IPSA Regional Conference - Wroclaw 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 international conference in Poland in October 2026, convened in cooperation with the International Political Science Association (IPSA), the Polish Political Science Association (PPSA), and the University of Wrocław, is therefore of particular relevance.

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 

Program Committee

• Yuko Kasuya (Co-Chair)
  IPSA President, Professor of political science at Keio University (Tokyo, Japan)
• Magdalena Musiał-Karg (Co-Chair) 
  IPSA Vice-President, President of the Polish Political Science Association (PPSA), Professor of political science at Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznań, Poland)
• Hasret Dikici Bilgin
  IPSA President-Elect, Professor of political science at Istanbul Bilgi University (Istanbul, Türkiye)
• Elisa Chelle
  IPSA Executive Committee member, Professor of political science at Université Paris Nanterre (France)
• Laurence Piper
  IPSA Executive Committee member, Professor of political science at University West (Sweden) and the University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
• Magdalena Ratajczak
  Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor of political science at the Institute of International and Security Studies at University of Wroclaw (Wroclaw, Poland)
• Luis de Sousa
  IPSA Executive Committee member, Principal researcher at the Instituto de Ciências Sociais da Universidade de Lisboa (Lisbon, Portugal)
• Piotr Sula
  Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Associate Professor of political science at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Wrocław (Wroclaw, Poland)

Local Organizing Committee (LOC)

• Magdalena Musiał-Karg
  IPSA Vice-President, President of the Polish Political Science Association (PPSA), Professor of political science at Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznań, Poland)
• Magdalena Ratajczak
  Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor of political science at the Institute of International and Security Studies at University of Wroclaw (Wroclaw, Poland)
• Piotr Sula
  Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Associate Professor of political science at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Wrocław (Wroclaw, Poland)

Key Dates  

Destination

Venue 

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

Travel

Expense Responsibility

All expenses related to travel, visa, accommodation, and meals are the sole responsibility of the participating delegate. Kindly make the necessary arrangements and budget considerations to cover these aspects of your attendance.

Requirements to Enter Poland

To enter Poland, you will need a valid Passport issued within the last 10 years valid at least 3 months beyond departure and/or a visa, depending on the country you reside in. If you are from a European Union country, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you can travel to Poland using a valid ID card or passport – a document confirming the identity and citizenship. 

Use the Schengen Visa Wizard to find out if you need a visa or the Schengen Visa Application Process: Step-by-Step Guide.

Note:

• If you do need a visa to enter Poland, the typical one for short visits (including conferences) is a Schengen Visa (Type C).
• IPSA will not contact embassies or consulates on behalf of visa applicants. All delegates and invitees are responsible for making their own arrangements in a timely manner.
• IPSA will provide an official invitation letter (in PDF format) upon registration and payment to participants who have an accepted role in the Program. Invitation letters do not guarantee that a visa will be granted — that decision is made by the embassy or consulate.
• Visa-related matters, including the inability to obtain a visa, are not covered by the registration refund policy.

Useful links:

• Visas: www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/visas
• Schengen Visa Information: www.schengenvisainfo.com
• Poland Embassies and Consulates Abroad: www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/poland

Accommodation

• Independent Arrangements: Participants are free to choose their preferred accommodation type, including hotels, hostels, or Airbnb, based on personal preferences and budget constraints.
• Online Hotel Reservation Platforms: Numerous online platforms offer a variety of accommodation options within a reasonable distance from the conference venue. Feel free to explore platforms such as Booking.com, Trivago.com, Airbnb, or others to find suitable and convenient lodging.
• Conference Hotels with preferential rates: Coming soon

Call for Proposals

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 (tracks).

1. Threats and Erosions
2. Information, Media, and Technology
3. Citizenship, Participation, and Identity
4. Institutional and Policy Innovations
5. Global and Environmental Challenges

Please refer to the Theme section for more information on each track.

Key Deadlines

You may also refer to all Key Dates. 

Submit a Closed Panel | 1 April - 13 May 2026

Researchers are invited to submit a panel proposal to a relevant track. A closed panel proposal refers to a pre-organized and complete panel that includes 4-5 papers, a chair, and one or two discussants. 

