Midterm Conference ESA Political Sociology 2022
Across and Beyond Covid-19. The Future of European Political Sociology
University of Lausanne - 10-12 November 2022/Location: Géopolis Building
Political Sociology Research Network 32
Convener: Institute of Political Studies, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Deadline for online registration: 15th August 2022
Since 2020, European society and politics have been confronted to one of the most important challenges since the end of the II World War. How does political sociology deal with the social and political consequences of the pandemic? Is the Covid-19 pandemic an intensification of previous trends or a turning point in Europe? To what extent has the pandemic disturbed consensus on the politics of expertise and the geo-politics of European integration? How has the pandemic shifted patterns of social inequality, gender, racial and ethnic stratification, social protest, securitization, immigration, climate change, illiberalism and populism? Can we observe dynamics of depoliticization, de-democratization and or re-politicization? Political sociology is well placed to interrogate the continuities and discontinuities, in ideas, interests and social patterns, across and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 7th Mid-Term Conference what will be held in November 2022 represents an opportunity for scholar in political sociology aiming to re-assessment, and renew conceptualizations, to share theoretical reflection and discuss empirical research. In this conference we seek to offer a space for colleagues to reflect on the role of Political Sociology not only in generating innovative analyses, but also in considering the social and political conditions of the production of academic knowledge in linking with the multiple and complex challenges posed by the transformation of contemporary democracies, in Europe and elsewhere.
The conference will include the following topics:
- the role science plays between society and politics;
- the politics (macro and micro) of social, economic and cultural change;
- intersectional approaches to systems of economic, racial, colonial and gendered institutions and inequalities;
- urbanization, gentrification and local political institutions and practices;
- civil society and social mobilization, including the effects of contestation and collective action;
- elites in political systems and civil society;
- voting behavior and party mobilisation;
- populism and anti-populist contention;
- social policy and social policy making, with specific attention to the process of EU integration;
- political controversies around rights;
- transformations and polarization of the public and the political sphere, digital politics and media, theoretical and empirical insights on populism, its roots and its effects;
- politicization of identity, identity politics, political representation, and the transformations of political parties’ membership;
- the politics of knowledge and the public role of researchers in political sociology;
- political economic analyses of labor markets;
- No-vax protest and conspiracy theories.
The Political Sociology Section of the European Sociological Association (RN 32) has a longstanding commitment to supporting research on social politics, political processes and institutional configurations attendant to European Integration and operating within, across and beyond European societies. Our members work from a diverse range of methodological and theoretical perspectives to examine political formations, social mobilisations and policy processes.
We are delighted to announce our Plenary speakers:
- Professor Pauline Cullen (Maynooth University)
- Professor Stefania Milan (University of Amsterdam)
We will also organise a Roundtable on Academic freedom and a Book Launch on Populism and Science in Europe.
The interim conference offers a forum for scholars to interact, network and workshop with colleagues. We look forward to welcoming you to the University of Lausanne.
The conference will be organised, if possible, in presence. Participants are expected to cover their own accommodation and travel costs. Please check here for accomodation and other practical information. Online/hybrid solutions will be also available.
Available financial support: The University of Lausanne will partially cover accommodation costs for students and young scholars. We prioritize PhD students.
Registration: Participation in the conference is free but all participants are required to register.
For more information contact: RN coordinators Alberta Giorgi, University of Bergamo, alberta.giorgi@unibg.it (Coordinator of RN 32) and Louisa Rosemarie Parks, louisa.parks@unitn.it, University of Trento (Vice- coordinator of RN 32)
Deadline for registration: 15th August 2022
Conference: 10th-12th November 2022
