Call for proposals 2026
The Political Communication Research (POL) Section invites the submission of abstracts for its 2026 conference, to be held from 28 June to 2 July 2026 in Galway, Ireland, hosted by the University of Galway.
The deadline for submission is 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
Download this call for papers as a PDF file
Theme
IAMCR conferences cover a wide range of topics defined by our thematic Sections and Working Groups (S/WG). Each year, a central theme invites participants to engage in shared reflection across these diverse areas, fostering dialogue and collaboration.
The 2026 central theme, Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation, addresses the complexities of contemporary media systems in a polarised and interconnected world. By interrogating the tensions between centrality and marginality—whether geographical, cultural, political, or conceptual—this theme aligns with IAMCR’s commitment to fostering critical and inclusive dialogues across diverse perspectives.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
The Political Communication Research Section aims at bringing together state-of-the-art scholarship addressing (digitally) mediated communication and its intertwining with political actors, discourses, practices, and publics. Furthermore, the section encourages works that explore the political within cultural and artistic practices.
We invite cutting-edge, original submissions that broaden our theoretical and/or empirical understanding of a range of contemporary debates at the intersections of politics and communication.
The Political Communication Research Section is particularly interested in:
- Comparative research projects.
- Works from underrepresented regions and communities.
- Interdisciplinary approaches.
- Innovative methodological approaches.
- Papers that contribute to theory-building.
The range of approaches includes, but is not limited to:
- Communicating global challenges in times of crises
- Elections and political campaigning
- Communicating war, propaganda, and diplomacy
- Authoritarian and illiberal movements across the globe
- Diversifying the field of political communication
- Underrepresented identities and actors in politics
- Disinformation campaigns and truth-making
- Digitally mediated political communication
- The datafication of political communication
- Rethinking populist communication
- Political communication and popular culture
- Political performances and aesthetics
- Protests, digital activism, and advocacy communication
- Polarization and mediated hate speech
- Communicating effect and emotions
- Audience engagement and political participation
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts for papers to be presented in person at one of the Political Communication Research (POL) Section’s conference sessions, should be between 800 and 1000 words. They must be submitted exclusively through IAMCR’s submission system from 28 November 2025 through 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be considered.
It is expected that each person will submit only one abstract. However, no author’s name should appear on more than two abstracts, either individually or as part of any group of authors and authors should not submit more than one abstract to any single section or working group. The same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, must not be submitted to more than one Section or Working Group. Such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be rejected. Authors submitting the same work to multiple Sections or Working Groups may be removed entirely from the conference programme.
Proposals are accepted for both single papers and for panels with several papers (in which you propose multiple papers that address a single theme). If you are thinking of submitting a panel, note that we encourage panels that take participant diversity into account.
Evaluation criteria
Submitted abstracts will generally be evaluated on the basis of:
- Technical merit
- Readability
- Originality and/or significance
- Use of or contribution to theory
- Depth of knowledge of the research, theory and/or literature related to the proposed topic as evidenced in the submission
- Relevance to the section and current trends or controversies in its field
Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria.
Languages
The Political Communication Research Section accepts abstracts in English, French or Spanish.
Statement on use of AI tools
IAMCR does not encourage or condone the use of generative AI tools to prepare abstracts submitted for consideration for our conferences. IAMCR values originality, integrity, and transparency in academic work, and believes that human-authored contributions best support rigorous and innovative scholarship in media and communication research. Should an author choose to use a generative AI tool in the preparation of an abstract, we require that they include a clear statement within their submission disclosing the tool's use. This statement must specify: (1) the name of any AI tool used; (2) how the tool was used in preparing the abstract, and; (3) the reason for using the tool. Failure to disclose the use of generative AI in accordance with these guidelines may impact the evaluation and acceptance of the submission.
Intention to attend
Each abstract submitted to IAMCR represents a real cost to the Association and contributes to the workload of volunteer reviewers and organisers. As the number of submissions each year far exceeds the available presentation slots, we ask authors to submit only if they genuinely intend to attend and present their work at the conference if accepted.
POL section paper awards
Authors accepted to present at IAMCR 2026 will be invited to apply for our two section paper awards in 2026: 1) Political Communication Research Section Outstanding Early Career Paper Award, 2) Political Communication Research Section Inclusivity Award
Full papers are required if you are applying for paper awards. Deadline for award application is 30 April, 2026. Final outcome to be announced by early June. Both awards will be presented in person at 2026 IAMCR in Galway.
Eligibility
The Outstanding Early Career Paper Award is open to early career researchers (ECRs). Papers should share the section’s broad theme exploring the changes in political communication processes induced by new ICTs and their influence at all levels. Entrants must be presenting their paper at the IAMCR conference and must be a member of IAMCR. Applicants should either be single or first authors and the papers should not have been already published in a scholarly journal. For co-authored papers, all authors should be ECRs.
The Inclusivity Paper Award recognizes scholarly efforts making critical interventions in debates on postcolonialism, gender, race, minorities, migration and equality in the broad context of political communication research. We particularly encourage scholars from under-represented groups to apply. Entrants must be presenting their paper at the IAMCR conference and must be a member of IAMCR. Applicants should either be single or first authors and the papers should not have been already published in a scholarly journal.
Deadlines and key dates
The deadline to submit proposals is 3 February 2026, at 23:59 UTC. Other key dates. Dates are subject to change.
About the Political Communication Research Section
Learn more about the work and scope of the Political Communication Research Section
Contact the Section
For questions about our CfP, individual submissions, or panel sessions, please contact our team:
Co-Chair: Yuan Zeng (University of Leeds, UK), y.zeng@leeds.ac.uk
Co-Chair: Martin Echeverría (Autonomous University of Puebla, Mexico), martin.echeverria@correo.buap.mx
Vice Chair: Sara Garcia Santamaria (University of Valencia, Spain), sara.garcia-santamaria@uv.es
Vice Chair: Amélia Aben Athar Olinto Ramos (Fluminense Federal University, Brazil), ameliaab@hotmail.com
