About

The international conference “Elections – Democracy – Crisis” (EDC 2026) will mark the third edition of the biennial academic event jointly organized by the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies (WNPiSM) of the University of Warsaw and the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory (IFDT) of the University of Belgrade.

This edition aims to explore the impact of contemporary crises (from wars to economic, energy, and social upheavals) on democratic and societal processes across Europe. Special attention will be given to the challenges for democracy in Central and Eastern Europe and the performance of hybrid or authoritarian regimes, particularly in light of the complex political context surrounding this year’s host institution and ongoing student-led protests in Serbia.

We invite papers addressing a broad range of topics, including but not limited to: democratic backsliding and decline, democratic legitimacy, authoritarian and populist responses to crises, militant democracy, sovereignism, electoral outcomes and the emergence of new political actors, institutional transformations, party system change, voter behavior, local democracy and its role in democratic resilience, post-authoritarian societal and institutional responses etc. We welcome both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as submissions from all disciplinary perspectives.

Given the rotating host arrangement between the two organizing institutions, we are pleased to announce that EDC 2026 will be held in person at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, over two days: March 26-27, 2026.

Application instruction

Applications are open until September 30, 2025. A 200-word abstract of your proposal, along with 5-8 keywords, your institutional affiliation and contact details, should be sent to: edcconf@uw.edu.pl

The conference registration fee is 100 euros for regular participants; and 60 euros for PhD students. Members of the organizing institutions are exempt from the fee.

Participants are expected to submit a free-form draft paper by March 1, 2026.

Following the event, participants will have the opportunity to publish their papers in a peer-reviewed edited volume or journal special issue, planned for release in late 2026 or early 2027. The publication will not require any fee or additional cost.

Key dates and deadlines

September 30, 2025 – deadline for applications
November 1, 2025 – decision on applications
February 20, 2026 – registration fee deadline
March 1, 2026 – draft paper submission deadline
March 26-27, 2026 – conference days
May 30, 2026 – final paper submission deadline for publication (optional)
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Should you have any additional questions, please contact:

Dejan Bursać: dejan.bursac@ifdt.bg.ac.rs

Spasimir Domaradzki: s.domaradzki2@uw.edu.pl