3 April 2026

The Athens Institute successfully hosted its 19^th Annual International Conference on Mediterranean Studies,
held on 30-31 March 2026 in Athens, Greece

The Athens Institute successfully hosted its 19^th Annual International Conference on Mediterranean Studies, held on 30-31 March 2026 in Athens, Greece. The final program of the conference is available at: https://www.atiner.gr/2026mdt-pro

The conference brought together approximately 50 researchers from 19 countries, including Albania, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, fostering a dynamic international forum for scholarly exchange.

The opening address was delivered on Monday, 30 March by Gregory T. Papanikos, President, Athens Institute & Professor (Adjunct), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, who spoke on “Dynamics of Regional Security in the Mediterranean Basin”, highlighting contemporary security challenges and geopolitical developments in the region.

A key highlight of the conference was a special event held on Monday, 30 March 2026, titled “Revolutions of National Independence and the Birth of the Nation-State during the 18th and 19th Centuries”, under the auspices of the Athenian Academic Periodical. The session, coordinated by Lambros Ap. Pyrgiotis, emphasized the complex and non-linear transition from empires to modern nation-states, shaped by wars, ideologies, institutional transformations, and international interventions.

Particular attention was given to transatlantic revolutionary influences. Oubriyan Damus (Professor, State University of Haiti, Haiti & Visiting Professor, University of Sherbrooke, Canada) highlighted the role of Haiti as the first Black republic, underlining its global impact following its independence in 1804 and its support for other national liberation movements, including the Greek War of Independence. Further contributions included Raquel de Caria Patrício (Associate Professor, University of Lisbon, Portugal), who examined transformations in the Portuguese-speaking world, and Pedro Ricardo Fonseca (Professor, Guarda Polytechnic University & Researcher, University of Coimbra, Portugal), who analyzed Portugal’s historical path toward a modern nation-state. Stefano Maggi (Professor and Chairman, University of Siena, Italy) addressed the role of technological infrastructure, particularly railways, in the Italian unification process, emphasizing their importance in both military mobilization and political integration.

Concluding the session, Gregory T. Papanikos presented a long-term analysis of sovereign state evolution from 1820 to 2020, linking the expansion of the international system to decolonization, economic development, and major political transformations.

The event concluded with an engaging discussion, reaffirming the continued relevance of state sovereignty and national identity in an increasingly globalized world. The conference was followed by an Ancient Athenian Dinner offered by Gregory T. Papanikos, providing participants with an opportunity for further informal exchange and networking.

The 20^th Annual International Conference on Mediterranean Studies will be held on 22-26 March 2027, and more information can be found at: www.atiner.gr/mediterranean