The Society for Terrorism Research the Australian National University (ANU)'s Centre for Social Policy Research (POLIS) are pleased to announce the call for papers for the 18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research at the Coogee Bay Hotel (Sydney, Australia) between December 09–11, 2026.

From the enduring impacts of the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas; the persistence of white supremacist mass casualty plots that target ethnic and religious minorities and the LGBTQI+ community; the extension of terrorism designations to actors that had previously avoided the terrorism label, such as protest groups and drug cartels; assassinations of high profile targets; state-backed sabotage operations in Ukraine; Islamic State's renewed focus on Jewish and Christian targets; and the continued threat of al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates across Africa, particularly in the Sahel; to the increasing involvement of youth in violent extremism; the overlap between terrorism and other types of targeted violence; the emergence of Nihilistic Violent Extremist ecosystems; increased evidence of terrorist use of AI; and synthetic terrorist actors engaging in a campaigns of antisemitic violence, terrorism continues its evolution.

As changes in the national and international security ecosystem continue apace, we encourage the submission of proposals that wrestle with the concept of "continuity and change in the character of terrorism," as well as the subsequent requirement for potential changes in counter terrorism and preventing/countering violent extremism concepts, policies, and practices. We challenge conference presenters to engage with the concept of changes in the profiles, motivations, actors, tactics, ideologies, organisational dynamics, geographies, and strategies of terrorism; as well as the changing demands this potentially places on counter terrorism and preventing/countering violent extremism policies and practice, and research. Terrorism has never been a static phenomenon but as new technologies, changing socio-political contexts, and new and renewed grievances inform the context in which terrorism occurs, its character is potentially changing. All these changes, both to terrorism and extremism itself, and to CT and P/CVE, necessarily have implications for research, as much as they do for policy and practice.

We look forward to submissions from both emerging and established scholars. Additionally, we encourage submissions that engage with these topics from both scholarly and applied perspectives, and encourage submissions from practitioners, policy makers, as well as researchers and scholars. We strongly encourage submissions from scholars and practitioners from South East Asia.

We welcome submissions for:

• Papers
• Posters
• Panels*
• Roundtables**
• Book Talks***

*Panels require at least four different Authors. Each Author should create their own Indico account, and submit their own abstract. All Authors should submit their abstract under the same Track. The name of the Panel and its Chair should be added to the Comments box.

**Roundtables require at least three different Discussants. Each Discussant should create their own Indico account. Only the Chair should submit the rationale, listing all Discussants.

***Book Talks require at least three different Discussants. Each Discussant should create their own Indico account. Only the book's author should submit the book's abstract, listing all Discussants.

Themes (termed Tracks in Indico):

• Conceptual & Definitional Debates
• Causes, Development & Consequences of Terrorism
• (De-)Radicalization
• Psychology of Terrorism
• Ideologies of Terrorism
• Single-Issue Terrorism
• Age & Terrorism
• Gender & terrorism
• Race & Terrorism
• Religion & Terrorism
• (Pro-)State Terrorism
• Lone-Actor Terrorism
• Cyber-Terrorism
• Emerging Threats
• Crime-Terror Nexus
• Warfare & Terrorism
• Counter-Terrorism

**Please not the Call for Papers is now closed**

If you encounter any difficulties please email the conference team: Sydney2026@SocietyforTerrorismResearch.org

Where possible please use institutional/work email addresses.

Submission deadline for papers etc. - 31 August 2026

Notification of outcomes - 9 September 2026

Full papers for Student Paper Contest - 30 November 2026

Dr Kelly Mischel, Commissioner, Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, Department of Justice and Community Safety, Government of Victoria

• Dr Mischel is a Forensic Psychologist with 2 decades of experience in the justice system. During her time as the Principal Clinician for Countering Violent Extremism in Corrections Victoria she had a lead role in the clinical service delivery including assessment, treatment planning, intervention, case management and transition of high risk and violent extremist offenders. Dr Mischel was subsequently the Director Countering Violent Extremism, responsible for Whole of Government coordination of CVE policy, implementation of Australia’s Crowded Places Safety strategy and legislated early intervention case management schemes to support individuals at risk of radicalising towards violent extremism. In 2026 she was appointed as the Victoria’s first Commissioner for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.

