ICES 2026 Programme and Abstracts of Presentations (15 June 2026)
Please note individual presentations to be limited to 15 mins plus 5 mins for questions
Wednesday 24th June (FENIKS International Integration Centre, City Centre)
18.00 Welcome reception at the FENIKS International Integration Centre, No. 13, the 3rd of May Street, City Centre (Ulica 3 Maja 13, Rzeszow) to be attended by Dr. Maciej Ulita, Vice President, Rzeszow City Council.
This is a short walk for all those staying in hotels located close to Rzeszow’s old market square (see the interactive map on our webpage).
18.30-19.15 Keynote presentation on Poland as the key security provider for NATO Eastern Flank by Mr Marek Świerczyński, Head and Principal Analyst, National Security and International Affairs, Polityka Insight (think tank), Warsaw, Poland. Abstract of Mr Świerczyński’s presentation here
19.15-20.00 General discussion led by Dr. Maciej Ulita, Vice President, Rzeszow City Council and Dr. Łukasz Olejnik, Warsaw School of Economics (SGH).
20.30 Close
Thursday 25th June (UITM City Campus)
08.15 the “bus travel party”to leave from Hotel Grand Boutique for the UITM bus (see UITM bus service here)
08.30 UITM bus to depart from a bus stop No 01 at Cieplinski Street
08.50 bus arrival at the UITM City Campus (5–10-minute walk to the main entrance)
09.15-09.30 Welcome (Main Auditorium) by Professor Andrzej Adamski, Deputy Rector (Research), UITM and members of the ICES2026 Organising Committee
09.30-11.00 Session 1 – Security Threats and Military Spending (chaired by Stefan Markowski)
Main Auditorium
- Tim Lohse, Salmai Qari, Tobias Börger, Jürgen Meyerho, and Andreas Stotland (Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany). Willingness to Defend Homeland, Allies, and the Eastern Flank: Micro-Evidence from Germany, France, and Poland (to be presented by Professor Tim Lohse). Abstract 1 here
- Professor Giorgi Penchev (University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria). Threat Proximity and Defence Spending in NATO-EU Member States, 1995–2023. Abstract 2 here
- Scott Gates, Andreas Tollefsen, Chandler Willimas (PRIO and University of Oslo, Norway). Kurdish Territorial Gains as a Result of Islamic State’s Collapse: An Analysis of the Strategic Contestation over Territorial Control (to be presented by Professor Scott Gates). Abstract 3 here
- Dr. Grzegorz Waszkiewicz (Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland). Foreign Direct Investment, Military Spending and Geopolitical Risk in Central-Eastern Europe. Abstract 4 here
11.00-11.30 Coffee break (coffee to be served next to the UITM cafeteria on the lower ground floor)
11.30-13.00 Parallel Sessions 2A and 2B
Parallel Session 2A – Security Threats and Defence Burden Sharing (chaired by Dr. Luqman Saeed)
Main Auditorium
- Sara Mombelli, Anna Balestra, and Raul Caruso (Sapienza University of Rome and Univesita Catolica del Sacro Quore, Milan, Italy ). The Correlates of Defense Burden Sharing in the European Union (1980–2023) (to be presented by Ms. Sara Mombelli, Doctoral Candidate, Sapienza University, Rome). Abstract 5 here
- Mr. Alexandre Giorgi (Doctoral Candidate, University of Bordeaux, France). All in, each apart: Armaments cooperation, portfolio logics and the limits of financial incentives among the LoI-6 states, 1990–2025. Abstract 6 here
