The Swedish Political Science Conference 2026 will take place on 30 September-2 October 2026 at Mälardalen University (MDU) in Västerås, Sweden. The conference brings together scholars from across subfields to present research, engage in thematic working groups, and discuss current political challenges in a comparative and global perspective. The conference is now open for abstract submissions, and researchers in development studies are warmly encouraged to contribute.
Photo: Högskolebiblioteket, Västerås/Mälardalens högskola.
The Swedish Political Science Conference 2026 will take place on 30 September-2 October 2026 at Mälardalen University (MDU) in Västerås, Sweden. The conference is now open for abstract submissions, and researchers in development studies are warmly encouraged to contribute.
About the Conference
Organised by the Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA), the Swedish Political Science Conference is a central national meeting point for political science research in Sweden. The 2026 conference at Mälardalen University will bring together scholars from across subfields to present research, engage in thematic working groups, and discuss current political challenges in a comparative and global perspective.
Call for Abstracts
Participants are invited to submit an abstract to one working group, which will serve as the primary forum for paper presentations and in-depth discussion throughout the conference. Contributions may be theoretical, empirical, or methodological, and papers can be written in English or Swedish.
English will be the default language if non-Swedish speakers are present.
MDU Thematic Working Groups
- Politics of Risk and Crisis Governance
- The Future of Democracy in Uncertain Times
- Urban Politics and Citizenship
- Aesthetics and Politics
Established SWEPSA Working Groups
- International Politics
- Environmental Politics
- Policy, Governance and Public Administration
- European Studies
- Critical Studies of Power and the Political
- Politics and Gender
Deadline for abstract submission: 5 June 2026
Notifications of acceptance will be sent on 18 June 2026.
Keynote Speaker
The conference keynote will be delivered by Professor Roland Bleiker (University of Queensland), currently serving as Olof Palme Visiting Professor at the Swedish Defence University. His lecture, “Seeing and Sensing World Politics”, explores the role of emotions, images, and visuality in world politics – a topic of growing importance for critical, global, and development-oriented political analysis.
Practical Information
- Location: Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden
- Conference dates: 30 September-2 October 2026
- Registration opens: 18 June 2026
- Registration deadline: 31 August 2026