Call for Papers: IPSA Regional Conference – Wroclaw 2026, Proposals Submission Deadline- 13 May 2026

Call for Papers: IPSA Regional Conference – Wroclaw 2026, Proposals Submission Deadline- 13 May 2026

Theme

Resilience of Democracy in a Polarized World: Populism, Autocratization, and Global Challenges

Processes of democratic erosion, autocratization, and intensifying political polarization constitute some of the most consequential developments in contemporary politics. While the late twentieth century was widely characterized by successive waves of democratization, the early 21st century has witnessed a growing number of cases in which democratic institutions are weakened from within, executive authority is expanded, and the core principles of liberal democracy are increasingly contested.

These dynamics are closely intertwined with the rise of populist actors, the radicalization of political discourse, declining levels of trust in political institutions, and the strategic use of elections, media, and legal frameworks for partisan purposes. At the same time, such transformations unfold against the backdrop of profound global changes, including economic volatility, rapid technological innovation, climate change, large-scale migration, pandemics, and shifting security environments. Together, these developments reshape both the capacities of states and the expectations of citizens.

Yet democracy has not disappeared. Across different political systems, societies and institutions continue to develop mechanisms of adaptation, resistance, and renewal. The concept of democratic resilience directs analytical attention to the capacity of political systems to withstand pressures, respond to crises, and reconfigure democratic practices under adverse conditions. Explaining variation in democratic resilience—why democracy proves durable in some contexts and vulnerable in others – represents one of the central challenges for contemporary political science.

Importantly, contemporary democracies operate under conditions of overlapping and mutually reinforcing global pressures. Political responses to war and geopolitical instability, environmental degradation, economic shocks, public health emergencies, and technological disruption shape not only public policy, but also patterns of political competition, narratives of responsibility and blame, and the perceived legitimacy of democratic governance. Such responses may either strengthen democratic resilience through inclusion, accountability, and cooperation, or accelerate autocratization through securitization, exclusion, and the concentration of power.

Organizing a three-day regional conference in Poland in October 2026, convened in cooperation with the International Political Science Association (IPSA), the Polish Political Science Association (PPSA), and the  Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Wrocław, is therefore of particular relevance.

The conference will be a fully in-person event. No virtual component will be available.

The conference invites paper and panel proposals that examine democratic resilience, erosion, and transformation from theoretical, empirical, and comparative perspectives. Contributions addressing any region or time period are welcome, including both single-case studies and cross-national analyses, within the following thematic areas:

1. Threats and Erosions
Domestic and Global Autocratization
Democratic Erosion and Institutional Resilience
Populism, Polarization, and Party Realignment
Corruption, Trust, and Democratic Legitimacy
Judicial Independence, Judicialisation of Politics, and the Rule of Law
Electoral Integrity and Strategic Manipulation

2. Information, Media, and Technology
Media, Disinformation, and Democratic Accountability
Digital Authoritarianism and Surveillance Politics
Virtual Public Spheres and Online Deliberation
AI and Governance

3. Citizenship, Participation, and Identity
Civil Society and Grassroots Mobilization
Social Movements and Democratic Renewal
Youth Politics and Digital Participation
Civic Education and Democratic Citizenship
Nationalism, Identity, and Democratic Cohesion

4. Institutional and Policy Innovations
Participatory and Institutional Innovations
Clientelism and Accountability Mechanisms
Economic Crises and Inequalities
Digital Democracy
Political Parties and Electoral Reform

5. Global and Environmental Challenges
War, Securitization, and Democratic Order
Governing Global Challenges after Multilateralism
Climate Governance and Collective Leadership
Migration and Multi-level Policy-making
Traditional and Non-traditional Security Issues

Key Dates 

Venue

University of Wrocław / Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics / Wydział Prawa, Administracji i Ekonomii
Uniwersytecka 22/26,
50-145 Wrocław, Poland

For more details, refer here