Conference invitation: Science, Dissent, and Activism: How Non-State Actors Challenged the Cold War Order

We invite our students and academics to the conference Science, Dissent, and Activism: How Non-State Actors Challenged the Cold War Order, which takes place in the Hollar building from 1 to 3 September 2026.

This conference seeks to advance an analytically grounded discussion of how non-state actors used science, expertise, and moral authority to challenge Cold War logics of sovereignty, security, and ideological loyalty. Particular emphasis will be placed on the interplay between knowledge production and political agency across different institutional settings, including conferences, committees, universities and research institutes, expert networks, and non-governmental organizations. A central point of reference is the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and related initiatives, understood not only as a peace movement but as laboratories of non-state diplomacy, epistemic authority, and Cold War governance.

Programme: 

• Tuesday, 1st September: 17:30-19:00 Keynote Lecture (H212) 
• Wednesday, 2nd September: 10:00-16:45 Panels (H215) 
• Thursday, 3rd September: 9:00-12:00 Panels (H215)

Download the conference booklet here.