Has Democracy Gone Wrong? The Role of EU Values After the 2024 Elections

We are pleased to invite submissions for the UACES Graduate Forum Research Conference 2025, which will take place in Athens, Greece on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th of May at the Department of International, European, and Area Studies at Panteion University. This conference will critically explore democracy and other EU values in the wake of the pivotal 2024 elections. It provides a platform for PhD and Early-Career Researchers in European Studies to present their work, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and reflect on the challenges facing democracy in Europe today.

Democracy in Europe is under increasing scrutiny. The 2024 elections have brought to the surface long-standing tensions—rising populism, political polarisation, disinformation, and external geopolitical pressures. While the EU has long positioned itself as a champion of democratic values, recent events raise pressing questions: Is democracy becoming dysfunctional? How resilient are the EU’s core principles in an era of global instability? And what role do scholars, policymakers, and civil society play in shaping the future of European democracy?

This conference invites researchers from all disciplines within European Studies and related fields—including Political Science, Law, Sociology, Economics, History, Gender Studies, Anthropology, International Relations, and Public Policy—to explore these questions. We welcome diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to understanding democracy’s current state and possible futures.

Interested in presenting your research at the Graduate Forum Research Conference? Check out the full Call for Papers.