IPSA 2027 ROME

Invitation to

2027 World Congress of Political Science

International Political Science Association (IPSA)

Venue: Rome, Italy

24 - 28 July 2027

This is a general invitation for participation at the meetings on democratization, security and conflict to be held at the World Congress of International Political Science Association, organized by its Research Committee no. 44 (RC44).

RC 44 Open Panel proposals submission link is below (submit before 31 July 2026 here, and to the IPSA congress website before 31 August 2026):

Open panel proposal form (submit before the end of 31 July 2026)

The IPSA submission platform is here:

https://wc2027.ipsa.org/wc/submit-panel

Our program can be found on the website of the congress (after June 2027).

https://wc2027.ipsa.org/wc/sessions

Uncertain Democracies: Rethinking Governance in a Changing Global System

In a world marked by rapid and uncertain geopolitical shifts, economic disruptions, and technological revolutions, democracy finds itself at a crossroads. Traditional governance structures are under strain as a result of rising populism, digital authoritarianism, the erosion of social rights and public services provisions, the rising tide of human migration and the consequent growing of multiethnic societies. What’s more, non-state actors now assume many of the functions previously provided by states and public institutions. As a result, private actors are wielding greater political influence, albeit without the accountability typically demanded of their public counterparts.

Furthermore, the global power structure is undergoing dramatic changes, with a host of factors exerting a strong and direct effect on global and national democracy. These include the emergence of new international actors, tectonic changes in the political landscape in powerful and influential countries, specifically with regards to key global issues; the weakening of multilateralism, the crisis of international organizations, and the influence of populism and extreme nationalist movements on global climate change and immigration policies. Likewise, the quality of democracy is under threat from rising economic inequality, both nationally and globally.

These challenges have given rise to an erosion of public trust in democratic institutions and led to an anti-democratic populist backlash in consolidated democracies and difficulties in consolidating emerging democracies.

The rapid advancement of the “AI revolution” also poses significant and unprecedented challenges to traditional democracy. Its potential to generate misinformation and deception and to impact democratic processes is far-reaching, yet states are ill-prepared to deal with the consequences. That said, AI tools can also be viewed as opportunities for innovation and for addressing issues that conventional politics has failed to adequately resolve.

Democracies continue to rely on centuries-old institutions, processes, procedures and practices. Can democracy and its traditional methods endure amid ongoing uncertainties, or are new institutional and political models required to meet current challenges?

As nations navigate an increasingly multipolar and changing world, key questions arise: How must democracy evolve to remain relevant and resilient in the new global order? How can democracy refine its strategies in response to the complexities of national and international society? Is democratic governance of the international system even possible?

We actively encourage proposals and dialogues on these topics with the aim of identifying new categories and frameworks for understanding the current context, debating innovative models of democratic governance, examining current transformations within national democracies, recognizing potential avenues for the modernization of democracy, and identifying democratic governance solutions on a global scale.

From this perspective, the 2027 IPSA World Congress calls the political science community to carry out systematic analysis and rethink local, national and global democratic governance in the 21st Century. Discussion topics will include innovations in democracy, such as deliberative democracy, and efforts to monitor democracy and participatory processes that promote civic participation in political decisions. These and other forms of democratic innovation should be analyzed with an eye to fostering and renewing political participation. Additional topics of debate will include the role of new actors and processes in distinct political contexts, the recalibration of democratic systems in response to the impact of artificial intelligence on governance, the influence of social media in shaping public opinion, the increasing interference of private actors in national democratic procedures, the spread of misinformation and its impact on democratic processes, and the urgent need for inclusive institutions and policies that reflect 21st  century realities and social needs.

The conference invites the global political science community to discuss these topics, explore innovations in democratic institutions and practices in response to emerging global challenges to democracy, and determine how to achieve more resilient and democratic societies around the world. Participants will look at how these factors are reshaping politics, public policies, public engagement and government accountability, offering perspectives on how societies can adapt democratic institutions to better reflect the needs of diverse communities, with a focus on both the theoretical and practical dimensions of democratic renewal.

Vanessa Elias de Oliveira and Francesca Longo, Program Co-Chairs