About the Event

2024–25 has been a stress test for democracies. AI‑generated robocalls and cloned voices have been used to mislead or suppress voters; deepfake audio and “cheapfakes” circulated around the UK’s 2024 election; and regulators in Europe have started enforcing new digital‑platform duties to curb systemic risks to elections. At the same time, global trust in institutions remains uneven and polarised, making it harder to build consent for reforms and to defend democratic norms.

This one‑day symposium responds to that moment. Rather than trading headlines, we focus on what works. We bring together early career researchers (ECRs) and PhD students to present rigorous, policy‑relevant work on participation, counter‑disinformation, institutional design, and democratic resilience – emphasising open science (pre‑registration, replication), high‑quality causal inference, and government‑grade evaluation standards. The goal is a cumulative, shareable evidence base that practitioners can actually use.

Hosted by the School for Government, the symposium offers a platform for cutting‑edge research and supports scholars working in contexts where academic space is shrinking and public debate is under threat.

Who is this symposium for?

This symposium is designed for early career researchers (within 5 years of PhD completion), PhD students, and other scholars whose work touches on democracy, political behaviour, civic engagement, and related fields. It will also be of interest to policymakers and practitioners seeking evidence‑based insights to defend and strengthen democratic governance.

Why Attend?

• Get high-quality feedback from scholars and practitioners.
• Build collaborations across policy, behavioural science, and political research.
• Network with peers and senior academics working on democracy and governance.
• Present research in a supportive, constructive environment.
• Compete for the £500 Best Paper/Presentation Prize and gain recognition.
• Showcase work in a dedicated poster session (separate prize, non-cash).

Keynote Speakers

Our keynote speaker is Peter John, who will speak on democratic innovation and participation.

Suggested Themes

We welcome submissions from early career scholars (within 5 years of PhD completion) and PhD students whose work addresses topics such as:

• Participation & Institutions: Behavioural science and democratic participation, electoral reform, civic education, and youth engagement.
• Digital Threats & Information: Disinformation, hybrid systems, and the mainstreaming of authoritarianism.
• Identities & Extremism: Far-right extremism, the role of religion and gender in authoritarian populism, and polarisation and trust.
• Policy & Responses: Policy responses to illiberal and authoritarian practices, institutional design in democratic resilience, and global comparative perspectives on democratic renewal.

Program

This one-day event will feature short talks of around 15 minutes followed by Q&A, panel sessions, and time for discussion and networking. The best paper or presentation will receive a £500 prize, judged by a review panel (to be confirmed). There will also be a prize for the best poster presentation (non-cash).

Preliminary Schedule

• 09:00 – Doors open & coffee
• 09:30 – Keynote address
• 11:00 – Parallel sessions I
• 13:00 – Lunch
• 14:00 – Parallel sessions II
• 15:30 – Poster session
• 16:30 – Panel & closing remarks
• 17:30 – Reception

Registration & Deadlines

Presenters (ECRs/PhD students)

• Eligibility: Early career scholars within 5 years of PhD completion and current PhD students.
• Submission guidelines: 250-word abstract, 3–5 keywords, short method and policy relevance notes. Posters should be prepared in A0 portrait format.
• Apply using the application form.
• Deadline: January 18th.
• Notifications: Applicants will be informed of decisions by late January.

Non-presenting attendees

Registration will open soon. In-person attendance is strongly encouraged. Attendance will be free of charge.

FAQs

• Who is eligible? Early career scholars within 5 years of PhD completion and current PhD students.
• Will the event be hybrid? Yes – in-person preferred, but online participation will be supported (platform TBD).
• Will talks be recorded? We aim to record keynotes and panels; individual sessions subject to consent.
• Do you provide visa support letters? Yes – upon acceptance, we can issue formal letters for visa purposes.
• Will travel bursaries be available? Limited or no travel bursaries will be available.
• How many participants will be selected? This will depend on submissions; a balance across themes will be sought.
• What is the online format? Online participants will be able to view sessions and contribute to Q&A via [TBD platform].

Accessibility

The venue is step-free, with captioning for online sessions. Dietary needs will be accommodated and a quiet room will be available. Please let us know in advance if you require additional accommodations.

Contact

For inquiries about submissions, accessibility, or logistics, please contact:

Joseph.Sherlock@kcl.ac.uk

Organisers

• Joseph Sherlock, Lecturer in Behavioural Science and Public Policy (King’s College London)
• Georgios Samaras, Lecturer in Public Policy (King’s College London)
• Shaye Hopkins, Teaching and Research Associate (Vienna University of Economics and Business)