Call for Proposals

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Multilateralism, Democracy, Diversity: Communication for a More Just World

The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of abstracts for its 2027 conference, to be held from 18 to 22 July 2027 in São Paulo, Brazil, hosted by the School of Communications and Arts at the University of São Paulo (ECA/USP) in partnership with the Associação de Apoio à Arte e Comunicação (ARCO).
The deadline for submission is 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC.

IAMCR conferences cover a wide range of topics defined by our 37 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. Additional themes are defined by the sections and working groups.

Central theme

The 2027 central theme, Multilateralism, Democracy, Diversity: Communication for a More Just World, is a globally resonant and critically urgent call to action. It centers communication as the pivotal force in navigating three interconnected crises defining our contemporary moment: 1) the fraying of global governance, 2) the erosion of democratic institutions, and 3) the deepening of social fragmentation. By uniting these concepts, the theme invites a comprehensive, interdisciplinary inquiry into how media and technology either perpetuate global injustice or serve as instruments for building equitable systems.

The core of this theme is the critical examination of Multilateralism in the digital age. Amidst geopolitical tensions and the rising power of nationalist agendas, the structures designed to foster international cooperation—from the United Nations (UN) to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)—are strained. Communication research must analyze how digital platforms and global media systems challenge or sustain effective international dialogue and policymaking.

This includes the scrutiny of Digital Sovereignty, questioning the concentration of technological power in a few global hubs and advocating for policy frameworks that ensure all nations, including those in the Global South, have an equitable say in the governance of data and artificial intelligence. The theme is, therefore, a crucial intervention in the fight against algorithmic colonialism and for fair global resource distribution.

Furthermore, the theme places Democracy and Diversity at the forefront of the quest for a more just world. The global rise of disinformation, extreme polarisation, and authoritarian populism demonstrates that the health of democracy is inextricably linked to the vitality and fairness of its public sphere.

The 2027 IAMCR conference in São Paulo will provide a vital platform to reflect on the challenges currently shaping the global communicational landscape—ranging from the reconfiguration of media systems and technological infrastructures to the urgent need to address disinformation, social inequality, and the erosion of public trust. Bringing together researchers, educators, and professionals from across the world, the event will aim to foster interdisciplinary exchange, collaborative policy reflection, and innovative research that bridges theory and practice.

Finally, the 2027, marking 70 years since the first IAMCR conference held in Paris in 1957, will serve as a platform to challenge hegemonies, prioritising the decolonisation of media studies and communication for social justice and create a truly inclusive space for global dialogue: a space that not only showcases the diversity and creativity of communication scholarship, , but also strengthens collective capacities to imagine fairer, more sustainable, and democratic communicational futures.

Guidelines for abstracts

Abstracts must be submitted to a section or working group exclusively through IAMCR's submission system from 9 December 2026 through 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC.

Submissions do not have to address the central theme. See the calls for proposals of individual sections and working groups for additional information about their themes.

Abstracts should be between 800 and 1000 words, unless a Section or Working Group establishes its own guidelines in this respect.

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 co-author. Authors may not submit more than one abstract to any given section or working group nor may they submit the same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, 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.

Specific technical guidelines, if any, are defined by the individual Sections and Working Groups. Before submitting, consult the specific CfP of the Section or Working Group or contact the heads of the Section and Working Group.

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 to the proposed topic as evidenced in the submission
Relevance to the section or working group and current trends or controversies in its field

Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria. Individual Sections and Working Groups may use additional criteria and may assign different weights to the above criteria.

Languages

Different sections and working groups have different policies regarding languages. Some accept abstracts and programme sessions in English, French and Spanish while others conduct their programmes in only one or two languages. Consult the CfP of your section or working group for details of its language policy.

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.

Deadlines and key dates

The deadline to submit proposals is 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC.