IAMCR 2027 São Paulo
IAMCR

Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication Working Group

Call for Proposals

The Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication (CRI) 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

CRI focus and themes

The Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication Working Group provides a forum for scholars researching the ways in which political, social, economic, and environmental crises, wars and conflicts, security matters, disasters and emergencies, risks and acts of terrorism are communicated, represented, and mediated, combining global and local perspectives. We therefore adopt a broad understanding of communication in the context of crisis, security, and conflict with theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions from a range of perspectives and disciplines. The aim is to stimulate diverse and fruitful discussions across disciplines and specialisation. To do so, we adopt an interactive approach where we ensure that each paper presentation will have an assigned discussant.

Key themes include:

  • Media and Communication related to Disasters, including Natural and Environmental Disasters, Pandemics, and Climate Change.
  • Media and Communication related to Security and Insecurity.
  • Media and Communication related to War and Armed Conflicts.
  • Media and Communication related to Migration, Mobility, Ethnicity and Race.
  • Media and Communication related to the Economic and Financial Crises.
  • Media and Communication related to Political and Journalism Crises.
  • How AI and other technologies have been used in relation to the above

Guidelines for abstracts

Abstracts must be submitted exclusively through IAMCR’s submission system between 9 December 2026 and 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be accepted.

Abstracts submitted to the Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication Working Group should be between 500 and 800 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 part of any group of authors and authors should not submit more than one abstract to any single section or working group.

In addition to individual papers, we encourage multi-paper panels aimed at exploring the communication of crisis, security, and conflict in different areas and regions across cultural and disciplinary boundaries.

The Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication (CRI) Working Group does not accept submissions from Bachelor's students that are not co-authored and supervised by senior academics. In case such a paper is accepted, it is mandatory for the student to co-present in person with the senior academic and address the session’s Q&A together.

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.

Languages

CRI accepts abstracts in English, and all presentations must be delivered 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 Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication Working Group

Learn more about the work and scope of the Crisis, Security and Conflict Communication Working Group

Contact the Working Group

Minos-Athanasios Karyotakis minosathkar@hkbu.edu.hk

Mazlum Kemal Dagdelen mazlum.dagdelen@fsv.cuni.cz

Kasun Ubayasiri k.ubayasiri@griffith.edu.au

Follow and join the CRI working group Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/427852601553210

Organisers