The 2023 Empirical Studies of Conflict 2023 Annual Meeting, hosted by the University of California Institute on Global Conflict, Penn Development Research Initiative, and Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, was held on October 19 and 20 at the SPIA space in Washington DC. This two-day gathering convened close to 90 academics and practitioners from over 50 organizations in the United States, Western Europe, and the Middle East to discuss cutting-edge research on conflict, along with the most relevant trends and topics in the field.

The agenda covered a broad spectrum of themes, including sanctions and great power politics, ethics in conflict research, big data and conflict, digital technology, policing, gender, climate change, resources, non-military means of conflict resolution, conflict prediction and its use in policy, and maintaining the relevance of empirical social science policy in a changing security landscape. The different sessions provided a platform for academics to present their research and receive feedback from a diverse audience of academics and practitioners, enriching the discourse and fostering collaborative insights. The meeting also included interventions by distinguished experts on critical global issues. Dr. Radha Iyengar Plumb, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, delivered a keynote address on the U.S.'s enhanced defense strategies in light of competition against major powers. John Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, spoke about the complexities of the US's involvement in Afghanistan. Additionally, a panel discussion featured Salam Fayyad, former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, and Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and Israel, focusing on the recent increase in Middle Eastern conflict.

The event's structure fostered an environment conducive to the exchange of cutting-edge research and ideas among seasoned academics, emerging scholars, and practitioners. The adept guidance of session chairs Joseph Felter, Jake Shapiro, Eli Berman, Guy Grossman, Robert Blair, Anouk Rigterink, and Austin Wright was instrumental in fostering an engaging flow of conversation, ensuring that each paper was thoroughly explored. Moreover, the discerning selection of papers by the committee, comprised of Cyrus Samii, Andrew Shaver, Alex Hartman, Alex Scacco, Renard Sexton, Jonah Rexer, Jane Esberg, Graeme Blair, Ulrich Eberle, Maria Micaela Sviatschi, Christoph Dworschak, Jorge Callego, and Chelsea Estancona, was instrumental in curating an insightful and dynamic program. The meeting underscored the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in understanding and addressing the complex challenges posed by global conflict, and furthermore highlighted ESOC's commitment to bridging the gap between scholarship and practical solutions for the world's most pressing issues and its dedication to supporting the education of the next generation of conflict scholars.

Preparations for the next ESOC Annual Meeting are set to start in the spring, with a call for papers expected to be announced concurrently.