- Ms. Almalaz Osman (Doctoral Candidate, Doha Institute for Graduated Studies, Doha, Qatar). Military Expenditure, Fiscal Trade-Offs, and Social Investment: Revisiting the Crowding-Out Hypothesis in the Global South. Abstract 7 here
- Mr. Peiran Wang (Doctoral Candidate, Vrije Universtiteit Brussel, Belgium). European Defence Dependence on the US. Abstract 8 here
Parallel Session 2B – Security Threats, Strategic Contestation, and Military Systems (chaired by Mr. Charles Brown)
Lecture room 53, ground floor level next to the Main Entrance
- Selin Tansu Tunç, Caroline Buts, Cind du Bois (Vrieje Uni Brussels, Belgium). Credible Discipline or Competitive Impunity? Multi-State Support for Insurgencies and Civilian Violence? (to be presented by Doctoral Candidate Selin Tansu Tunç). Abstract 9 here
- Anastasiya Feulner (Doctoral Candidate Sapienza University, Rome, Italy). The NATO Security Premium and Investment Diversion in the Western Balkans: A Synthetic Control Approach. Abstract 10 here
- Mr. Joshua Henry (IHEDN, Paris, France). Geopolitical Coercibility and Firm Valuation. Abstract 11 here
- J. Paul Dunne, Eftychia Nikolaidou, and Daniel Rossmeisl (PRISM University of Cape Town, South Africa). The Economic Costs of Conflict in Africa (to be presented by Doctoral Candidate Daniel Rossmeisl, winner of the ICES2025 Michael D. Intriligator Memorial Student Fund prize). Abstract 12 here
13.00-14.30 Lunch (lunch to be served next to the UITM cafeteria on the lower ground floor)
14.30-16.00 Session 3 – Security Threats, Conflicts and Defence Systems (chaired by Professor Ugurhan Berkok)
Main Auditorium
- Professor Jacques Aben (University of Montpellier, France). The Long and Perilous Path to the Constitution of a Defence System for Kosovo. Abstract 13 here
- Atanas Djondjourov, Caroline Buts, Nikolas Vander Venne (Vrieje Uni Brussels, Belgium). Agent-based modeling and strategic interaction among macro-level actors: A systematic literature review (to be presented by Doctoral Candidate Atanas Djondjourov and Professor Nikolas Vander Venne). Abstract 14 here
- Alexander C. Grenier (Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs, USA and Chaire Économie de Défense, IHEDN, Paris, France). Youth Cohort Size and Military Force Structure: Evidence from European NATO Countries. Abstract 15 here
- Dr. Luqman Saeed (Ulster University, UK). Asylum Inflow Shocks and the Extreme Right Violence in Western Europe. Abstract 16 here
16.00-16.30 Coffee break (coffee to be served next to the UITM cafeteria on the lower ground floor)
16.30-17.15 Session 4 – Military Conflicts and Health (chaired by Professor Scott Gates)
Main Auditorium
- Giorgio d’Agostino, J. Paul Dunne, Donatella Lanari, and Luca Pieroni. The Long Shadow of Conflict on Population Health (to be presented by Professor Giorgio d’Agostino, Roma Tre University, Italy and Professor Luca Pieroni, University of Perugia, Italy). Abstract 17 here
- Andrea Crippa, Giorgio d’Agostino, J. Paul Dunne, Luca Pieroni, and Nan Tian. The Legacy Effects of Conflict on Health (to be presented by Professors Luca Pieroni, University of Perugia and Giorgio d’Agostino, Roma Tre University). Abstract 18 here
18.45 – Bus departure from the UITM City Campus for the UITM Outer Campus in Kielnarowa (see UITM bus service here)
19.15 – Arrival at the UITM Outer Campus in Kielnarowa
19.30 – 22.00 Conference dinner at the UITM Outer Campus in Kielnarowa
22.15 – Bus departure from the Outer Campus in Kielnarowa for Rzeszow City Centre
23.00 – Return to City Centre.
