From 1 to 3 July 2026, members of the (IM)VISION project — Envisioning Impossible Futures: Imaginaries of Political Transformation in the Middle East, a PRIMUS project led by the Department’s Assistant Professor Tereza Jermanová — took part in the 13th European Workshops in International Studies (EWIS) at Izmir University of Economics, held this year under the theme “Navigating a Fractured World: Struggles for Survival and Solidarity.”

Within EWIS the team convened its own workshop, “Middle Eastern Futures after October 7: Political Imaginaries of National and Regional Orders”, dedicated to developing the project’s research. Team members — including its newest member, Tereza Plíštilová (FSV UK) — presented drafts of their papers and works in progress, received detailed feedback, and used the sessions for joint brainstorming on the shape of the project’s forthcoming special issue.

Also taking part were Professor Mirjam Künkler, a leading expert on Middle Eastern politics and religion–state relations, and Antea Enna, visiting research fellow at the University of Jordan. The Izmir workshop is one step toward a special issue on political imaginaries in the MENA region and a further team workshop planned for Prague in 2027.