26th Annual Conference of Central European Political Science Association
“Democracy after coronavirus: Facing new political reality”
2-3 June 2022, Bled, SloveniaOrganized by
Central European Political Science Association in cooperation with
Slovenian Political Science Association and University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social
SciencesPast couple of years will forever be the years of coronavirus, a cataclysmic event in slow motion that has disrupted people’s lives and disseminated a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability comparable only to times of war. Pressed by the fast pace of infections while fearing massively disruptive economic impact, political leaders around the world faced the challenge of acting quickly in a fog of scientific uncertainty, leading them to impose (or not impose) lockdown measures limiting personal freedoms, obstructing human rights and democratic participation. The democratic model has long been under stress, with the rise of homegrown populist and nationalist movements, and external geopolitical threats from resilient authoritarian actors. But COVID-19 created a new kind of stress test, bringing into question globalization, democratic decision-making, the reliability of science and information, the trust not only into political institutions but also into science and expertise, and ultimately the ability of the democratic model to cope with devastating events.
The aim of the conference is therefore a scientific reflection on the challenges our already weakened democracies in Central and Eastern Europe are facing in the wake of continued coronavirus pandemic. In this regard, the 26th annual Central European Political Science Association conference will address main challenges our Central European democracies are facing during coronavirus pandemic and will likely face in the years after coronavirus: protecting the safety and integrity of elections, finding the right place for expertise and merit, coping with resurgent populism and nationalism, countering homegrown and foreign disinformation, and defending the democratic model. The above-mentioned challenges will constitute the main axis of discussions undertaken during the conference. The conclusions reached as a result of the conference will be the basis for the implementation of comparative research with regard to the challenges posed to Central and Eastern Europe and in a supraregional approach. Within the conference panels both the theoretical and analytical contributions may be presented with the general theme. Applicants are encouraged to respond to the conference’s general theme by proposing a specific topics and proposals on all aspects of Central European politics will be considered. The conference is open to the researchers from all countries with an interest in Central European affairs.Paper and panel proposals
The academic program for the conference will be organized in the usual format of panels. Each panel should comprise minimum of four and maximum of five papers plus a potential discussant. We welcome individual paper proposals and / or complete panel proposals as well. Please note that in order to accommodate as many paper presenters as possible, we will limit one (1) paper presentation per individual, but individuals may – in addition of presenting a paper – also participate in other roles (moderators, discussants). We also welcome participants that do not want to present a paper, but would like to be moderators, discussants or to just attend and enjoy the conference.
Proposals for panels should include:
• Name, institutional affiliation, and email address of the proposed panel chair
• Proposed panel title and summary of its theme (approx. 250 words)
• (Possible) panelists including their names, institutional affiliations, and emailsThe tasks for a panel chair include:
• proposing a panel around a theme
• maintaining a balance between established and younger scholars,
• maintaining a balance with regards to the national affiliation of panelists.
The closing date for panel proposals: 28th of February 2022.Proposal for papers should include:
• Name, institutional affiliation, and email of the proposed contributor
• Proposed paper title and summary of its theme (approx. 250 words)
• Proposed panel where the paper could be placed (if known)
The closing date for paper proposals: 28th of February 2022.Proposals should be submitted to: cepsa2022@fdv.uni-lj.si
Participants will be informed of the acceptance at the end of March 2022.The first draft of a program will be available at the end of April 2022.
Program Committee of the conference
Miro Haček, President of CEPSA, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Boglarka Koller, Vice-President of CEPSA, University of Public Service, Hungary
Petr Just, General Secretary of CEPSA, Metropolitan University Prague, Czechia
Simona Kukovič, member of CEPSA EC, SASS and UL, Slovenia
Ladislav Cabada, Senior President of CEPSA, Metropolitan University Prague, Czechia
Žiga Vodovnik, President of Slovenian Political Science Association, University of Ljubljana, SloveniaPublication possibilities
The organizers do not provide for the publication of the conference papers. Nevertheless, we would like to offer to all scholars presenting their contribution the possibility to publish their papers in the form of a scientific article in CEPSA journals:
• Journal of Comparative Politics (www.jofcp.org)
• Politics in Central Europe (www.politicsince.eu)
• Political Preferences (https://www.journals.us.edu.pl/index.php/PP)
• Baltic Journal of Political Science (https://www.journals.vu.lt/BJPS/)
• Politické Vedy (http://www.politickevedy.fpvmv.umb.sk/en/)Financial issues
• There is no conference fee
• The organizers will provide meals (lunch and coffee breaks)
• The organizers do not cover any travel and/or accommodation costs.Location
Conference venue is Congress Centre Bled (https://www.kongresni-center-bled.si/en/). Venue in the center of world-famous town of Bled, just steps from Lake Bled, allows quick access by various means of transport. There is the Ljubljana Airport just 35 km away, with daily flights to many European destinations available. There are also rail (railway stations Lesce-Bled 5km and Bled-Jezero 2.5km away) and bus links available.
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