Call for papers

CALL FOR PAPERS
16th Annual Atlas-AFMI Conference
Association Francophone de Management International
UCA-IAE Clermont Auvergne, Clermont School of Business, CleRMa
May 18, 19, 20, 2026 in Clermont-Ferrand

You can download the call for papers Atlas Clermont 2026 here

International trade has often been studied from the perspective of global versus local tensions. If we look at current events (the re-establishment of certain borders, the issue of some countries withdrawing from regional blocs, the creation of new trade zones, etc.) and the various geopolitical power struggles we are seeing (tensions between China, the United States, Russia, Europe, the Near and Middle East, etc.), it is safe to say that the current environment is undergoing a complete reconfiguration.

This “global reconfiguration” is creating uncertainty and forcing countries, and above all their territories, to reposition themselves and decide what strategy to adopt in order to “come out on top” in this new global game. As a result, the concept of territory is becoming central. In this new context, how can territories integrate or reintegrate themselves into trade flows (commerce, movement of people, etc.) and investment? Furthermore, the attempt to reconstruct or deconstruct regional blocs, concomitant with this international reconfiguration, calls for reflection on territories in their plural dimension and on their driving role in the activity of national and international organizations.

A central concept in geography, the notion of territory (in the singular) covers a variety of interpretations in several disciplines. In geography, territory refers to three different but complementary dimensions: identity, material, and organizational (Le Berre, 1995). For geographer Gonin (2024), territory refers to (1) a privileged scale (the local), (2) a specific context, (3) forms of consultation and coordination between actors brought together in (4) project collectives, and (5) systemic functioning. In political science and law, territory is an institutional and organizational space. In economics, the concept refers to its material and functional dimensions. In psychology, anthropology, and sociology, the emphasis is on the identity dimension of territory, in a definition of territoriality where the sense of belonging is expressed to a land and explains the behavior patterns of individuals living in that space.

This overview of interdisciplinary literature shows that the word territory has experienced remarkable growth, even in the fields of management science and management. There has been a shift from territory to territories to mark diverse affiliations, identities, projects, and individual and collective practices. The term has therefore become essential to any reflection on belonging, space, governance, solidarity, etc.

For these reasons, the16th Atlas-AFMI Annual International Conference, we propose a perspective that draws on this notion of territories to shed new light on the ongoing reconfiguration of international trade. The workshops and sub-themes proposed for discussion are as follows:

1. International management in the African context: Suzanne Apitsa, Emmanuel Kamdem & Éric Milliot

Economic integration of African countries and international trade (ZLECAF, governance and co-construction of governance), diversity, ethnicity, interculturality (managerial behavior and HR innovation), development and territorial specificities (social innovation, diaspora, SSE, sustainable cities, free trade zones), formal and informal networks in African business circles.

2. Internationalization of SMEs and international entrepreneurship: Hamadou Boubacar, Ghassen Bouslama & François Goxe

Reasons for internationalization and identification of international opportunities, diversity of approaches according to profiles, actors and contexts, challenges and levers for the internationalization of SMEs and emerging firms, performance and impact of internationalization.

3. Methods of international expansion: Foued Cheriet & Laure Dikmen

Choice of methods, intermediaries, and destinations for business internationalization, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, internationalization trajectory, mobilization of international networks, international support

4. International finance: Ludivine Chalençon & Sophie Nivoix

International financial markets, market valuation of shares, financial performance and governance, corporate finance, international accounting, and tax issues.

5. Responsible international management: Hervé Cheillan, Philippe Very & Marion Vieu

Sustainable development and corporate/organizational responsibility strategies at the international level (innovation, differentiation, diversification), inter- and intra-organizational deployment of sustainable development and responsibility practices at the international level (logistics, finance, HRM, marketing, accounting/control).

6. Coping with crises, threats, and growing instability in the international environment: Kaouther Boubaya, Olivier Furrer, and Jean-Paul Lemaire

Sudden or gradual crises and upheavals in the international environment and the reconfiguration of territorial dynamics/trade flows, capital flows, foreign direct investment, the impact of multifaceted threats on organizations, and adaptation/response strategies

7. Innovation, digitalization, and internationalization: Hela Chebbi, Fadia Korbi, and Marion Neukam

Digital transformation and internationalization strategy, innovation in emerging countries/developed economies, AI and international innovation ecosystems, frugal/reverse innovation, management of innovation projects in the global value chain, digital innovation ecosystems and smart territories

8. Strategy and organization of multinational companies: Hanane Beddi & Jacques Jaussaud

Strategy of multinational companies, multinational companies in emerging countries, structure, coordination, and control in multinational companies, headquarters-subsidiary relationships, subsidiaries and territories, issues of localization, delocalization, and relocalization.

9. Intercultural Management and International HRM: Anne Bartel-Radic, Loyda Gomez & Fabienne Munch

Intercultural management and comparative management, international human resource management, cultural differences, cultural and linguistic diversity, intercultural skills, management of international teams and communities, international mobility, expatriation, virtual international collaboration

10. Geopolitics, international relations, and strategic responses of international companies: Manon Meschi & Dora Triki

Geopolitics, international relations, diplomacy, international institutions, and internationalization strategy (market entry, expansion, and exit), sanctions, conflicts, international risk

11. Doctoral Workshop: Anne Bartel-Radic & Frédéric Prevot

The doctoral workshop allows doctoral students and PhD and DBA students, regardless of their year of study, to present their thesis projects and receive comments and recommendations from a panel of several professors. Submitted texts must comply with the format specified for thesis projects (approximately 5 pages). The workshop is reserved for thesis projects. Full papers by doctoral students, whether co-authored with their thesis supervisor or other researchers, do not fall within the scope of the doctoral workshop and should be submitted to the thematic workshops.

12. International Management Case Study Workshop: Noémie Dominguez & Caroline Minialai

13. Thesis and DBA Awards

 
Organizing Committee

• Suzanne M. APITSA (Présidente du comité d’organisation)
• Anne ALBERT-CROMARIAS
• Christine LAMBEY-CHECCHIN
• Ntxhee LY
• Pierre MATHIEU
• Pham NGUYEN
• Murrim CECCATO
• Alexandre CABAGNOLS
• Elda NASHO
• Olivier BOURGUINON

Possible publications

• A selection of papers will be included in a thematic issue of the journal Management International
• A collective book on the conference theme will be published by Vuibert (Atlas-AFMI collection). The work may then be submitted to an Anglo-Saxon publisher.
• Teaching cases may be submitted for the prize and certification of international management cases organized by Atlas-AFMI and the CCMP (Centrale de Cas et de Médias Pédagogiques).

Important dates

• January 12, 2026: deadline for submitting papers, doctoral projects, and teaching cases (full text, in French or English, in accordance with the editorial policy of the journal Management International: http://www.managementinternational.ca), doctoral projects (3 to 5 pages), and teaching cases on the website:  https://atlasafmi2026.sciencesconf.org. Please do not submit a paper to more than one workshop at a time. Make only one choice.
• February 20, 2026: Evaluation decisions sent to authors, with requested modifications, if applicable.
• March 1, 2026: Registration opens and logistical information about accommodation and hospitality in Clermont-Ferrand (route map) is distributed.
• March 20, 2026: Final versions of modified and accepted papers received.
• April 15, 2026: Distribution of the provisional conference program
• May 1, 2026: Distribution of the final program
• May 18, 2026: Case study workshop and doctoral workshop sessions at Clermont School of Business
• May 19 and 20, 2026: Atlas AFMI annual international conference

For more information, please visit the Atlas-AFMI website: http://www.atlas-afmi.com