Call for Papers: 2026 Asian Law and Society Association (ALSA) Annual Meeting, Hsinchu, Taiwan
School of Law, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan (with the Asian Law and Society Association).About the Conference
The 2026 Asian Law and Society Association (ALSA) Annual Meeting will be hosted by the School of Law, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on 5-6 December 2026, with an Early Career/Junior Scholars Workshop on 4 December 2026. The meeting brings together socio-legal scholars from across Asia and beyond, and invites submissions exploring how legal institutions adapt amid global uncertainty.
Theme: Law and Resilience — Sustainability, Equity, and Technology Governance
The conference theme focuses on three interconnected dimensions:
- Technology Governance: forward-looking frameworks addressing AI, algorithmic decision-making, and digital ethics.
- Social Justice: law and technology as tools for inclusion, examining marginalised communities, indigenous rights, gender equality, and labour justice.
- Environmental Responsibility: climate justice, sustainable urban governance, and intergenerational well-being.
Beyond the central theme, submissions addressing law-society relationships within Asian contexts more broadly are welcome.
Submission Categories
- Individual Papers: a 300-word abstract outlining the research question, methodology, and principal argument, along with author information, paper title, and 3-5 keywords.
- Paper Panels: fully integrated panels unified by a specific theme, with organiser and chair details and a minimum of 3-4 papers, each with an approximately 300-word abstract.
- Junior Scholars Workshop: doctoral candidates and early-career researchers may select this option during the submission process; the workshop takes place on 4 December 2026 at the NYCU Guangfu Campus and is free for accepted participants.
- Author Meets Readers Book Panels: for recent monographs published from 1 October 2025 onward; proposals (with panel organiser, author(s), chair, and 3-4 commentators) go directly to lawconf@nycu.edu.tw.
How to Submit
Abstracts must be submitted through the official online portal by 24:00 on 3 July 2026. Acceptance notifications will be issued by 24 July 2026. Author Meets Readers book panel proposals are submitted by email to lawconf@nycu.edu.tw.
Registration Fees
Abstract submission is free; accepted presenters must register to participate. Registration opens on 5 August 2026 and closes on 30 September 2026 (all fees in USD):
- ALSA members: USD 180 early bird (5-31 August) / USD 260 regular (1-30 September).
- Non-members: USD 220 early bird / USD 325 regular.
- Full-time students: USD 90 (ALSA members) or USD 120 (non-members) in both periods.
- Junior Scholars Workshop: free for accepted participants.
The fee covers all sessions, the reception dinner on 5 December, shuttle service between Hsinchu HSR Station, Ho Hotel, and the NYCU Chiaotung Campus, the conference package, and tea breaks and lunch on 5 and 6 December. Attendees bear their own travel and accommodation costs. Cancellation/refund requests are accepted until 1 November 2026, with a maximum refund of 50% of the registration fee.