Master’s student Kyle Arguelles presents at the EISA Pan-European Conference in Lisbon

The Pan-European Conference on International Relations is usually attended by established scholars and doctoral researchers. This year, one of the presenters was a student from our International and Diplomatic Studies master’s programme.

Kyle Arguelles, a second-year student in the International and Diplomatic Studies (IDS) master’s programme, took part in the 19th Pan-European Conference on International Relations (PEC), held on 1–4 September 2026 at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon. The conference is organised by the European International Studies Association (EISA), founded in 2013 to advance international studies in Europe and beyond. EISA describes its Pan-European Conferences as the leading annual event in International Relations in Europe.

Speaking on the panel Narrative, Imagination, and Temporality in the Global South, Kyle presented his paper “Affective Truths and Political Legitimacy in Myanmar: Competing Narratives of Democracy, Sovereignty, and Social Justice.” The paper examines how emotionally resonant narratives shape perceptions of who counts as a credible political voice. Using discourse analysis of state publications, media articles, and public speeches, Kyle traces how four actors anchor their claims to legitimacy in different historical baselines: Aung San Suu Kyi, the military, the international community, and the Rohingya. He argues that these competing “affective truths” have made it harder to build the shared understandings needed for lasting peace. The paper fit well with this year’s conference theme, which questioned knowledge production, positionality, and authenticity in IR.

“The conference was a great success, and it was a privilege to connect with fellow researchers from around the world,” Kyle said.

It is rare for a master’s student to present at a conference of this scale, especially while still at the start of work on the master’s thesis. The Department of International and Diplomatic Studies congratulates Kyle on this achievement. His participation was supported by a one-time scholarship from the Faculty of International Relations (FIR).