Friday 26th June (UITM City Campus)
08.15 the “bus travel party”to leave from Hotel Grand Boutique for the UITM bus (see UITM bus service here)
08.30 UITM bus to depart from a bus stop No 01 at Cieplinski Street
08.50 bus arrival at the UITM City Campus (5–10-minute walk to the main entrance)
09.15-09.30 (Admin matters,Main Auditorium)
09.30-11.00 Session 5 – Changing Defence Technology and Evolution of Defence Industry (chaired by Professor Stefan Markowski)
Main Auditorium
- Marion Bogers, Robert Beeres, and Jan van Lieshout (The Netherlands Defence Academy, The Netherlands). Spending More, Better, and European? Evaluating Progress Toward European Defence Industrial Autonomy (to be presented by Professor Jan van Lieshout). Abstract 19 here
- Professor Marek Madej and Dr. Piotr Śledź (University of Warsaw, Poland). New Drone Economics? Major Defence-Industrial Implications of the Evolution in Drone Warfare Since 2022. Abstract 20 here
- Panagiotis Palaios, Jordan Becker, Maria Papageorgiou, and Michal J. Cantrell. Rethinking the Tyranny of Distance in Information Warfare: Strategic Depth and Power Projection (to be presented by Professor Panagiotis Palaios, The American College of Greece, Greece). Abstract 21 here
11.00-11.30 Coffee break (coffee to be served next to the UITM cafeteria on the lower ground floor)
11.30-13.00 Parallel Sessions 6A and 62B
Parallel Session 6A – Defence Industry Evolution (chaired by Professor Jan van Lieshout)
Main Auditorium
- Luka Aleksic, Julian Malizard, and Josselin Droff (IHEDN, Paris, France). Strategic Autonomy Ambitions in Defense Aeronautics in Europe: A Comparative Study of Four Major Fighter Aircraft Programs (to be presented by Professor Julian Malizard and Dr. Josselin Droff, IHEDN). Abstract 22 here
- Professor Ugurhan G. Berkok (Royal Military College of Canada and Queens, Kingston, Ontario, University, Canada). Screening Procurement Projects and Rational Inattention. Abstract 23 here
- Jaroslav Sixta and Bohuslav Pernica (Czech Statistical Office, Prague and Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia). McDIGA and the Czech Defence Spending (to be presented by Dr Bohuslav Pernica, Masaryk University, Brno). Abstract 24 here
Parallel Session 6B – New Capability Development and Procurement (chaired Dr. Luqman Saeed, Ulster University)
Lecture room 53, ground floor level next to the Main Entrance
- Mümin Ahmedoğlu (Doctoral Candidate, University of Vienna, Austria). Buying Under Fire: How the 2022 Rearmament Shock Reshaped Competition and Supplier Selection in European Defense Procurement. Abstract 25 here
- Alan Patrick (Doctoral Candidate, Birkbeck College, University of London,UK). Droneomics II. Abstract 26 here
- Jānis Kondrāts, Jeļena Pundure, Inga Jēkabsone, Sandis Šrāders, and Ingūna Jurgelāne-Kaldava, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia). Innovation Lifecycle of Latvia’s Defence Industry: From Idea to Adoption in the Armed Forces (to be presenred by Doctoral Candidate Jānis Kondrāts, Riga Technical University). Abstract 27 here
13.00-14.30 Lunch (lunch to be served next to the UITM cafeteria on the lower ground floor)
14.30-16.00 Session 7 – Military Conflicts, Geopolitics and Economic Sanctions (chaired by Professor Panagiotis Palaios)
Main Auditorium
- Professor Syed Mansoob Murshed (ISS, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, The Netherlands). The Macroeconomics of Sanctions: Sanctions from the standpoint of trade policy and financial flow controls. Abstract 28 here
- Ramy Shaban (Universite Paris Dauphine – PSL, France). Sanctions and Military Conflicts. Abstract 29 here
- Dr. Luqman Saeed and Professor Shabib Haider Syed (Ulster University, UK and University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan). Military Sanctions, Humanitarian Interventions and Intrastate Conflict (to be presented by Dr. Luqman Saeed, Ulster University). Abstract 30 here
16.00-16.30 Coffee break (coffee to be served next to the UITM cafeteria on the lower ground floor)
16.30-17.30 Session 8 – Frontiers in Defence and Security Research (chaired by Professor Stefan Markowski)
Main Auditorium
- Professor Daniel Arce (University of Texas at Dallas, USA). Cybersecurity and Market Share in Digital Ecosystems with Network Externalities. Abstract 31 here
- Dr. Łukasz Olejnik (Warsaw School of Economics, SGH, Warsaw, Poland).Researchers, Affiliations, and Biases in the Military Expenditures–Growth Nexus Literature. Abstract 32 here
- Professor Ugurhan Berkok and Dr. Oana Secrieru (Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston Ontario, Canada). Alliance Trust Dynamics under Uncertainty: Overcoming the Burden-Sharing Trap (to be presented by Dr. Oana Secrieru (RMC)). Abstract 33 here
17.30-18.00 Session 9 – Looking Ahead (topics for 2027)
Main Auditorium
18.00 Conference farewells (Conference Organisers)
Main Auditorium
18.30 – Bus departure from the Inner-City Campus for City Centre (see UITM bus service here)
Saturday 27th June
Social event: a guided tour of Rzeszow’s Town Centre arranged for 10.00. The party will meet the guide at a nominated spot in city centre (TBA). The tour will take about 2-3 hours with an option for further individual sightseeing of selected attractions, e.g., the underground network of corridors below the market square.