Overhead flat-lay photograph of academic conference materials on a warm wooden desk: a printed programme, a pen, and reading glasses beside a notebook.

Panel Proposals

The EASR 2022 conference offered two formats for panel proposals, allowing organisers to shape sessions around focused research themes within the broader conference topic, Religions and States of Freedom.

Open Panel Sessions

Open panels invited individual paper submissions from across the scholarly community. Organisers proposed a panel title (maximum 15 words) and a description (maximum 300 words). Once accepted, the panel was advertised publicly, and scholars could submit papers directly to it.

Closed Sessions

Closed sessions were pre-arranged by the organiser with a fixed set of participants. These panels followed a traditional format with a cohesive group of papers presented together, not open to external paper submissions.

Additional Formats

Roundtable Discussions

Roundtables brought together a small group of scholars for structured conversation around a shared question or problem. Proposals included a session title, a convenor, and a list of confirmed participants, each contributing a brief position statement rather than a full paper.

Individual Papers

Scholars who preferred to submit independently — outside a pre-formed panel — could propose an individual paper. Accepted individual papers were grouped by the programme committee into thematic sessions alongside compatible submissions.

Key Dates

Call for panels opened: 6 August 2021

The EASR 2022 conference in Cork brought together scholars from across Europe and beyond to explore the complex relationship between religions and states of freedom. This central theme invited critical reflection on how religious traditions, institutions, and communities interact with concepts of liberty, governance, and human rights. Participants examined both historical and contemporary case studies, considering how religious movements have both advanced and constrained freedom in various cultural and political contexts. The conference provided a rich, multi-disciplinary forum where theoretical frameworks met empirical research, fostering dialogue that transcended confessional and theological boundaries. This intellectual exchange remains vital for understanding the role of religion in shaping modern societies.

University College Cork provided an inspiring setting for the EASR 2022 gathering, with its historic campus offering a fitting backdrop for scholarly exchange. The centenary of the founding of Saorstát Éireann added particular resonance to discussions about freedom, identity, and religious pluralism. Delegates appreciated the warm hospitality and vibrant cultural life of Cork city, with its renowned music scene and welcoming atmosphere. The conference organisers ensured that both formal sessions and informal interactions were well supported, allowing participants to forge lasting professional connections while enjoying the stunning natural beauty of County Cork's coastline and countryside.

The academic programme featured a diverse array of panels, roundtables, and individual paper sessions covering topics ranging from religious minorities and state power to the politics of religious freedom in colonial and postcolonial contexts. Scholars presented cutting-edge research on secularism, religious nationalism, and the evolving relationship between religion and law. The open panel format encouraged broad participation, while themed sessions allowed for deep dives into specific research areas. This structure enabled productive dialogue across disciplinary boundaries, with anthropologists, historians, sociologists, and scholars of religious studies engaging in sustained conversation about shared theoretical and methodological concerns.

Beyond the formal programme, the conference fostered an atmosphere of collegiality and intellectual generosity that characterises the best of academic exchange. Coffee breaks, receptions, and social events provided spaces for emerging scholars to connect with established researchers in their fields. The EASR bursary programme helped support early-career researchers and those with limited institutional resources, ensuring a diversity of voices and perspectives. These informal encounters often proved as valuable as the scheduled sessions, generating new collaborations and research directions that continue to shape the field of religious studies across Europe and beyond.

The EASR 2022 conference demonstrated the enduring importance of the academic study of religions in an era of rapid social and political change. By bringing together rigorous scholarship with a commitment to open dialogue, the meeting exemplified the European Association for the Study of Religions' mission to promote international collaboration among researchers. The discussions that took place in Cork continue to inform ongoing debates about religious freedom, state power, and cultural identity. The conference's legacy lives on in the networks formed, the research advanced, and the collective commitment to understanding religion as a dynamic force in human societies.

The call for panels launched in early August, with subsequent deadlines for individual paper submissions and roundtable proposals announced through the conference mailing list and the EASR website.

Overhead flat-lay photograph of academic conference materials on a warm wooden desk: a printed programme, a name badge on a lanyard, and a pen.

Submission Guidelines

  • All proposals were submitted through the official conference platform managed by Abbey Conference & Events.
  • Panel titles were limited to 15 words; panel descriptions to 300 words.
  • Proposals aligned with the non-confessional, academic study of religions, consistent with EASR's scholarly mission.
  • Presenters were required to register for the conference once their contribution was accepted.