2026 Trilateral Conference: Europe’s Future – Future Europe. Internal Tensions and External Challenges

The 2026 joint conference of the German Political Science Association (DVPW), the Austrian Political Science Association (ÖGPW), and the Swiss Political Science Association (SVPW/ASSP) will take place on 17–19 June 2026 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Held under the theme Europe’s Future – Future Europe: Internal Tensions and External Challenges, the 2026 Trilateral Conference will bring together scholars to explore the key issues shaping Europe’s political landscape.

Political, economic and social challenges are currently intensifying in Europe: polarisation, populism, debates on migration, democratic setbacks and economic inequalities are weighing on the European project from within. At the same time, external factors – such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, geopolitical power shifts and global crises (e.g. climate change, energy security, digitalisation) – are increasing the pressure on European states and the European Union. Against this backdrop, the question arises as to whether and how Europe can and should play an important and independent role in shaping the future international order and in the (global) development of democratic politics in practice and in theory. In both respects, Europe currently seems to be called upon to fundamentally redefine its political self-image.

This complex situation is the central question of the 2026 Trilateral Conference (Dreiländertagung): What does the future hold for Europe – and how can political science research help to identify orientations, lines of conflict and possible solutions?

The focus will be on both the internal constitution of Europe – institutions, democratic processes, social cohesion – and the foreign policy challenges of a changing international order. The conference invites participants to exchange ideas on possible scenarios, models and strategies for the political future of Europe at all levels. All subfields of political science – from international politics and political theory to comparative politics, policy analysis, political science didactics and methods – are invited to contribute to the diversity of perspectives at the conference.

For more information, visit the conference website.