The Student Scientific Society, the Student Council of the Faculty of History of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Youth Club of the Russian Historical Society invite you to take part in the 5th International Interdisciplinary Scientific Conference for students and young scholars “Power and Society in the Historical Experience of Humanity”. The conference will be held in person (with an option for remote online participation) at the Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia) on March 20 – 21, 2026.

The dynamic of relations between institutions of power and the societies they govern has preoccupied thinkers and researchers throughout all the periods of human history and remains a central concern for the scholarly community today. Across various geographical regions, chronological periods, and specific historical contexts, this relationship has manifested itself in diverse forms, leaving its imprint on historical sources and collective memory.
Examining the nature of these relations (their regional and cultural peculiarities, the mutual influence of power structures and the public, and the evolution of the political languages that have facilitated their dialogue through various periods of human history) remains relevant for scholars from different countries and continents. Our conference aims to provide a forum for discussing current debates and breakthroughs on the subject and for sharing new research on the relationship between power and society across major periods of world history.

We welcome interdisciplinary submissions on topics including, but not limited to: (ИЛИ: Possible topics include, but are not limited to: )

• Despotism and Democracy in the Ancient World;
• The Middle Ages: from local lordships to ‘absolute’ monarchies
• The Early Modern and Modern Era: the evolution of state institutions and political culture;
• The 20th and 21st Centuries: Power and Society during the Age of Modernization and Digitalization
• Government and Society in the history of Asia, Africa, and Latin America: common and peculiar issues;
• The evolution of political institutions in Medieval Rus’ and Early Modern Russia
• The development of interactions between power and societal structures in the Russian Empire (1721-1917);
• Soviet Russia as a ‘new model’ of the relationships between the government and society in Russian history;
• The arts and politics in World history;
• Relations between power and society based on archaeological findings and written sources.

Working languages of the conference: Russian and English.

We invite applications from BA, MA, PhD students and young researchers in history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, sociology, economics, philosophy, and related disciplines as well as from young researchers.

Applications for the conference, which should include an abstract of the presentation and a list of cited primary sources and literature (4,000 to 6,000 characters, spaces not included), should be submitted through the form (see the link below). The deadline for submissions is March 5, 2026.

The Student Scientific Society of the Faculty of History at the Lomonosov Moscow State University is a voluntary association of undergraduate students, PhD students and young scholars interested in the populariozation of historical scholarship within and beyond the faculty.

The Student Council of the Faculty of History at Moscow State University is an elected body of student self-government within the faculty. The council’s responsibilities include addressing students’ educational and social concerns, reviewing student initiatives, organizing and supporting cultural events, disseminating information about upcoming activities, fostering self-governance skills, and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

The conference is held with the support of the Youth Club of the Russian Historical Society (RIO).

For any inquiries, please contact the conference's email address:

hist.msu.konf@yandex.ru

The conference is held with the support of the Youth Club of the Russian Historical Society (RIO).

No charge or fee required 

• Call for papers