PhD summer school: The Resilience of Multilateralism in Times of Uncertainty
The META United Nations Summer School summer school offers PhD students an interdisciplinary crash course in the history and contemporary developments of multilateralism. The attendees will be introduced to a unique and creative research environment where the instructors together with the course participants will work hand in hand to understand the current crisis of multilateralism and try to develop solutions to contemporary challenges.
Multilateralism, as it has developed since 1945, is under serious threat. The emergence of great power competition, combined with the retraction of established anchors of international order, jeopardises not only the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation but the very existence of core institutions such as the United Nations. At the same time, international cooperation has never been more urgently needed — to address questions of security, economic inequality, migration, artificial intelligence, and the climate crisis.
This Summer School brings together PhD students from across the 4EU+ Alliance for an intensive, interdisciplinary engagement with the history and contemporary reality of multilateralism. Working alongside leading scholars from the fields of history, international law, and political science, participants will explore the current crisis and contribute to developing responses to it.
The four-day programme is structured around three thematic pillars: The history of multilateralism from the League of Nations (1919) to the present, including an analysis of past crises and their resolution
Multilateral institutions today — focusing on the United Nations, states’ disengagement, and alternatives such as the US-led Board of Peace
The role of non-state actors — transnational corporations, civil society, and NGOs — in shaping and challenging the multilateral order
Each day combines expert lectures with structured debates and sessions in which participants present and discuss their own doctoral research.
The course is open to PhD students enrolled at universities within the 4EU+ Alliance. Candidates from all relevant disciplinary backgrounds are welcome, including history, international law, political science, and related fields. Only applicants affiliated with a 4EU+ Alliance university at the time of application will be considered.
Applications must be submitted by email [e-mail] and must include a single PDF document containing the following:
Academic CV indicating most relevant academic achievements and experience in research activities
A motivation letter (maximum two pages) setting out your reasons for wishing to attend the Summer School, your current stage of doctoral work, and how the programme relates to your research interests
A short presentation of your PhD project (maximum one page), including its research question, methodology, and current state of progress
Your institutional affiliation and the name of your doctoral supervisor
Documents should be submitted as a single PDF file, named Surname_FirstName_META2026.pdf
Where: University of Warsaw, Poland
When: 2 to 5 September 2026
Free of charge, including travel, accommodation and catering
Application deadline: 25 June 2026
Programme
Call for applicants