We’ve recently opened the Call for papers for the ESA Conference in Warsaw, “Strengthening Democracies: Social Action, Solidarity, and Sustainable Futures”, 25-28 August 2026! Our Network’s theme is found below:
RN 34 Call for Papers: Religion, Democracy, and Social Transformation
The place of religion in democratic societies undergoes profound transformations. Despite
the ongoing decline of the organized dominant Christian religion in Europe, religion’s role in
politics, civil society, and social media seems to become more prominent. Mistrust in
institutions and political disillusionment is accompanied by the successful mobilization of
religious identities and discourses in nationalistic political movements. In various countries,
the relation between religion and politics is contested or undergoes profound changes,
ranging from the political use of religion as heritage to political aspirations of religious
movements. Digital transformation, particularly AI, is also reshaping religious practice,
authority, and community formation, offering tools to address some societal inequalities while
potentially amplifying others, and fueling post-truth narratives and conspiracy theories. All
these democratic and technological crossroads in a landscape that is threatened by
ecological disasters require researchers to help understand how religious values,
institutions, and movements relate to democratic participation and social transformation, and
how they can contribute to the creation of sustainable futures.
We invite papers on, but not limited to, the following topics:
● Intersecting religious and political identities
● Religion in populist and far-right movements
● Religious responses to human rights threats
● Religion and spirituality in conspiracy theories
● Mediatization of religion and religious values
● Technological developments (incl. AI) and religious communities
● Faith-based activism and social justice
● Religious responses to migration, armed conflicts, and displacement
● Apocalyptic discourses in (anti-)environmental movements
● Religion and welfare states in crisis
● Religion and narratives of sustainability
● Methodological approaches to studying religion’s role in social transformation
Researchers wishing to participate are invited to submit their abstracts by 30 January 2026.
All abstracts must be submitted via the official conference platform: https://www.conftool.com/esa2026/
You need to create a new account, and then choose the RN you wish to submit your abstract to.
We can offer financial support for three unemployed and early career scholars (including PhD students). To apply, go to: https://forms.gle/6iYxbiuxcn9arLW57 (deadline February 28th)
General conference information: https://europeansociology.org/conference/2026