At the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Classical Studies and the Archaeological Institute of America in Philadelphia, the Mountaintop Coalition sponsored the joint panel, “International Scholarship in a ‘Globalized’ World? Obstacles and Challenges to Equity.” This panel explored the under-questioned role of international travel as a barrier in the discipline of Classics. Panelists examined the importance of their ability to be mobile in their research, offered personal insights and lessons gained from their involvement in international programs, and illuminated how the dynamics of international politics, conflicts, and diplomacy affect their ability to conduct research. Each panelist also reflected on how they have managed to effectively deal with these external factors while maintaining the integrity and rigor of their research objectives.

Building on the Philadelphia panel, its organizers are collaborating with Res Difficiles journal as editors of a special issue to continue the conversation on the implications of international scholarship in the study of Mediterranean antiquity. In doing so, our aim is to further dissect the romanticized image of Classics wherein students and scholars spend summers, semesters, and academic years in the Mediterranean and Europe. For many Classicists–especially graduate students, early-career scholars, and contingent scholars–international travel comes at significant and prohibitive monetary expense. The increasing number of people of color and individuals belonging to other minoritized groups in Classics face the additional psychological toll of encountering unfamiliar forms of discrimination abroad. With respect to Classicists from outside the Global North, there are also structural concerns in navigating the bureaucracy to obtain costly visas and meet other travel requirements. In the months since the panel convened in Philadelphia, restrictions imposed (or proposed) on foreign scholars and students residing in or traveling to the U.S. have increased, heightening uncertainties about the safety and career prospects of current and future generations of Classicists, both inside and outside higher education.

While the panel focused on the difficulties of Classicists based in North America, for the special issue of Res Difficiles, we also welcome submissions from colleagues in the Global South. This call is open to all interested parties who specialize in any area of study of Classics who have experienced challenges including but not limited to those described above in effectively carrying out an international research agenda. We also encourage papers which may speak to the influence of these external factors in pursuing specific foci within the fields of Classics and Archaeology. We are seeking papers of no more than 8,000–10,000 words in length, inclusive of notes and bibliography. For consideration, please submit an abstract of no more than 400 words to Yusi Liu at yliu2@brynmawr.edu by November 28, 2025. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chris (christophergipson90@gmail.com) or Yusi (yliu2@brynmawr.edu).

We hope everyone is well,

Yusi Liu, Chris Gipson, and Najee Olya

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