Call for Papers
International Interdisciplinary Conference on Race
Theme: “Race and Democracy” (Online Conference)
Monmouth University
Feb. 11–12, 2027
Monmouth University (New Jersey, USA) is seeking participants for its ninth biennial Interdisciplinary Conference on Race in the spring of 2027. The conference will focus on the theme of “Race and Democracy.”
For the last 250 years, herrenvolk democracies, or democracies that implicitly and explicitly operate for the benefit of dominant racial or ethnic groups, have been the prevalent form. These societies maintain the boundaries of full citizenship, personhood, and humanity by racially demarcating whose lives matter, between those who “belong” and those who are “outsiders.” Abolitionist, anti-segregationist, and anti-racist movements have long exposed the fundamental contradictions within modern democracies, presenting a central puzzle: Is it possible to decolonize a herrenvolk democracy using its own democratic tools? Which principles or methods or cultural practices can be used to reconstruct a democratic society?
We invite papers from a range of disciplines, including history, anthropology, philosophy, gender studies, ethnic studies, sociology, geography, political science, communications, education, economics, and other disciplines—in addition to organizers, community-based organizations, and change practitioners. We welcome individual presentations or complete panels from scholars, educators, artists, and activists whose work engages with race, its intersections, and democracy. We especially welcome proposals that explore how music and art engage racism within democratic contexts, both as sites of critique and as catalysts for equity and transformation.
Suggested Themes and Sub-Topics
- Race and Music/Artistic Expression
- Race and Technology
- Race and Health Disparities
- Race and Reproductive Justice
- Race and Environmental Justice
- Race and Immigration
- Race and Civic Engagement
- Race and Disenfranchisement
- Race and the Prison Industrial Complex
- Race and Intergenerational Trauma
- Race and Organizing
- Race and Education
Submission Guidelines
All abstracts should be submitted via email to muraceconference@monmouth.edu by Oct. 30, 2026.
- Individual paper abstracts should be 150–250 words in length to ensure full consideration. Please include a brief author bio of 75–100 words.
- Panel abstracts should be submitted as a single document and include a 150–250 word abstract for the whole panel, along with a brief author bio of 75–100 words per presenter.
- Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.
- Please do not submit full papers, book chapters, CVs, or other supplementary materials.
Conference Details
- Conference Dates: Feb. 11–12, 2027
- Location: Monmouth University (Online Conference)
- Deadline for Submissions: Oct. 30, 2026
- Contact Email: muraceconference@monmouth.edu