Call for Papers: AI, Technology, and Small States - 11th Small States Conference 2026 by ISMS and BIICL, London
Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS) and British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL).About the Conference
The Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS) and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) invite submissions for the 11th Small States Conference, to be held on 9 November 2026 at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law in London. The theme for this edition is AI, Technology, and Small States: Opportunities and Challenges.
The conference will explore the rapidly evolving relationship between small states, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, examining both the transformative possibilities and the structural risks that technological change presents for small states across legal, political, economic, social and security domains.
About the Organisers
The British Institute of International and Comparative Law is one of the world's leading independent research institutes in international and comparative law, based at Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London. It is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (No. 615025) and a registered charity (No. 209425), and it publishes the International and Comparative Law Quarterly.
The Institute of Small and Micro States is the co-organiser of the Small States Conference series, which reaches its eleventh edition in 2026.
Focus of the 2026 Edition
For small states, technology may offer unprecedented opportunities: enhanced access to markets, more efficient public administration, improved service delivery, strengthened participation in global governance, and new pathways for innovation and resilience.
At the same time, the accelerating development and deployment of AI and related technologies may deepen existing vulnerabilities, including regulatory dependence, digital colonialism, cyber insecurity, disinformation, labour displacement, infrastructural fragility, and exclusion from standard-setting processes.
The conference aims to bring together scholars, policymakers and practitioners to reflect critically on the role of AI and technology in shaping the futures of small states. Interdisciplinary contributions are particularly welcome from law, political science, international relations, economics, development studies, public policy, sociology, technology studies and related fields.
Possible Themes
Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- AI governance and the position of small states in global norm-setting
- The regulatory capacity of small states in the face of rapid technological change
- Data governance, digital sovereignty, and informational self-determination
- Cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and digital infrastructure in small states
- AI, public administration, and the delivery of public services
- Technology and democratic resilience, including disinformation and electoral integrity
- Digital trade, innovation ecosystems, and economic development in small states
- AI and access to justice
- Labour markets, education, and technological disruption including platform workers
- Climate technology, environmental governance, and sustainability
- Migration, borders, and digital identity systems
- Human rights implications of AI deployment in small-state contexts
- Digital dependence, platform power, and technological asymmetries
- Small states and international cooperation on AI regulation
- Comparative perspectives across countries, regions and sectors
- Case studies highlighting local, national, or regional responses
The organisers also welcome contributions that engage critically with the framing of "opportunities and challenges", including papers that challenge dominant assumptions about technological progress, neutrality or inevitability.
Who Can Submit
The call is open to scholars, policymakers and practitioners working on the conference themes. The organisers warmly encourage submissions from early career researchers, scholars based in small states, and those working across disciplinary boundaries.
The call states no nationality or institutional restriction, so academics and practitioners based in India and elsewhere outside the United Kingdom may submit.
Submission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following:
- An abstract of up to 500 words
- A short biography of no more than 150 words
- Institutional affiliation and contact details
Submissions should be sent by email to Dr Jean-Pierre Gauci (j.gauci@biicl.org) and Professor Petra Butler (petra.butler@canterbury.ac.nz), with Abstract - Small States Conference 2026 in the subject line.
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadline: 31 August 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 10 September 2026
- Conference date: 9 November 2026
Mode, Venue and Fee
The conference will be held in person at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JP, United Kingdom. The listing shows the timing as to be confirmed.
No fee is charged for submitting an abstract. The call does not state any conference registration fee, travel funding or bursary. Prospective participants should confirm those points with the organisers before making travel plans.