Call for Papers University of Cincinnati / American Jewish Archives Conference April 19-21, 2026
“Shifting Paradigms, New Horizons: The Abraham Accords, U.S.–Israel Relations, and the Future of the Middle East”
Date: April 19–21, 2026
Location & Cosponsors: University of Cincinnati and Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Subject Fields: Diplomacy and International Relations, Economic History / Studies, Middle East Studies, Political History / Studies, Security Studies, Science and Technology Studies, Medicine, Business and Commerce, Cultural Studies.
Organizing Committee: Dr. Mark A. Raider (Modern Jewish History), chair; Dr. Dana Herman (American Jewish Archives); Dr. Michelle Johns (Management & International Business); Dr. Charles Matthews (Entrepreneurship); Dr. Jarek Meller (Biostatistics & Biomedical Informatics); Dr. Dinshaw Mistry (International Affairs & Asian Studies); Dr. Stephen Porter (U.S. History & International Relations); Dr. Henry Spitz (Nuclear and Radiological Engineering).
Description: The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, represent a watershed in US-Israel relations and Middle Eastern diplomacy, establishing normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations—the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. These agreements have opened new channels for cooperation across security, trade, technology, public health, and cultural exchange, reshaping regional alignments and creating opportunities for transnational collaboration. Yet the Accords emerged in a volatile context, and their long-term trajectory remains deeply contingent on political will, implementation capacity, economic incentives, and the evolving Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.
This conference seeks to examine the Abraham Accords within the broader arc of US-Israel relations and Middle Eastern diplomacy, combining historical depth with forward-looking analysis. We welcome contributions that explore the diplomatic, economic, technological, security, and cultural dimensions of normalization, as well as critical perspectives on inclusion, equity, and the pathways to reconstruction and reconciliation. By bringing together scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, and practitioners from the United States, Israel, Palestine, and Abraham Accords signatory nations, the conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and identify actionable models for sustained cooperation.
We particularly encourage submissions that engage one or more of the following thematic areas:
• Education and Society
• History and Diplomacy
• Security and Regional Realignment
• High Technology and Innovation
• Medicine and Public Health
• Commerce, Trade, and Investment
• Water, Energy, and Sustainability
• Cybersecurity and Digital Trust
• Cultural Exchange and Representation
• Pathways to Inclusion and Reconciliation
Papers may adopt historical, political, economic, legal, sociological, or cultural approaches, and we especially welcome interdisciplinary work that bridges theory and practice. Contributions drawing on multilingual or archival sources, comparative case studies, and policy-relevant analysis are particularly encouraged.
Possible formats include (but are not limited to): Individual paper presentations (15–20 minutes); organized panels (3–4 presenters + chair; 75 minutes); roundtables or dialogues (3–6 discussants; 60–75 minutes); lightning talks (5–7 minutes; for emerging research or practice insights); posters or demos (technologies, prototypes, datasets, or program models). Hybrid participation options will be available for select sessions, with priority given to international participants.
Papers selected will be presented at the conference hosted by the University of Cincinnati and the American Jewish Archives. Select sessions will be recorded and archived in a searchable digital repository. Selected papers may thereafter be considered for inclusion in an edited volume or special journal issue (12–15 papers). The conference language is English.
Please send proposals of 400–500 words (individual papers) or 600–800 words (organized panels/roundtables) along with a short bio (max. 150 words per participant) to Dr. Mark A. Raider: raiderma@uc.edu.
Place and time: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, April 19–21, 2026
Deadline for submissions: February 13, 2026
Notification of acceptance: March 2, 2026
Travel support: Limited travel stipends may be available upon request; please indicate need in your submission.
Contact Email: raiderma@uc.edu