Dr Haroro J. Ingram, Senior Associate (non-resident) with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies: https://www.csis.org/people/haroro-j-ingram

• Dr Ingram is a senior associate (non-resident) with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. His work in the Philippines has focused on supporting peace and stability efforts in Mindanao and helping partners strengthen resilience against external malign interference. His research examines the psychosocial and strategic drivers of state and non-state violence with a particular emphasis on influence operations and cognitive warfare. In 2025, Haroro was named a Harry Frank Guggenheim distinguished scholar for field research examining pathways into and out of revolutionary violence in Mindanao. He has held academic fellowships at the Australian National University, George Washington University, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and the University of Queensland. Haroro began his career in government national security roles spanning operations and defense policy.

Professor Ramón Spaaij, Professor of Sociology in the Institute for Health and Sport at Victoria University (Melbourne, Australia).

• Professor Spaaij has made major contributions to scientific knowledge on lone-actor terrorism, including the acclaimed books “The Age of Lone Wolf Terrorism” and “Understanding Lone Wolf Terrorism”. The Applied Security Science Partnership, which he co-founded, investigates disengagement from violent extremism to support participants to live fulfilling lives in non-violent ways. Ramón has pioneered participatory and ethnographic research that centres the lived experiences of culturally and racially minoritized communities and amplifies their voices in academic, policy, and public conversations. His research also supports the prevention of violent extremism through sport and culture. Ramón partners with organisations global to local, building long-term relationships to understand key problems practitioners and communities face to develop capacity-building resources they can use with confidence.

The Organizers of the 18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research (STR): Continuity and Change in the Character of Terrorism wish to promote the work of M.A./M.Sc. and Ph.D. Researchers on all areas of Terrorism Studies. The winner will have the written paper published in the journal of Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression journal.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Student Paper Contest we require the primary author to present their paper at the Conference. The primary author should be a current post-graduate student.

Alternatively, they must have successfully completed their graduate studies since our last international conference in July 2025.

How to Participate

Initially, the author(s) must submit an abstract by the general deadline of August 31, 2026. At the time of abstract submission, they must indicate that they wish their paper to be considered for the Student Paper Contest. It is only after their abstract is accepted that competition entrants should send a full paper to the conference organisers.

Full papers must be submitted by November 30, 2026. The paper must comply with the author guidelines for the journal: Please check the Instructions for Authors.

The Jury

• Members of the Governing Board of STR;
• Editor of the Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression journal;
• Hosts of the 18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research (STR): Continuity and Change in the Character of Terrorism.

The Results

The winner will be announced during the closing ceremony of the 18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research (STR): Continuity and Change in the Character of Terrorism on December 11, 2026.

There will be an Earlybird Rate and a Regular Rate - both will include membership of STR for 2027. There will be a set student rate for Postgraduate students, this will not include STR membership.

To be announced soon.

Please check the website of the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs at: https://Immi.HomeAffairs.gov.au/Visas/Getting-a-Visa/Visa-Finder.

Invitation Letters can be requested upon registration by e-mailing Sydney2026@SocietyforTerrorismResearch.org.

In addition to the Coogee Bay Hotel (i.e., https://CoogeeBayHotel.com.au/) - where the 18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research (STR): Continuity and Change in the Character of Terrorism will by hosted and delegates can book with a Discount Rate of 25% - there are several hotels nearby:

Adina Apartment Hotel Coogee Sydney: https://www.AdinaHotels.com/en/Apartments/Coogee-Sydney/;

Dive Hotel: https://www.DiveHotel.com.au/;

Coogee Studio Apartments: https://CoogeeStudioApartments.com.au/;

Little Coogee Hotel: https://LittleCoogeeHotel.com/Contact-Us.

Please not that the Organizers of the 18th Annual International Conference of the Society for Terrorism Research (STR): Continuity and Change in the Character of Terrorism have no control over, and accept no responsibility or liability for, any accommodation arrangements, bookings, or related matters.