the proposal is submitted, the convener will be automatically emailed a confirmation containing a weblink. The convenor must share this link with the proposed participants so that each can add their own contact information. The convenor will receive a notification for each submission. It is the responsibility of the convenor to ensure that the participants upload their information by the deadline.