L’Association belge francophone de science politique (ABSP) et de Vereniging voor Politieke Wetenschappen (VPW) ont le plaisir de vous annoncer l’organisation conjointe par l’ULB et la VUB de la 14ème édition de la conférence annuelle State of Federation, qui aura lieu le 21 Janvier 2027 au Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies. Nous vous invitons dès à présent à consulter l’appel ci-dessous et soumettre une proposition de communication d’ici le 16 octobre 2026.

Call for papers – Belgium: The state of the federation

Brussels (BrIAS) – Januray 21, 2027

We are pleased to announce the 14th edition of State of the Federation, the annual conference jointly organized by the Association belge francophone de science politique (ABSP) and the Vereniging voor Politieke Wetenschappen (VPW), to be held on Thursday January 21, 2027 jointly by ULB and VUB at the Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies (BrIAS).

Call for papers

After the 2026 edition organized by our colleagues from Universiteit Antwerpen, we are glad to invite you to the fourteenth (14^th) edition of the State of the Federation (SoF) – a vibrant and inclusive forum for scholars from across the country and beyond to come together, share insights, and discuss any political science research on the polity, politics and policies in Belgium. Year after year, this conference offers a unique opportunity for researchers to meet  to exchange ideas, spark debates, and reflect on the state of politics and political science in Belgium.

We warmly welcome contributions from a wide range of subfields, including (but not limited to) public administration, political behavior, political communication, European Union studies, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. We encourage submissions that explore the political landscape in Belgium at all levels -local, regional, federal, European, and international. Whether your work is rooted in quantitative analysis, qualitative case studies, comparative approaches, mixed methods, or theoretical inquiry, we look forward to showcasing the rich methodological diversity of our field. Specific topics might include electoral and party dynamics, federalism and institutional reform, political representation and participation, policy processes and outcomes, public opinion, media and communication, or Belgium’s role in international and European politics.

Join us for what promises to be an inspiring and intellectually stimulating event, bringing together scholars from across disciplines and career stages to reflect on the past, present, and future of politics in Belgium and beyond.

Please submit your abstract(s) (max 200 words)

at  stateofthefederation2027@gmail.com by 16 October 2026 at the latest.