Co-organized by:
Praksis Journal · Turkish Social Sciences Association · Sosyal Araştırmalar Vakfı (Social Research Foundation, SAV) · Mülkiyeliler Birliği · Eğitim Sen Istanbul Branch No. 6
From Catastrophe to Struggle: Rethinking Capitalism amid Wars and Disasters
Historical Materialism Istanbul 2026 convenes at a time of unprecedented global crises, marked by intensifying wars, ecological disasters, fascist and authoritarian resurgence, and overlapping capitalist shocks. Across the world, crises and disasters, ranging from genocidal wars, authoritarian weaponization of law, technocratic peace projects to climate-induced catastrophes, are systematically transformed into sites of uneven capital accumulation, markets of irrational thought, and instruments of political control. At the same time, old and new forms of anti-war, anti-racist, anti-fascist, feminist, ecological, and anti-capitalist struggles and solidarity actions have emerged around the world.
This conference invites contributions to examine these processes in their concrete articulations through the critical framework of historical materialism, by attending to not only the mechanisms of exploitation, destruction, and domination, but also the spaces and practices of resistance that emerge during moments of crisis. In doing so, we also seek to explore how such conjunctures may generate counter-hegemonic dynamics—forms of collective reproduction, cooperative production, commoning, and solidarity-based economies that create alternative circuits of value and life beyond capital.
Contributions that examine the intertwined logics of disaster capitalism, war economies, and ecological exploitation are particularly invited. This includes analyses of capital accumulation during crises, a reexamination of the capitalist shock strategies in contemporary contexts, and an examination of the role of privatization, indebtedness, and neoliberal interventions in reconstruction. The critical exploration of the political economy and legal infrastructure of war and imperialism is of particular concern, with a specific focus on post-war “reconstruction economies” (e.g., in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Palestine). Other areas of interest include the nexus of war contractors, the military-industrial complex, and finance capital, as well as the economic forces that shape peace processes.
Another focal point pertains to the crisis of social reproduction and the mechanisms of authoritarian control. We hereby extend a cordial invitation to submissions that explore the gendered and racialized dimensions of crisis, including care work and the invisibility of women’s labor in contexts of war, disaster, and displacement, as well as the reproduction of life in refugee camps. Contributions addressing the political instrumentalization of law and the impunities enjoyed by criminal and genocidal states within the current international legal architecture are welcome. We further invite analyses that focus on feminist strikes, queer protests, and solidarity practices of care. This axis necessitates an examination of disciplines, security measures, and militarization, including states of emergency, the securitization of urban space in the aftermath of disasters, and the exploitation of migrant labor within war and disaster economies. Additionally, it is crucial to address the rise of fascism and nationalism as instruments of crisis management.
Ultimately, the objective is to prioritize resistance and emancipatory futures. This entails the mapping of resistance through trade unions, social struggles, and solidarity networks facing war and disaster, as well as practical alternatives such as cooperatives and grassroots rebuilding. The ultimate objective of this endeavor is to theorize a liberatory vision of peace that transcends the constraints imposed by neoliberal governance and capitalist reconstruction. This vision is informed by anti-militarist and anti-fascist struggles, feminist, ecosocialist, and decolonial imaginaries, with the aim of forging solidarities that can transform war and disaster into catalysts for collective emancipation.
In addition to our main theme, we are organizing the following streams. Please read their Call for Papers before you submit:
- Marxism, Religion and Culture
- Ecology, Food, and Agriculture
- Marxism and Technology
- War, Capital and Law
- Race, Gender and Social Reproduction
- Marxist Theories of Fascism and Authoritarianism
- Critical Political Economy
- Advancing the Frontiers of Marxist Philosophy
Whilst we encourage papers and panels that address these themes, as always, the Historical Materialism Istanbul conference seeks to provide a space for critical Marxist theory and research across the globe and a range of disciplines and interests, so submissions on other themes are welcome.
Conference fees:
| Global North | Global South | Turkey | |
| Full-waged | 125$ | 60$ | 1250TL |
| Low-waged | 75$ | 30$ | 500TL |
| Unwaged | 25$ | 10$ | Gratis |
- Historical Materialism 2026 is produced by militant labour and we are open for solidarity donations. As the Organizing Committee, we can provide receipts for your donations.
Important Dates:
Deadline for Submissions: 24 November 2025
The organizational committee of Historical Materialism Istanbul 2026 can be reached at: hmistanbul.conference@gmail.com
Please note that individual papers and panels should include:
- Names of participants with e-mails and affiliations, and clear indication of a corresponding author where there is more than one participant
- Title of paper or panel – In the case of a paper an abstract of no longer than 300 words. In the case of panels, an overarching description of 300 words and as relevant, abstracts for individual papers.
- The official language of the conference is English. Please note that this year, there will be a limited number of panels held in Turkish. Regardless of the presentation language, all abstracts must be submitted in English.
Partial submissions may be rejected if they are incomplete.
We still believe that this particular format of the in-person conference offers a unique and irreplaceable form that brings together comrades, enables discussion, helps the dissemination of new and original research, creates research networks and communities, and builds solidarity. This is why we will not normally accept online presentations. We would also note that we do engage in online broadcasts and podcasts all year round for such sessions.
As in the past, the conference ethos is strictly egalitarian. This means everyone is invited to contribute in a comradely spirit, the conference is open to all currents of critical Marxist theory and we expect all presenters to attend the entire conference, not just their own session (with no ‘cameo appearances’). The conference is an important part of the broader Historical Materialism project – including the journal, the book series, and the global network of HM conferences – and we want to encourage all conference participants to get involved with these different elements, for example by submitting their conference paper to the journal.
This conference is organised under the aegis of Historical Materialism: Research in Critical Marxist Theory (http://www.historicalmaterialism.org/), which supports a journal (http://www.historicalmaterialism.org/journal) a book series (https://brill.com/view/serial/HM) and Marxist conferences across the globe.
