Registrations are open! Submissions for oral presentations or panels are closed. The deadline for submitting an abstract for poster presentations is April 30th. 

 Call for papers 2024

We are delighted to announce the Joint Conference of the East Asian Social Policy Network (EASP) and the Foundation for International Studies of Social Security (FISS) in Kyoto, Japan.

Conference Theme: Best Practices of Social Policy in Turbulent Times

In turbulent times, good social policies are crucial as we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent inflation crisis.  Now, we face multiple armed conflicts and their consequences such as rising energy and food prices, growing migration flows, and increasing animosity between nations.  Such challenges affect not only those in the conflict region but the entire world population.  Furthermore, global warming and other ecological deterioration have reached a critical juncture, posing a threat to our everyday lives through the increased risk of natural disasters, and the need to accelerate the green transition irrespective of one’s location.  

In these turbulent times, international organizations, governments, NGOs, and individuals face the challenge of modifying and adapting interventions and practices, while also expanding and deepening values and policies.  Many new practices emerged in the recent past. Governments, for example, modified public assistance systems or created new programmes to protect those who lost jobs during the pandemic. However, these experiences are not widely shared nor are their impacts adequately analysed. The conference is expected to bring together research which provides insights into such experiences and analysis.

The conference represents a unique opportunity for researchers and practitioners, especially in Europe and East Asia, but also in other parts of the world to convene, share, and discuss their research findings.  Presentations or panels covering all aspects of social policy or social security, in addition to the conference theme, are invited. Comparative analysis, as well as detailed local, national, and international case studies in Europe, East Asia, and other parts of the world, are welcome.  Postgraduate students and early career researchers are encouraged to apply.

The conference comprises the following streams:

Welfare States & Welfare Regimes

Social Security & Social Justice

Migration, Social Rights & Citizenship Stratification

Health & Human Well-being

Families, Children and Care

Poverty, Inequality & Social Inclusion

Education & Vocational Training

Ageing & Pensions

Labour Markets & Employment

Housing & Urbanization

Gender Inequality & Social Policy

Social services & Social work

Sustainable Development & Social Protection

The venue of the 2024 conference is the Kyoto International Conference Center which is located a mere 20 minutes subway ride from the centre of the ancient capital, Kyoto, yet surrounded by a pond and greenery.  It is the first time for FISS and only the second time for EASP that their annual conference is held in Japan. A five-star hotel (The Prince Hotel Takaragaike) is located adjacent to the Conference Center and accommodations in various price ranges can be found within a short subway ride. 

Those wishing to present a paper at the conference should submit a 250-word abstract through the online submission system by 31 March 2024. Information enclosed with your abstract should include stream number, title of paper; author name(s); institution; status; email address; affiliation (EASP/FISS/Both); and whether you would prefer an oral presentation or a poster presentation.  The abstract submission rules will be communicated more in detail soon. 

We also welcome panel proposals which address vital and relevant issues to this year’s theme. Those wishing to organise a panel should submit a panel proposal that includes the title and objective of the panel (250 words), the details of panel organiser(s), and of all participating members, along with abstracts of three or four papers. 

 Submit an abstract or panel proposal here.

Important dates:
Submission of Paper Abstracts: 31 March 2024
Notification of acceptance: 1 April to 30 April 2024

Poster presentation application: 30 April 2024
Early bird registration:  29 February 2024

Registration: 31 May 2024

Register here.

Registration Fees: 

Standard: 40,000 Japanese Yen (about 250.00 EURO)   

Students: 24,000 Japanese Yen (about 150.00 EURO)

Early Bird:

Standard: 35,000 Japanese Yen (about 220.00 EURO)

Students: 16,000 Japanese Yen (about 100.00 EURO)

The fee covers lunches on both days, dinner on the first day, and coffee.  Accommodations are not included.  Accommodation arrangements should be made independently.  Special discount rate is available for the Prince Hotel Takaragaike which is located adjacent to the venue, but there are many accommodation options in various price ranges throughout Kyoto.

Further details about the conference program will be announced shortly. For any queries, please contact the Organising Committee at easp.fiss.2024@gmail.com

Bingquin Li  (EASP Chair of the Board) and Bea Cantillon (FISS Secretary-General)

The Foundation for International Studies on Social Security (FISS) is an international, non-profit association that aims to promote international, multidisciplinary research on social security, including its relationships with other aspects of society