About

The Society for Peace, Internationalism & Ecology (SPINE) provides a platform for rigorous scholarly research, cultural work, and organizing that stands up for peace, international solidarity, and environmental sustainability. It encourages innovative work that has real use-value for collective struggles and contributes to developing collaborative intellectual, artistic, and activist communities across Turtle Island and around the world. Rather than being restricted to particular fields or limited to those working in academic institutions, SPINE is resolutely transdisciplinary and encourages extra-academic scholarship, as well as contributions from artists and activists.SPINE does not take a neutral stance on global struggles or pretend to be value-free. Instead, it explicitly upholds and defends the values of international solidarity and environmental justice. It rejects all forms of social chauvinism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and other types of oppression, while simultaneously recognizing that they cannot be fully overcome without going to their class and colonial roots. It thereby provides a space for materialist research, cultural production, and organizing that contributes to the goals of substantive social transformation in the direction of a more egalitarian, peaceful, and sustainable world.SPINE hosts an annual conference and supports other activities through the course of the year. Its founding co-sponsors are the Critical Theory Workshop, Iskra Books, and the World Marxist Review.

Membership

Membership in SPINE is available to all who agree with our mission and membership dues are only used to pay for organizational programming, primarily our annual conference. Membership is available on a sliding scale ranging from $0–$50 per year. Become a member here!SPINE is currently being run collectively by co-chairs and an advisory committee.

Founding Co-ChairsColin Bodayle (Villanova University)
Taylor R. Genovese (Dutchess Community College)
Timour Kamran (Villanova University)
Jennifer Ponce de León (University of Pennsylvania)
Gabriel Rockhill (Villanova University)

Advisory CommitteeRóisín Dubh (Independent Scholar)
Tina Ngô (Independent Scholar)
Domhnall Óg (Independent Scholar)
David Peat (Independent Scholar)
Steven Powers (Villanova University)
Scott Ritchie (Kennesaw State University)
Creighton Ward (Independent Scholar)
Jordan Whelchel (Villanova University)

THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Society for Peace, Internationalism, and Ecology

DetailsCall for Proposals will be released in due time! See information about our past conferences here.Conference Dates: TBDConference Venue: Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania

A huge thank you to everyone who has attended our past conferences! Details, programs, and group photos from past conferences are below.

SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Society for Peace, Internationalism, and Ecology

• Download the 2026 conference program

DetailsConference Dates: October 2–3, 2026Conference Venue: Villanova University, Villanova, PennsylvaniaKeynote Speaker: Helen Yaffe (University of Glasgow)

Inaugural Conference
The Society for Peace, Internationalism, and Ecology

• Download the 2025 conference program

DetailsConference Date: October 18, 2025Conference Venue: Villanova University, Villanova, PennsylvaniaKeynote Speaker: John Bellamy Foster (University of Oregon)