Meet the Team

Michał Bilewicz

University of Warsaw, Poland

ISPP President

Bert Bakker

University of Warsaw, Poland

ISPP Program Co-chair

Ruth Ditlmann

Hertie School, Germany

ISPP Program Co-chair

The International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP) warmly invites scholars from across disciplines—political science, psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, communication, and related fields—to submit proposals for the 2027 Annual Meeting in Amsterdam. Celebrating five decades of ISPP, this special conference will not only showcase cutting-edge research but also provide an opportunity to reflect on the Society’s origins, intellectual legacy, and future directions.

Under the theme Political Psychology for Pressing Challenges and Societal Solutions, the conference seeks contributions that address the most urgent issues facing contemporary societies while advancing actionable insights. In a world marked by polycrisis, polarization, uncertainty, technological disruption, and democratic strain, political psychology offers essential tools for understanding how citizens think, feel, and act. This theme invites work that deepens our understanding of these dynamics and explores how the field can contribute to meaningful, evidence-based solutions.

We particularly encourage submissions that bridge fundamental research with real-world impact. Contributions could highlight interventions, policies, and practices that strengthen liberal democracies through fostering resilience, democratic renewal, cooperation, and constructive engagement. Submissions may also address the promotion of pluralistic norms and the protection of minority rights as central components of democratic resilience and inclusion. By connecting theory with application, the conference aims to underscore the vital role political psychology can play in strengthening healthier, more inclusive democracies and societies.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

Polarization & democratic resilience: understanding the psychological roots of division and effective pathways toward depolarization and democratic stability. .
Prosocial behavior & political engagement: Evidence-based strategies to promote tolerance, civic engagement, and prosocial political behavior.
Technology & society: Understanding and addressing the effects of AI, digital media, and algorithmic systems on misinformation, political attitudes, and democratic discourse.
Reducing inequality & increasing social inclusion: Using political psychology to reduce discrimination and improve intergroup relations, social cohesion and social justice.
Leadership & collective action: Evidence-based approaches to political leadership, mobilization, and collective action in times of societal change and democratic strain.
Crisis response & adaptation: Understanding and addressing the political-psychological consequences of global crises, including climate change, migration, and public health emergencies.

We welcome theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions of all kinds, including qualitative, quantitative, experimental, computational, and mixed-methods approaches. Interdisciplinary, comparative, and policy-oriented research is especially encouraged. Submissions may include individual papers, panels, roundtables, and posters. As always, we encourage panel organizers to include discussants.

To mark ISPP’s 50th Annual Meeting, the conference will feature special sessions reflecting on the history and evolution of the field, highlighting key contributions, and exploring future directions for political psychology. Participants will have opportunities to engage with distinguished keynote speakers, attend journal editorial panels, and participate in mentoring and networking events for scholars at all career stages. The conference will also include the Scholars Under Threat Symposium and the ISPP Academy preceding the main event.

SECTION CHAIRS

To capture the diversity of ISPP there are 14 sections with designated Section Chairs. As you can see below. Section Chairs are responsible to review all conference submissions made to their designated section.

1. Political Psychology for Pressing Challenges and Societal Solutions | TBA

2. Conflict, Violence, and Terrorism | TBA

3. Intergroup Relations | TBA

4. Leadership and Political Personality | TBA

5. Political Behavior, Participation, and Civic Engagement | TBA

6. Public Opinion and Political Communication | TBA

7. Political Culture, Identity, and Language | TBA

8. Social Inequality, Social Change, and Civic Development | TBA

9. International Relations, Globalization, and Macropolitical Issues | TBA

10. Biological, Evolutionary, and Computational Approaches | TBA

11. Race, Gender, Ethnicity, and Religion | TBA

12. New Theoretical and Methodological Developments | TBA

13. Virtual (This option is intended to accommodate individuals who are unable to attend the 2027 conference in person). | Laura Taylor, University College Dublin (ISPP VP of Conferences)

14. Critical Political Psychological Approaches to the Study of Violence and Oppression | TBA

ISPP

Visit the ISPP website HERE.

ADDRESS

230 Washington Ave. Ext., Suite 101
Albany, NY 12203 USA

Email: info@ispp.org