The proposal should include the following elements:

• Panel Title
• Panel Description outlining the panel's focus and objectives (200 words maximum)
• 1 Chair (Full name, E-mail, Gender, Institution & Country)
• 1-2 Discussant(s) (Full name, E-mail, Gender, Institution & Country)
• Requested Track
• Within the panel submission form, invite 4-5 paper authors to submit their paper abstracts. Each abstract is to be submitted individually via the Oxford Abstracts platform.
• Acknowledgement of the in-person participation format
  (All proposed panelists must commit to participating in-person if the panel is selected.)

Note: All panel elements listed above should be included when you submit your proposal. Once submitted, you will be able to edit the elements of the panel proposal until 13 May 2026.

Before submitting a panel proposal, please review the submission instructions [Coming Soon].

Panel Presentation Format 

Each panel lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes. Individual presentations must be made in-person in no more than 15 minutes. Remote (online/virtual) presentations are not permitted.

Submit a Paper | 1 April - 13 May 2026

Researchers are invited to submit a paper proposal to a relevant track. Submission of individual papers by author(s), which, if accepted, will be grouped into panels at the discretion of the Program Committee. 

Submitted paper proposals will be reviewed by the unit convenor(s). Accepted papers will be grouped into workshops by the relevant unit convenor, based on topical fit and the aim of fostering productive discussion. Participants are expected to actively engage in the workshop by presenting their work, offering feedback to others, and contributing to collective discussions.

The paper proposal must be in English and should include:

1. Paper Title
2. Paper Abstract (300 words maximum)
   The following points should be covered in your Abstract:
   • the research question your paper investigates
   • a very brief description of the methodological approach
     • Do not include references, bibliographical notes, or your contact information in the abstract text.
     • Review your use of language.
3. Requested Track (Thematic Area)
4. Paper Author(s) (Full name, e-mail, institutional affiliation, country & gender)
5. Conference Proceedings Library Inclusion 
6. Acknowledgement of the participation format and delivering the presentation in-person

Before submitting a paper proposal, please review the submission instructions [Coming Soon].

Paper Presenter Responsibilities

If the paper proposal is accepted, paper presenters are required to:

• Register by 5 August 2026. 
• If at least one author/co-author does not register by this date, the paper will be withdrawn from the program.
• Submit (upload) the complete paper by 30 September 2026.
• Present the paper orally in-person, in no more than 15 minutes, at the scheduled time of your panel from 14-16 October 2026.

Panel Format

Each panel lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes and comprises 4-5 paper presentations. Individual presentations must be made in-person in no more than 15 minutes. Remote (online/virtual) presentations are not permitted.

Panels should strive for regional and gender balance and include younger scholars, in accordance with the diversity policy in IPSA's Mission Statement.

Note: Paper givers may be asked to serve as chairs and/or discussants in the assigned panel.

Guidelines for Full Papers

Main authors of accepted proposals must submit the complete paper in PDF format by 30 September 2026. The instructions for uploading the full paper will be provided to accepted authors by e-mail.

• A written paper, in English, no more than 12.000 words, single-spaced on letter-sized pages (8.5” x 11”) or A4.
• Authors are free to choose the citation style of their paper.

Certificates

A certificate of attendance will be issued after the event to registered participants who attended the conference. 

Registration

Registration Key Dates

You may also refer to all Key Dates.

Registration Fees

Individual Members of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) benefit from a reduced registration fee to attend the conference. 

If you are not an individual member of IPSA, you may become a member or register as a non-member.

Become a Member

Refer to the list of countries by group.

Invitation Letters

Invitation letters will be issued upon request to individuals who have registered and have an accepted role in the program. Invitation letters will not be issued to observers.

Refund Policy 

All cancellations must be sent in writing to the IPSA Secretariat at events@ipsa.org. Registrations cancelled before 15 September 2026 will be refunded 50% of the registration fee paid; cancellations received as of 16 September 2026, and no-shows will not be refunded.

Note that visa-related matters, including the inability to obtain a visa, are not covered by the registration refund policy.