Call for Papers of the Research Network 31 “Ethnic Relations, Racism and Antisemitism” for the 16th European Sociological Association Conference in Warsaw, 25–28 August 2026
The ESA Research Network 31 “Ethnic Relations, Racism and Antisemitism” invites paper submissions for the 17th ESA Conference in Warsaw. We will hold sessions focusing on the theoretical, methodological, and empirical study of antisemitism and racism, in both single-case and comparative frameworks.
The network seeks to bridge the often siloed treatment of antisemitism and racism by examining their correspondences and affinities as well as their differences. Our overarching aim is to identify the material, social, political, and historical factors and conditions that shape variations in antisemitism and racism over time and across different European and global contexts. In our RN panels, we will focus on how antisemitism and racism pose contemporary threats both to affected communities and to democracy and democratic values in Europe and beyond. We ask about the role of antisemitism and racism in authoritarian and populist democracies, in the undermining of democratic institutions, and in state actors’ hybrid warfare against democracy. This inquiry is especially urgent in the aftermath of the 7 October massacre and the subsequent wars, alongside the rise of the far right and various influence campaigns, foreign and domestic.
In line with the ESA conference theme, “Strengthening Democracies,” we are particularly interested in how antisemitism and racism can be confronted through social action and solidarity, and how they are incorporated into—or challenge —visions of a future society.
We particularly encourage work that:
- analyses historical and contemporary forms of racism and antisemitism (including left-wing, right-wing, and Islamic antisemitism) and compares antisemitism and racism (convergences, specificities);
- researches democratic backsliding, polarisation, and the mainstreaming of the far right—and their entanglements with antisemitism and racism;
- investigates conspiracy ideologies and crisis discourses and their antisemitic/racist components, including victim–perpetrator reversals;
- studies antisemitism and racism across policy fields (security, education, media, digital governance) and in civil society/activist spheres;
- examines the tensions and intersections between anti-racist and anti-antisemitic activism, particularly in the context of contested political narratives and shifting loyalties surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- focuses the role of Islamist ideologies in shaping contemporary antisemitism in Muslim-majority countries and in Europe;
- addresses neglected forms of racism (e.g., anti-Roma racism/“antigypsyism”), anti-Muslim resentment, and intersectional dynamics (gender, sexuality, class, etc.);
- explores historical lineages (e.g., Holocaust memory politics) and contemporary Israel-related antisemitism;
- examines technology, platforms, and AI in relation to antisemitism and racism: algorithmic bias and content moderation; generative AI and deepfakes in hate speech/propaganda; platform governance and accountability
- challenges the current methodological approaches to racism and antisemitism in the face of new social phenomena and current political events;
- offers innovative methods, cross-regional comparisons, or theoretically grounded, practice-oriented insights for democratic resilience against antisemitism and racism.
Submissions are welcome from established academics, early-career researchers, and practitioners.
Notes for Authors
- All submissions must be in English.
- Abstracts sent by email cannot be accepted.
- Each participant can submit and present one paper.
- All submitting/presenting authors can be second author of one paper or more.
- Abstracts should not exceed 250 words.
- Abstracts will be peer-reviewed and selected for presentation by the RN coordinators.
- ESA membership is not mandatory, but members benefit from reduced conference fees.
- Note that the 17th ESA Conference will take place in an on-site format only, in Warsaw (Poland).
Submission
Please submit via the ESA 2026 conference system, selecting “RN31 – Ethnic Relations, Racism and Antisemitism” as your preferred track.
Link to ConfTool: https://www.conftool.com/esa2026/
Key dates 2026
30 January Abstract submission deadline
9 February Extended Abstract submission deadline (23:59 CET)
Mid-March Notification of acceptance
March/April Opening of Participant Registration in ConfTool
25-28 August 17th ESA Conference in Warsaw, Poland
Contact
Direct link to the conference website: https://www.europeansociology.org/conference/2026
General queries about ESA: https://www.europeansociology.org/home
Questions about the Research Network 31 “Ethnic Relations, Racism and Antisemitism” and the panels:
Kim Robin Stoller (kim.stoller@iibsa.org) and Elke Rajal (elke.rajal@uni-passau.de), coordinators of RN31.
Click here to download the Call for Papers.