The International Intelligence History Association (IIHA) organizes its 2026 Annual Conference in cooperation with Georgetown University. The Conference will be held on September 30 – October 2, 2026 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Intelligence has always played a pivotal role in shaping transatlantic relationships. During the Second World War, the United States emerged as one of the principal allies, and intelligence cooperation was essential to victory in Europe. This collaboration laid the foundation for a close partnership that continued throughout the Cold War, when the U.S. and Western European nations worked together to counter the Soviet threat. NATO became a cornerstone of this security architecture, and intelligence sharing became a critical element in maintaining deterrence and strategic stability.
However, the history of transatlantic intelligence relations has been marked by cooperation as well as competition. On the one hand, the United States was a trusted ally of Western Europe and its intelligence community served as a bulwark against Warsaw Pact espionage. On the other, suspicion about intelligence activities of friendly services within the alliance at times created friction and raised questions about sovereignty and trust. US policies beyond Europe often also influenced these sensitive relations.
This year, we will prioritize submissions in the following areas:
- Intelligence in a transatlantic framework, including North America, Europe, and the Middle East
- Bilateral and multilateral intelligence relations in general
- New archival based studies
- New approaches to intelligence history
Though most studies of intelligence history are centered on the 20th and 21st centuries, the IIHA also encourage papers on earlier periods.
Young Researchers Forum: A particularly important part of developing a research field is the participation of junior researchers, especially postgraduate and doctoral students. The annual IIHA conferences have a long tradition of providing a forum where young researchers can present their ongoing projects and receive constructive criticism, input, and new network contacts.
Please submit your paper proposal abstract of 150-300 words and a short CV by email to the IIHA Executive Director, Thomas Wegener Friis, at: exec_director@intelligence-history.org.
The deadline for submissions is January 20, 2026.
You can download the Call for papers 2026 here: CfP 2026.