29th IPSA World Congress of Political Science 2027 in Italy

The 29th IPSA World Congress of Political Science will be held in Rome, Italy from July 24 to 28, 2027, hosted by LUISS Guido Carli in collaboration with the Italian Political Science Association (SISP). The Congress theme is “Uncertain Democracies: Rethinking Governance in a Changing Global System.” The call for paper proposals is expected to open in 2026. This is the largest gathering of political scientists in the world and a critical venue for researchers working on governance, democracy, development, and Global South politics.

If you are a political scientist, policy researcher, or social scientist working on democracy, governance, development, or international relations, and you want to present your research at the world’s most prestigious political science event, the 2027 IPSA World Congress in Rome is the target you should be preparing for now.

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What Is the IPSA World Congress?

The International Political Science Association (IPSA) World Congress is the flagship global gathering of the political science discipline, held every two years and attracting thousands of scholars from over 50 countries. With a membership of over 4,500 political scientists worldwide, IPSA is the leading international body for the discipline, and the World Congress is its defining event.

The 29th edition — IPSA 2027 — will be held at LUISS Guido Carli, a leading Italian research university in Rome, Italy. It is only the second time Rome has hosted the Congress, the first being in 1958 when the event had just 320 participants. Today, the World Congress draws thousands of researchers, panels, keynotes, and policy discussions from across the globe.

The 2027 Congress is being developed under the programme leadership of Vanessa Elias de Oliveira (Brazil) and Francesca Longo (Italy) as Programme Co-Chairs — a pairing that signals a deliberate Global South-North dialogue at the heart of the Congress theme.

Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Event	29th IPSA World Congress of Political Science
Organiser	International Political Science Association (IPSA)
Host Institution	LUISS Guido Carli, Rome
Location	Rome, Italy
Dates	July 24–28, 2027
Theme	Uncertain Democracies: Rethinking Governance in a Changing Global System
Call for Proposals	Expected to open in 2026
Contact	wc2027@ipsa.org
Official Website	ipsa.org/events/congress/rome2027

Congress Theme: Uncertain Democracies

The 2027 Congress theme — Uncertain Democracies: Rethinking Governance in a Changing Global System — is one of the most ambitious and timely framings the World Congress has adopted in recent years. It speaks directly to the defining political tensions of this decade.

In a world marked by rapid geopolitical shifts, economic disruption, and technological transformation, democratic governance is under pressure from multiple directions simultaneously. The theme identifies several core challenges:

Rising populism — The erosion of liberal democratic norms from within, with elected governments dismantling institutional checks and social rights.

Digital authoritarianism — The use of surveillance technology, algorithmic control, and digital platforms to consolidate power and suppress dissent.

Erosion of social rights and public services — Austerity, privatisation, and the retreat of the welfare state across regions that had expanded social protection in the 20th century.

Human migration and multiethnic societies — The political consequences of displacement, asylum, migration policy, and the construction of multiethnic democratic communities.

Non-state actors and governance functions — The growing role of corporations, international institutions, civil society organisations, and informal networks in performing functions previously reserved for states.

For researchers working on Global South governance, development-induced displacement, just transition, democratic backsliding, or postcolonial political economy — this theme is a direct invitation to contribute.

Why the IPSA World Congress Matters

It is the largest political science conference in the world. Nothing else in the discipline matches the scale, the diversity of participants, or the breadth of research presented at the IPSA World Congress. If you are building an international research profile, presenting here puts your work in front of the global field.

It is one of the most globally diverse academic events. Unlike many European or North American conferences, IPSA actively works to include researchers from the Global South. The appointment of a Brazilian scholar as Programme Co-Chair for the 2027 Congress is a deliberate signal of this commitment.

Rome in 2027 is a genuinely significant moment. The theme — Uncertain Democracies — will attract the sharpest contemporary scholarship on democratic governance, and Rome’s symbolic weight as the historic centre of Western political thought adds an additional dimension to the Congress’s ambitions.

It opens doors to publication. IPSA’s official journal, the International Political Science Review, is a Q1 peer-reviewed journal published five times per year. Presenting at the World Congress increases visibility among editors and reviewers and creates pathways to publication in leading outlets.

Who Should Apply to Present?

The IPSA World Congress is open to political scientists, policy researchers, and interdisciplinary social scientists working across a wide range of topics. For researchers working on Global South issues specifically, the Congress is particularly relevant in the following areas:

Democratic governance and institutional resilience in the Global South
Postcolonial political economy and extractive industries
Migration, displacement, and political rights
Digital politics and authoritarian technology
Environmental politics and just transition
Gender and politics in developing contexts
Social movements and political participation

The Congress accepts individual paper proposals, panel proposals, and roundtable proposals. Research from all methodological traditions — quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and interpretive — is welcome.

How to Prepare Your Proposal for IPSA 2027

The call for proposals is expected to open in 2026. Based on previous World Congress cycles, abstracts are typically 250–300 words and must be submitted through the IPSA online submission system. Panel proposals usually include 4–5 papers on a connected theme, with a designated discussant.

To maximise your chances of acceptance:

Align explicitly with the Congress theme. Your abstract should make visible how your research speaks to the question of uncertain democracies, governance uncertainty, or the specific challenges named in the theme description. Reviewers across all panels are attentive to thematic fit.

Situate your work in comparative perspective. IPSA reviewers respond well to research that places its case in dialogue with broader patterns — a case study from Jharkhand, Nairobi, or São Paulo becomes more compelling when it speaks to wider questions of democratic governance or extractive politics.

Be specific about your contribution. The World Congress receives thousands of proposals. Abstracts that clearly state what the paper adds to existing debates — rather than just describing the topic — stand out.

Sign up for IPSA updates now. The call for proposals will be announced first through the IPSA newsletter and the official website at ipsa.org/events/congress/rome2027. Register for the newsletter at the IPSA website to receive notifications as soon as the call opens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the call for proposals open for IPSA 2027? The call is expected to open in 2026. Sign up for the IPSA newsletter at ipsa.org to be notified immediately when it does.

Is funding available to attend IPSA 2027? IPSA itself does not provide travel grants for all participants, but it does maintain funding programmes for researchers from developing countries. Details will be announced closer to the event. Additionally, many IPSA member associations at national level offer conference travel grants — check with your national political science association.

Do I need to be an IPSA member to submit a proposal? IPSA membership is not strictly required to submit, but members receive priority access to information, reduced registration rates, and access to IPSA’s networks and publications. Membership is available at ipsa.org.

What language is the Congress conducted in? English is the primary working language of the IPSA World Congress, though sessions in other languages have been accommodated in previous editions.

Can I submit a proposal for a full panel rather than just a single paper? Yes. IPSA welcomes full panel proposals, which typically include 4–5 papers on a connected theme. Panels are often viewed favourably because they demonstrate a coordinated research agenda.

Mark Your Calendar

2026: Call for proposals opens (exact date to be announced)
July 24–28, 2027: 29th IPSA World Congress of Political Science, Rome, Italy
Contact: wc2027@ipsa.org
Official site: ipsa.org/events/congress/rome2027

If your research touches on democracy, governance, political economy, or Global South politics — start shaping your paper now. The abstract submission window will be competitive, and strong proposals take time to develop.

Last updated: May 2026. Always verify details on the official IPSA website at ipsa.org before submitting.