Adam Smith

The International Adam Smith Society, The Center for the Study of Scottish Philosophy, and The History of Economic Thought Society issue a call for papers for a joint meeting to be held at The University of Glasgow, 17th- 20th June 2026. The Meeting will form a central part of the commemoration of the 250^th anniversary of the publication of The Wealth of Nations at the University where Adam Smith was a student and professor.

Taking this anniversary as our inspiration, we aim to explore the Wealth of Nations as a book that engaged with its time and speaks to ours. Major issues such as poverty, inequality, empire, slavery and the power of corporations were central to his concerns. What can we learn from Smith’s desire to influence debate on these issues? Can we apply a Smithian lens to the pressing issues of our time? The world in 1776 and the world in 2026 are very different, but many of the underlying issues that we face are startlingly similar, and we can learn from Smith’s solutions to them. The conference offers a unique interdisciplinary opportunity to revisit one of the most influential texts in modern intellectual history. 

With this in mind, we particularly welcome proposals that explore Smith in his 1776 context, addressing issues of empire and revolution, and proposals that apply Smithian ideas in our 2026 context, addressing issues such as monopoly, corporate governance, commerce and justice. Beyond this, we welcome papers which focus on the Wealth of Nations, on Adam Smith, and the legacy of Smithian ideas, in the widest sense, in philosophy, politics, and economics.

Further details will appear in due course.