About

Introduction

The global development of democracy over the past decade has demonstrated increasingly alarming tendencies. The phenomena of democratic backsliding, the resurgence of authoritarian regimes, and the intensifying social and political polarization have become clear indicators of the contemporary crisis of democracy. This crisis extends beyond the institutional level and penetrates the normative and imaginative dimensions of democracy, where fundamental values such as participation, representation, and social justice are increasingly being questioned.

In Southeast Asia, these dynamics possess their own distinct complexities. Countries within the region exhibit diverse trajectories of democratization shaped by colonial legacies, political-economic configurations, and unique socio-cultural dynamics. Challenges such as corruption, the shrinking of civic space, identity politics, and digital disruption through disinformation and algorithmic power further exacerbate the fragility of democratic systems in the region.

In response to these challenges, there is an urgent need for an academic forum that is not only reflective but also transformative. An interdisciplinary approach is essential to comprehensively and contextually understand the crisis of democracy. Therefore, the Nusantara International Conference on Contemporary Social Research (NICCSR) 2026 is organized as a strategic platform to bring together academics, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in reimagining the future of democracy, particularly from the perspective of Southeast Asia.

Objectives

1. To facilitate interdisciplinary academic discussions on the contemporary crisis of democracy. 

2. To analyze the dynamics of democracy in Southeast Asia within the broader global context. 

3. To promote knowledge exchange among academics, practitioners, and policymakers. 

4. To generate critical and innovative perspectives in reimagining the future of democracy. 

5. To strengthen international academic and research collaboration networks. 

Benefits

For Academics

• A platform for the publication and dissemination of research findings

• Strengthening international academic networks 

For Institutions

• Enhancement of international reputation

• Strengthening cross-country research collaborations 

For Policymakers

• Research-based recommendations for public policy formulation

• Insights into democratic governance 

For Public

• Improvement of democratic literacy

• Greater access to global academic and policy discourse 

Outputs

• Conference proceedings

• Scientific publications in reputable journals: 

• International journals indexed by Scopus

• National accredited journals indexed by SINTA 

Time and Venue

Format: Online

Date: November 5 –  7, 2026 

Target Participants

• Academics and researchers

• Undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral students

• Practitioners and activists

• Policymakers

• Civil society organizations

• International participants from various countries 

Contact

For any questions and further information requests, please email us at ncfsr.id@gmail.com