Anniversary conference “The University of Oradea and the Development of Political Science: 30 Years”, 26–27 October 2026

The University of Oradea, through the Faculty of History, International Relations, Political Sciences and Communication Sciences and the Department of Political Science and Communication Sciences, is organising the anniversary conference “The University of Oradea and the Development of Political Science: 30 Years” on 26–27 October 2026.

The event marks three decades of the Political Science programme at the University of Oradea and offers a framework for reflection on the development of the field, on the current state of Political Science in Romania and on its future directions. The conference brings together academic staff, researchers, representatives of university centres in the field, and former and current members of the academic community. Participation is possible both on site in Oradea and online.

Day I — anniversary session and mapping the state of Political Science

The first day is devoted to the anniversary and institutional dimension of the event, as well as to a session of reflection on the current state of Political Science in Romania. The programme includes:

• the official opening of the conference;
• addresses by representatives of the University of Oradea;
• an anniversary session dedicated to 30 years of Political Science at the University of Oradea;
• contributions from those who shaped the institutional development of the programme;
• the session “Mapping the state of Political Science in Romania”;
• the launch of the conference volume or of the anniversary editorial project.

Within the mapping session, representatives of university centres in the field are invited to give short contributions of approximately 10–12 minutes, synthetic and reflective in character, on the development of Political Science programmes, current directions in teaching and research, the challenges of the field, its relationship with the labour market, its public role and possible directions of cooperation between centres.

Day II — academic panels

The second day is devoted to academic panels, organised around recent transformations of politics, communication and democratic change. Paper proposals are welcome in five thematic directions:

• New research agendas in Political Science — transformations of the discipline, new theoretical and methodological directions, political science research after 1989, democracy, representation, participation, populism, polarisation.
• The public and civic role of the academic — academic expertise and the public sphere, democratic education, the public responsibility of the university, the relationship between research, society and public decision-making.
• Political institutions, governance and community involvement — political and administrative institutions, democratic governance, public policy, local administration, community development, civic participation and public consultation.
• Political leadership, communication and legitimacy — political leadership, democratic legitimacy, political communication, electoral campaigns, political discourse, media, public trust, crises of legitimacy.
• Reconfiguring the European and international public sphere — the European Union, Central and Eastern Europe, international relations, security, regional geopolitics, democratic crises, disinformation, the digital public sphere, European identity.

Papers are expected to last approximately 10–15 minutes, depending on the final structure of the panels.

How to take part

• a contribution to the session mapping the state of Political Science in Romania;
• an academic paper in the thematic panels of the second day;
• participation in the anniversary and academic debates of the conference;
• online participation, where travelling to Oradea is not possible.

Faculties, departments and university centres in the field may take part through deans, heads of department, programme coordinators or other designated representatives.

Submitting proposals

Those interested are kindly asked to send by 6 October 2026 their name and institutional affiliation, the preferred form of participation (on site or online), the type of contribution (mapping session, academic paper or participation in the debate), the title of the contribution where applicable, and a short description of approximately 5–10 lines.

Proposals and confirmations of participation should be sent to Prof. Dr. Habil. Gabriela Goudenhooft, Head of the Department of Political Science and Communication Sciences, at gabrielagoud@gmail.com. Full contact details are given in the attached call.

The final programme of the conference will be set according to the confirmations and proposals received.