Introduction

In light of the complex challenges shaping our world today, the 2026 EASP Annual Conference – Social Policy in Asia in Times of Multiple Disruptions seeks to bring together scholars and practitioners to exchange ideas, share research, and foster meaningful collaboration. The conference is co-hosted by the Graduate School of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and the East Asian Social Policy Research Network (EASP), and co-organised with the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The event will be held on 17–18 July 2026, at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, in a hybrid format that accommodates both in-person and online participation.

As a vital platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, this conference provides an important opportunity to engage in in-depth dialogue on the evolving landscape of social policy across Asia amidst an era of interconnected crises and rapid transformations.

We are living in an era defined not by a single crisis, but by a cascade of interconnected disruptions that are fundamentally challenging the sustainability of our societies, economies, and daily lives. The COVID-19 pandemic was not an isolated event but a stark reminder of our encroachment on the ecosystem. It has left a lasting impact on our social and economic systems, revealing new vulnerabilities and persistent instabilities that continue to shape our societies. In the same vein, the accelerating climate crisis—itself a consequence of unsustainable human development—presents an existential threat, demanding a fundamental transformation of our production and lifestyles.

This 'polycrisis' is further complexified by deep structural shifts. The rapid advance of digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises innovation but also signals a fundamental disruption of employment and social structures, raising new questions about inequality and human agency. Profound demographic changes, including persistent low fertility, rapid aging, and diversifying family structures, reveal that our existing social contracts are no longer sustainable.

Furthermore, these disruptions are unfolding within a volatile global context. Geopolitical instabilities, the resurgence of nationalism and xenophobia highlighted by migration crises, and cost-of-living pressures intensified by trade tensions all demonstrate that social policy can no longer be adequately conceived or implemented solely within national borders.

These 'multiple disruptions'—environmental, technological, demographic, and geopolitical—are not parallel but deeply intertwined, creating new, multi-dimensional challenges for social policy. They demand a fundamental rethinking of our established analytical frameworks, governance models, and institutional arrangements. This new reality requires us, as a research community, to move beyond single-issue analysis and seek complex, multi-dimensional solutions that adequately address these intersecting crises.

The EASP 2026 Annual Conference aims to convene scholars to critically examine these complex challenges. We seek to foster a robust discussion on how social policy is responding to, and being reshaped by, this era of multiple disruptions. Reflecting the network's commitment to broadening its scope, we particularly welcome research that includes the context of Southeast Asia alongside East Asia. We invite theoretical, comparative, and empirical papers that explore the intersections of these crises, assess the resilience and innovation of existing welfare systems, and propose new paradigms for a sustainable and just future.

Introduction Conference Streams

Please select one of the following streams for your submission. This list serves as a guideline; sessions will be organized based on the accepted papers.

1. Rethinking Social Policy in an Era of Polycrises
2. Post-Pandemic Legacies in Social Policy
3. Climate Change, Just Transitions, and Environmental Social Policy
4. Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Future of Work and Welfare
5. Population and Demographic Shifts: Aging, Low Fertility, and Intergenerational Relations
6. Geopolitics, Conflicts, and Welfare under Uncertainty
7. Labour Markets, Precarious Employment, and Decent Work
8. Poverty, Inequalities, and Social Inclusion
9. Gender, Family, and Changing Social Roles
10. Health Security and Social Care Systems
11. Welfare States and Welfare Regimes (Comparative and Regional Perspectives)
12. Social Security, Redistribution, and Social Justice
13. Education, Skills, and Lifelong Learning
14. Housing, Urbanization, and Regional Development
15. Migration, Citizenship, and Diversity
16. Governance and the Role of the Nonprofit Sector