Liberation Theologies Unit

Decolonizing “Internationalism:” Impoverishing the Nations (Possibly June Session)
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the formation of the United Nations, and the beginning of global conflicts often framed as the “Cold War.” The Liberation Theologies Unit and the Religion and Peace Unit of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) invite proposals for a special panel that examines the complex relationships between international organizations, Western conceptions of global peace, and the rising intra- and extra-state conflicts over the past eight decades. We particularly welcome proposals that explore the role of religion in both fueling these conflicts and offering alternatives to violence and oppression.

We invite submissions for both the June online meeting and the November in-person meeting in Boston. To foster inclusivity, we may prioritize international scholars who are typically unable to attend the in-person meeting for the June session, while reserving space in November for our usual constituencies.

Proposals may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Unjust peace and the role of international organizations.
• Pacification plans from above that failed.
• "The North is Cold because the South is Hot": Cold War lessons from Global South/East perspectives.
• International networks of repression in the Global South.
• Why do Western democracies support non-Western autocracies?
• Are we living through a new red scare?
• The Spirit of Bandung as an international network today.