Daughters of Themis is a network for women scholars in all areas of scholarship pertaining to business, including law, economics, management and administration, political science, sociology, natural and sustainability sciences.
Workshop theme
The 2025 Daughters of Themis Workshop seeks to explore sustainable business models that do not simply seek profit but strive to create value that benefits society and the environment. It recognizes that global trade and peace are not mutually exclusive but can be complementary forces. By promoting strategies such as fair-trade practices, sustainable global supply chains, responsible investment and inclusive economic development, businesses can play a key role in creating resilient economies that support conflict prevention and sustainable development in post-conflict regions.
The business–peace nexus is emerging as a growing area of scientific interest (Cechvala and Ganson, 2024, Joseph et al. 2024; Miklian et al., 2019), highlighting the pivotal role that economic development plays in conflict-prone regions, supporting peace and contributing towards sustainable development (Marcantonio, 2024). Oetzel et al. (2009) explain that businesses can contribute to peace in several ways. Promoting economic and social development is one approach. However, achieving climate-resilient peace may require addressing power imbalances and adopting post-growth business models that prioritize sustainability and equity over traditional growth (Nicoson, 2021). Building strong institutions and trust in business is important, as well as working with schools, healthcare, NGOs, and government to support the community (Oetzel et al., 2009). Businesses can also help resolve conflicts by getting involved in politics and using conflict-sensitive practices in their management (Oetzel et al., 2009). Engaging with stakeholders helps reduce risks and tensions.
This workshop will focus on the pathways to achieving collective wellbeing involving a multi-faceted approach. It includes, but it is not limited to, leveraging technology and regulations to create economic opportunities, fostering social entrepreneurship in marginalized communities and immigrant or displaced populations, encouraging corporate sustainability and a circular economy. The workshop will also welcome case studies of businesses that have succeeded in conflict zones, highlighting the strategies that enabled them to contribute to peacebuilding efforts while maintaining a thriving business. Moreover, the event will address the challenges of operating in areas marred by conflict, such as navigating political instability, managing the movement of displaced populations, ensuring the safety of employees, and building trust with local communities. It will also examine the role of international organizations and governments in creating an environment where businesses can thrive while contributing to peace, development and the support of migrants and refugees.
This Daughters of Themis Workshop aims at advancing the understanding of sustainability in the context of peace keeping and conflict prevention. We invite contributions to address this topic across all academic disciplines relevant to business, such as, but not restricted to:
- Sustainability science
- Business and management
- Law and legal theory
- Organizational studies
- Economics
- Social sciences
- Psychology
- Physical and natural sciences
Submission of abstracts and working papers
The title of your paper and an abstract of no more than 500 words should be submitted via this online form by 27 January 2025. Successful participants will be notified by 18 February 2025. The selection of participants will be competitive, based on the quality and thematic fit of the submitted abstract with the workshop theme.
Timely submission of working papers is a precondition for participation in the workshop. Short working papers of a maximum of 2,500 words, including footnotes, will be due by 12 May 2025. The word limit for the short working papers is chosen to enable all workshop participants to read all papers in preparation for the workshop, and to give space for developing the themes of the individual papers after the workshop, based on the comments and discussion. The limit for the full-length papers will be communicated at a later stage.
Annually, we offer publication opportunities to our participants, with many works from previous editions featured in highly regarded publications (e.g., Sjåfjell et al., 2023; Sjåfjell et al., 2022; Sjåfjell and Fannon, 2018). Since a peer-reviewed joint publication of selected workshop papers is envisaged, we will only accept original research, which is not submitted for publication elsewhere, and we request that the workshop participants commit to this publication process within a reasonable timeline, to be agreed upon with the workshop participants.
About the workshop
The Daughters of Themis annual workshops are deliberately designed to be small, welcoming, and in-depth. Our annual workshops are a warm and supportive space in which constructive, critical, and inspiring discussions can take place between participants, whilst nourishing the mind and body in a peaceful and idyllic natural setting.
Workshop spaces are limited to 12 participants, so that each participant can benefit from extended discussion of their work. The workshop sessions are shaped to ensure interactive discussion with two commentators assigned to each paper.
The workshop will be held from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 June 2025 at Otzias in the Greek island of Kea. The workshop will be hosted in the beautiful yard of Cavo Perlevos. Accommodation will be provided in two nearby guesthouses, Zinovia Studios and Cavo Doro Studios, both located close to Cavo Perlevos.
Further details about travel and accommodation will be given to the selected participants. A reasonable workshop fee will cover accommodation and lunches and dinners at self-cost. Other travel and accommodation costs are to be funded by the scholar herself.
Funding
The network, unfortunately, has no general funding available for participants. However, we have managed to secure funds to contribute to costs for one or two participants. We wish to include women business scholars from lower-income countries in our network, and especially encourage submissions from existing or potential new members in such countries, while the possibility to apply for financial assistance is open to all members. Please provide a short justification in the financial hardship section of the online form and let us know whether funding is a prerequisite for your attendance.
Academic organizing committee for the 2025 workshop
Idoya Ferrero-Ferrero, Sustainability of Organizations and CSR Management Research Group-IUDESP, Universitat Jaume I (Spain)
Aikaterini Argyrou, Nyenrode Business University (Netherlands)
Juana María Rivera-Lirio, Sustainability of Organizations and CSR Management Research Group-IUDESP, Universitat Jaume I (Spain)