Communication in Post- and Neo-Authoritarian Societies Working Group
Call for Proposals
The Communication in Post- and Neo-Authoritarian Societies (CPN) Working Group 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.
Download this call for papers as a PDF file
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 2027, marking 70 years since the first IAMCR conference held in Paris in 1957, will serve as a platform to challenge hegemonies, prioritizing the decolonization 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.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
CPN focus and themes
The Working Group on Communication in Post- and Neo-Authoritarian Societies welcomes papers and multi-paper sessions related to the conference theme, including topics such as:
- Global expansion of authoritarian media governance and communication models, and resistance to these developments;
- Authoritarian influences on international information and power structures, and communicative strategies to challenge these influences;
- Transnational networks of authoritarian actors and media strategies, and counter-networks of democratic resistance;
- Political control over media, public discourse, and information flows;
- Polarization of public discourse as a driver of authoritarian mobilization;
- Authoritarian identity politics and narratives, and the development of alternative narratives and counter-discourses;
- Influence of authoritarianism on public discourse and collective perceptions of reality, and public contestations;
- Radicalization of political discourse, and communicative strategies of democratic engagement.
Papers and multi-paper sessions addressing other dimensions of authoritarian communication, as well as media and communication research in post- or neo-authoritarian contexts, are also welcome – including, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Media structures, media systems, media technologies and journalism cultures in transition
- Representations and narratives of authoritarianism, resistance, and transformation
- Comparative perspectives on media, democratisation, and authoritarian legacies
- Publics, counter-publics, resistance, and the reconfiguration of the public sphere under authoritarian pressure
- Digital authoritarianism, surveillance, and the politics of online communication
- Symbolic and physical violence, inequality, and illiberal measures in media discourses and communicative practices
- Memory, trauma, and nostalgia in transitional contexts
- Theoretical and conceptual critiques of authoritarianism, illiberalism, and related terms in media and communication studies
Further topics aligning with the Working Group’s scope are also welcome.
Guidelines for abstracts
Abstracts must be submitted to the CPN Working Group exclusively through IAMCR's submission system from 9 December 2026 through 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be considered.
Submissions do not have to address the central theme. As stated in the general Call for Proposals, abstracts should be between 800 and 1000 words.
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.
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 working group and current trends or controversies in its field
Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria. The Working Group may use additional criteria and may assign different weights to the above criteria.
Languages
The Working Group accepts abstracts and programme sessions in English.
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.
Accepted papers must be presented in person by the authors designated as PRESENTING authors in the submission platform. For co-authored papers, at least one of the authors must attend and present the paper. Only authors or co-authors of an accepted paper are permitted to present it. If none of the authors is able to attend and present, the paper will be removed from the conference programme.
Deadlines and key dates
The deadline to submit proposals is 12 February 2027, at 23:59 UTC.
Other other key dates to keep in mind. Dates are subject to change.
About the Communication in Post- and Neo-Authoritarian Societies Working Group
Learn more about the work and scope of the Communication in Post- and Neo-Authoritarian Societies Working Group
Contact the Working Group
Chair: Anke Fiedler (University of Greifswald, Germany) [Contact]
Vice-chair: Carola Richter (Freie Universität Berlin, Germany) [Contact]
Vice-chair: Alexander Gatilin (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation) [Contact]
