Call for Papers

Many of the most pressing contemporary problems are structural in nature. Homelessness, global poverty, climate change, sweatshop labor, white supremacy, and gender-based oppression cannot be reduced solely to the wrongful acts of identifiable agents. Rather, these problems stem from social processes, norms, and institutional arrangements with complex histories. To properly understand and address them, structural factors need to be at the center of analysis.

This conviction has given rise to an influential field of scholarship that can be called structural injustice theory. Structural injustice theorists typically draw on Iris Marion Young’s late work, though the framework has been substantially developed and fruitfully applied across disciplines in recent decades. The problems that motivated the emergence of this field are arguably more pressing than ever, and many of the central theoretical debates remain open and unsettled.

This workshop invites contributions to these ongoing debates about structural injustice and responsibility. It is open to scholars across disciplines working on topics broadly related to oppression and domination. We welcome early-career researchers (PhD candidates and postdocs) interested in discussing their work in an inclusive environment, as well as in giving feedback and engaging with others’ work.

To apply, please submit an abstract of maximum 500 words by September 20, 2026. Accepted participants will be asked to circulate a longer piece of writing in advance, ideally a work in progress (e.g., a draft article, chapter, or extended abstract), to help focus discussion. Participation is free of charge. The workshop will be held in person at Université de Montréal on October 22, 2026. 

For questions and submissions, please contact the organizers: Ellena Thibaud-Latour (ellena.thibaud-latour@umontreal.ca) and Vojtěch Svěrák (v.sverak@rug.nl).