Call for papers

We are delighted to announce the call for papers for the first European Political Science Society (EPSS) annual conference, in Belfast on 18 – 20 June 2026.

We invite submissions that represent the state of the art in political science and fit with any of our 19 sections:

Sections and chairs

Climate Politics – Federica Genovese (Oxford) and António Valentim (LSE)
Comparative Politics – Nathalie Giger (Geneva) and Filip Kostelka (EUI)
Comparative Politics of Development – Macartan Humphreys (WZB) and Pavithra Suryanarayan (LSE)
Conflict, Violence and Security – Sabine Carey (Mannheim) and Monika Sus (Polish Academy of Sciences)
Electoral and Voting Behaviour – Ruth Dassonneville (Leuven) and Silja Häusermann (Zürich)
European and EU Politics – Bjørn Høyland (Oslo) and Chris Wratil (Vienna)
Formal Political Theory – Michael Becher (IE) and Giovanna Invernizzi (Bocconi)
Gender and Sexuality Politics – Ana Catalano Weeks (Bath) and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte (Southampton)
Historical Political Economy – Jon Fiva (BI Norway) and Kasia Nalewajko (Collegio Carlo Alberto)
International Relations – Anita Gohdes (Hertie) and Michal Parizek (Charles University)
Judicial Politics – Michal Ovádek (UCL) and Joan-Josep Vallbé (Barcelona)
Migration Politics – Ala’ Alrababa’H (Bocconi)
Party Politics – Zeynep Somer-Topcu (UT Austin) and Sarah Wagner (QUB)
Political Communication – Ken Benoit (Singapore Management University) and Katjana Gattermann (Amsterdam)
Political Economy – Jane Gingrich (Oxford) and Thomas Sattler (Geneva)
Political Methodology – Andy Eggers (Chicago) and Stefan Müller (UCD)
Political Representation – Hanna Bäck (Lund) and Sven-Oliver Proksch (Cologne)
Public Opinion – Charlotte Cavaillé (Michigan/IAST) and Ronja Sczepanski (Sciences Po, Paris)
Public Policy and Administration – Fabrizio Gilardi (Zürich) and Asmus Leth Olsen (Copenhagen)

How to submit a paper or panel

To submit a paper or panel create an account and sign into our conference submission portal.

Enter a standalone paper for a “standard panel” or a “lightning round” panel, using the

Submit a complete panels using any of our four panel formats, using the

Conditions

Deadline

Friday, 7 November 2025

EPSS panel formats 2026

Standard Panels
These panels focus on the presentation of full research papers. Each panel can include up to five papers and must have one chair and one or two discussants. All panelists must confirm their participation in advance. As a variant chairs might coordinate with their panels to try a flipped approach in which the presenter does not present at all; instead discussants (possibly as many as one per paper) are tasked with both presenting the work and critiquing it
Lightning Rounds
Fast-paced and engaging, lightning rounds follow a PechaKucha-style format (e.g. 15 slides, x 20 seconds each). Each of 8 presenters gets 5 minutes to share research, followed by 5 minutes of feedback or Q&A. A chair leads with support from 2 discussants. Ideal for sharpening communication skills and getting rapid feedback on emerging work.
Author meets critics
A panel discussion centered on a major scholarly work—usually a book or article. Panelists will explain the work’s key contributions, offer critiques, and engage in thoughtful debate. This is a great format for deeper engagement with influential scholarship.
Topical round tables
A panel discussion centered on a topical issue related to the profession or salient political events. Consider involving politicians and practitioners.

Agenda-Setting Panels

In addition, section chairs can propose an “agenda setting panel.” Designed to reflect on and shape the field: one lead speaker gives a 30-minute presentation that reviews the state of a subfield, highlights recent innovations, and outlines future directions. Two to three panelists offer 10-minute responses, followed by an open discussion.

Note: Sections might aim for an agenda-setting panel approximately once in every three or four years, with the accompanying paper filed on the EPSS website under sections. If you have suggestions for an agenda setting panel contact the section chair.