The Journal of Peasant Studies and co-organizers are pleased to announce the International Writeshop in Critical Agrarian Studies and Scholar-Activism 2026. 1-10 July 2026, China Agricultural University, Beijing/Hebei
Call for Applications
The Journal of Peasant Studies (JPS), College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University (Beijing), Beijing Innovation Center for Rural Revitalization and Integrated Rural-urban Development (BIC-RRID), Collective of Agrarian Scholar-Activists from the South (CASAS), Initiatives in Critical Agrarian Studies (ICAS), International Institute for Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and PLAAS of the University of the Western Cape are jointly organising the International Writeshop in Critical Agrarian Studies and Scholar-Activism for PhD students and relatively early career researchers (up to 5 years from PhD completion) who are based in, or are originally from, the Global South.
The Writeshop aims to improve researchers’ strategic knowledge about and practical skills on matters related to international journal publication and impact, with a particular focus in the field of Critical Agrarian Studies. This includes choosing journals; building ideas about and framing/writing journal manuscripts; overall preparation and submission of journal manuscripts; dealing with peer review reports, and so on. It will include sessions by leading academics on key debates and literature in critical agrarian studies, and concepts in and practices of scholar-activism with an Asia focus. The 10-day Writeshop will include peer review discussions on participants’ draft journal manuscripts, conducted in small groups with mentors and facilitators. Hosted by the College of Humanities and Development Studies at China Agricultural University in Beijing, the Writeshop will take place between the COHD campus in Beijing and the COHD peasant learning center in Northern China (Hebei province).
After the Writeshop, participants will be in a better position to frame their work in relation to critical agrarian studies, to think about international journal publications in the long-term, and finalise journal manuscripts in the short term. They will also benefit from being part of an emerging community of researchers working in critical agrarian studies from a scholar-activist tradition. Several participants would be invited to submit manuscripts to JPS, and encouraged to submit to other major international journals.
We are looking at a maximum of 50 workshop participants. For PhD researchers, they should be in their post-fieldwork phase of the study. No fee is required. We will provide partial or full fellowships (travel and accommodation financial support) for some of the participants, depending on the availability of funds. We encourage externally funded participants. Successful applicants must circulate among the participants a draft manuscript (based on their accepted abstract) of 8,000-10,000 words in advance of the Writeshop.
For applications, please submit here: https://v.wjx.cn/vm/PNAFE6q.aspx
(1) An abstract of not more than 350 words, related to critical agrarian studies (see JPS aims and scope)
(2) A short bio of not more than 100 words
(3) Names and contact information of 2 academic references
Deadline for applications: 31 January 2026
Timelines
● Application results to be announced by 15 February 2026.
● Successful applicants will be asked to confirm their acceptance of a place at the Writeshop.
● Those selected are invited to submit a full draft manuscript of 8,000–10,000 words. This is due on 15 June 2026
● Selected participants will be provided with a detailed logistics note including information regarding accommodation, visas and other details, well ahead of the Writeshop date.
● Arrival at Writeshop: 30 June 2026
● Departure from Writeshop: 11 July 2026
For information about the previous International Writeshops, see:
2019 Beijing: https://casasouth.org/sample-page/ (manifesto by participants)
2020&2021 online: https://www.plaas.org.za/sarchi-chair/jps-writeshop/
2022 Cape Town: https://plaas.org.za/sarchi-chair/jps-writeshop-2022/
2024 Beijing: https://cohd.cau.edu.cn/art/2024/8/9/art_47955_1033797.html
For a reflection paper from CASAS members, see this article.
For historical background, see this blog piece.
Note: JPS and partners organize the International Writeshop once every 2 years. The last one was in 2024. In between, it is organizing a regional Writeshop (thus, in 2025: the Asia and African regional writeshops).
The Writeshop is organised by:
JPS Journal of Peasant Studies
CASAS Collective of Agrarian Scholar-Activists from the South
COHD College of Humanities and Development Studies at China Agricultural University, Beijing
IICAS/COHD, International Initiatives in Critical Agrarian Studies (IICAS at COHD)
BIC-RRID, Beijing Innovation Center for Rural Revitalization and Integrated Rural-urban Development
ICAS/ISS, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS/EUR)
Netherlands (including the Erasmus Chairs Program for positive societal impact at EUR)
PLAAS of the University of the Western Cape
For queries, please contact any of the organisers, or send email to the Writeshop email address: jpswriteshop@gmail.com.
For regular updates on this, follow us through: https://www.peasantjournal.org and subscribe, and also through JPS on X and Facebook; and CASAS website: www.cassouth.org
Please note: this event is exclusively in-person. No option of participation online will be provided for.
CASAS
The Collective of Agrarian Scholar-Activists from the Global South (CASAS) is a community of Scholar-Activists working in critical agrarian studies.
Hi! I’m Maria, and I applied for the International Writeshop in Critical Agrarian Studies and Scholar-Activism 2026.
According to the schedule, the results are expected to be announced today. Could you please let me know if they will be sent by email or published on the website?
Thank you!
The results are delayed. You will receive them by email.