The 2026 International Conference of the Philippine Political Science Association

Conference Theme

In the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and around the world, the politics of unity and division have long defined the trajectories of state formation, nation-building, and everyday power struggles. From the forging of postcolonial states to the negotiation of regional alliances, appeals to unity have often been cast as a moral and political imperative. These are manifest in dynamic political activities, ranging from the assertion of national solidarity against external threats to regional integration under international bodies like ASEAN and the EU, or collective action at different levels of society during times of crisis. 

Despite these, Unity is rarely neutral and frequently built on selective narratives, practices of exclusion, and the silencing of dissenting voices, leaving questions about who benefits from unity and who is rendered invisible in its name.

Conversely, division is frequently framed as a threat to peace, stability, and progress. It is invoked as the antithesis of harmony and as a justification for authoritarian consolidation. However, history shows that division is not merely a disruptive force. It can be a deliberate tool of governance, enabling elites to fragment opposition, mobilise loyal constituencies, or reinforce social hierarchies. 

At the same time, division can serve not only as a reminder from reality that diversity is inevitable. It is also a political resource for change and resistance—fueling movements that challenge the status quo, articulate alternative visions of belonging, or assert the rights of marginalised groups.

This conference invites scholars, practitioners, and activists to examine how unity and division operate as intertwined and dynamic forces in Southeast Asia’s political landscapes, as well as globally. How do ordinary citizens and leaders craft, receive, and respond to narratives of Unity, especially in relation to authority and plurality? In what ways are divisions—ethnic, religious, linguistic, class-based, or ideological—constructed, contested, and institutionalised? How do marginalised communities navigate these tensions, reclaim narratives, and transform exclusion into spaces of empowerment through storytelling, grassroots organising, and everyday acts of defiance?

With this theme, we aim to reframe unity and division not as static conditions, but as evolving processes shaped by historical legacies, shifting authoritarian and democratic practices, transnational flows, international relations, and the pressures of global capitalism. In critically engaging with these themes, the conference aims to create a space for envisioning political futures in which unity does not necessitate conformity, and division can serve as a foundation for pluralism, democratic deepening, and social justice.

The conference seeks to offer a wide range of opportunities for scientific inquiry and critical analysis in the fields of Philippine politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and research methodology. The 2026 International Conference of PPSA aims to convene presentations that explore both the unity and division within Philippine politics and the discipline of political science.

Conference Sub-themes

Among the sub-themes that the conference panels could address are the following:

• Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: Elections, Opinion, Engagement;
• Class, Inequality, and the Myth of Solidarity;
• Conflict and Peacebuilding: Negotiating Unity After Violence;
• Constitutional Design and Federalism: Unity or Division?;
• Digital Publics: Polarization, Disinformation, and Communities;
• Diasporas and Transnational Ties Beyond Borders;
• Divisions from Below: Grassroots Movements and Resistance;
• Environmental Politics: Shared Crises, Divided Responses;
• Ethnic and Religious Fault Lines in Southeast Asia;
• Forging Unity Amid Conflict and Diversity;
• Gendered Dimensions of Unity and Division in Politics;
• Global Politics of Unity and Division: Conflict and Cooperation;
• Identity Politics and the Boundaries of Citizenship;
• Imagining Futures: Pluralism, Solidarity, and Post-Division Politics;
• Memory, History, and the Politics of Belonging;
• Narratives of Power: Constructing Unity, Marking Division;
• Nation-Building and Its Discontents in Plural Societies;
• Political Dynasties, Graft, and Corruption;
• Political Parties: Bridging or Exploiting Divisions;
• Polarization and Its Impact on Democratic Institutions;
• Populism and Authoritarianism: Mobilizing Unity, Deepening Division;
• Regional Maritime Security Cooperation;
• Social Media Platforms, Polarization, and Democracy;
• Sovereignty and International Organizations;
• The Security Sector in Contentious Politics;
• Unity as Spectacle: Media, Propaganda, and Consensus;
• Youth and Student Movements for Unity.

In addition to the above research panels, the conference also allows for pedagogical panels that can include the following:

• Comparative Politics and Area Studies;
• Regional Situations (Northeast, Southeast, West, South, and Central Asia Perspectives);
• The Study of Political Science as a Discipline: Contemporaries and Futures;
• Research Methodologies in Political Science;
• Ethics and Politics.

About the PPSA

The Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) has continued to make path-breaking contributions to the promotion of the study of politics through the professional development of its members and academic advances in teaching, research, and public service for over 60 years. The PPSA, through its activities in general and its annual conferences in particular, has continuously and critically engaged fellow academics, policymakers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social movement players, as well as public intellectuals, on topics touching on day-to-day political realities at the local, regional, and international levels.

A key strength of the PPSA is that it is multidisciplinary in both its approaches and engagements. Thus, its members do not only include political scientists but also scholars from other social science disciplines. As with the previous PPSA conferences, the 2026 International Conference is expected to attract around 200 academics, researchers, public intellectuals, well-known policy and opinion makers, social movements, and civil society players to Dumaguete City.

Proposal Submissions and Participation Rules

Paper abstracts should consist of a maximum of 250 words and include research question(s) and research method(s). Panel proposals should also contain a panel description of not more than 250 words, aside from the individual abstracts of the papers included in the panel. Proposals will be peer-reviewed.

Individual appearances are limited to one (1) appearance in the program in each role to maximise participation. No individual may appear more than once in each of these roles: (a) chair of a panel, (b) presenter (principal author), and (c) co-author.

Panel proposals should strive for regional and gender balance and include younger scholars, following the diversity policy outlined in PPSA’s Goals (2023-2025). As such, proposals with all-male panels are not permitted.

Those interested in presenting or convening panels may submit their proposals through this Google Form: PPSA 2026 Proposal Submission Form

Deadlines and Dates to Remember

• Call for Proposals (Paper and Panels): 1 October 2025
• Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: 15 November 2025
• Release of Acceptance Notices: 15 January 2026
• Confirmation of Participation and Registration of Presenters: 31 January 2026
• Deadline of Payment for Participants: 30 March 2025
• Release of Book of Abstracts: 15 April 2025