Call for Applications
From 17-19 June 2026, a conference on The Military as a Legal and Constitutional Actor: Sociolegal Perspectives & Approaches will be held at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Faculty of Law & Justice, Sydney, organised by Professor Melissa Crouch.
Workshop overview
Around the world, there are growing concerns about military coups and military rule, as well as the persistence of authoritarianism and the role of the military in the state. In many countries, the military is an institution that has either occupied, or been invited to occupy, civilian positions in the state and legal institutions. In the 21st century, during COVID-19, many governments around the world invited and enabled the military to assist with pandemic efforts, from enforcement of lockdowns to vaccine rollout. The military is also a visible legal actor or key influence on legal institutions and processes around the world, from Latin America, to Africa, Asia, and the US. In Asia, this phenomenon is salient in different forms in countries ranging from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar, among others.[1] In many of these countries, individual military officers (active or retired) occupy positions in legislative, executive and judicial institutions. The presence and influence of the military raises key questions for legal scholars given that studies of modern legal systems often presume a civilian state with civilian actors.
This three-day workshop will offer opportunities for scholars to contribute to discussion and gain feedback on preliminary research into how the military uses or claims to use law and legal institutions. Participants will have the opportunity to present and receive advice on their work, contribute to exploratory discussions on this emerging area of research, including on methods; network with like-minded scholars and meet with senior scholars for career mentoring.
All scholars are welcome to apply, but for the travel bursaries, priority will be given to early/mid-career scholars, including those who are undertaking, or intending to undertake a PhD, who are from the Global South and who are currently based at universities and institutions in Asia and the Pacific, Australia or New Zealand. The country or jurisdiction that a participant chooses to present on is unlimited.
At the workshop, two days will be dedicated to conference presentations, discussion of draft papers and mentoring. A third day will focus on research methods, specifically the challenges of undertaking qualitative field work in illiberal, authoritarian and military settings. As part of the focus on methods, there will be a screening and discussion of the film-essay ‘Journey’ (2024), directed by Dr Visakesa Chandrasekaram, which focuses on studies and stories of Sri Lanka’s state-sponsored violence during the conflict and post-conflict times.
A list of indicative research themes that would be relevant to the focus of the workshop and could form the basis for applicants’ presentations, include:
- The military and constitutionalism
- The military, criminal law and transnational crime (terrorism, trafficking, drug smuggling etc)
- The military, immigration and border control
- The political economy of military involvement in governance
- The military in civilian courts
- Military-based political parties, and military involvement in elections
- The military and the use of law to respond to internal conflict
- The military and the regulation of natural disasters
- The military, crime and cities
- Research methods as it relates to law and the military
- Other topics related to the way the military uses and works through law and legal institutions (whether legally, or illegally)
We welcome empirically grounded projects on any jurisdiction that draw on history, anthropology, sociology, and other forms of interdisciplinary and sociolegal approaches.
Interested scholars should complete the application form, which requires:
- A brief explanation of why you would like to join the conference and how you would benefit from it, including your interest in staying involved in an ongoing research network on this topic (approx 300 words)
- Title of your paper and abstract of the research paper (max 800 word)
- Url link to current research profile (eg current institutional affiliation, publications), or your CV
- Indication of whether you are applying for a travel bursary (international or domestic), and if so what city/country you would be flying from/to
- quote for cost of economy airfare to Sydney
Successful participants will be asked to submit a 5-page outline of the paper they plan to present two weeks prior to the conference.
Details regarding bursaries
Funding is available for travel support based on a Law & Society Association (LSA) Advance Grant. Up to 10 bursaries will be available, with priority given to early/mid-career scholars and PhD candidates from the Asia Pacific region. An additional two bursaries are available for scholars travelling from outside of Sydney but within Australia. Preference will be given to early/mid-career scholars including PhD candidates. The travel bursaries for participants are intended to cover economy flights to Sydney, ground transport to/from Sydney airport, and 4 nights accommodation in Sydney (arriving 16 June, departing 20 June). Lunch and afternoon tea will be provided for participants at the workshop. The LSA will reimburse participants upon presentation of receipts such as flights and accommodation, (minus any bank or exchange fees). Participants are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visa and encouraged to apply well in advance; the organisers will provide a letter in support of visa applications.
Interested scholars based in Sydney who would like the opportunity to participate and present their work are also encouraged to apply.
Location of workshop
Faculty of Law & Justice, Kensington campus, Sydney, UNSW
Submission date
2 February 2026, or until positions are filled. Early submissions are encouraged. Successful applicants will be notified by March 2026.
Application
Please apply to participate in the workshop by filling in this form: https://tinyurl.com/arsjdkaj
Contact person
Professor Melissa Crouch, UNSW, melissa.crouch@unsw.edu.au
List of contributing academics
A range of LSA members and other scholars will contribute to the workshop as chairs, discussants or mentors. An indicative list of scholars who may be involved includes: Professor Amy Cohen, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Professor Ben Golder, UNSW; Professor Bronwen Morgan, UNSW; Dr Christoph Sperfeldt, Macquarie University; Dr Elisabeth Kramer, UNSW; Associate Professor Jonathan Bonnitcha, UNSW; Professor Luke McNamara, UNSW; Associate Professor Marc de Leeuw, UNSW; Associate Professor Phillip Wadds, UNSW; Associate Professor Ntina Tzouvala, UNSW; Associate Professor Vicki Sentas, UNSW; Dr Visakesa Chandrasekaram, UNSW; Dr Coel Kirkby, University of Sydney; Dr Brendan Clift, UNSW.
Accommodation options
Participants will need to book their own accommodation. On campus, New College has some guest accommodation, while nearby apartments within walking distance or access via a short tram or bus ride include Avoca Randwick, The Alison, The Lurline (formerly Randwick Lodge) and Avonmore on the Park Boutique Hotel.
Location of workshop on campus
UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice, Sydney, is located in Building F8, on lower campus of the Kensington Campus. The closest entrance gates are Gate 2 High Street or Anzac Parade. See the UNSW campus map
Further details regarding logistics will be provided to successful applicants.
[1] Melissa Crouch ‘The Military Turn in Comparative Constitutional Law’ (2024) Annual Review of Law & Social Science.
Melissa Crouch 