The Montenegrin Political Science Association (MoPSA) cordially invites scholars to participate in its Second Annual International Conference, to be held in Budva, Montenegro, on 26 – 27 May 2026.
Democratization and State-Building
The late twentieth century reshaped the global political landscape through an unprecedented wave of democratic transitions across Southern, Central, and Eastern Europe. The collapse of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia marked a historic reconfiguration of political authority and the emergence of numerous new states. In the aftermath, these societies embarked on ambitious projects of state formation, nation-building and democratic transformation, driven by expectations that political liberalization would coincide with stability, economic progress, and integration into European and global institutions.
More than three decades later, the trajectories of post-communist states reveal striking diversity. While some countries succeeded in consolidating democratic institutions and embedding the rule of law, others continue to struggle with institutional fragility, endemic corruption, democratic backsliding, and the re-emergence of authoritarian tendencies. Across parts of Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, polarization, contested nationhood and weak governance continue to undermine democratic sustainability and social cohesion.
Against this background, the 2026 MoPSA Conference seeks to revisit the legacies and lessons of post-authoritarian transitions, with a particular focus on the interconnections between democratization and state-building. The conference is organized in a year marking two decades since the restoration of Montenegrin independence, offering a timely opportunity for critical reflection on achievements, missed opportunities, and the long-term implications of these trajectories for democratic resilience.
The conference aims to foster a comparative and interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars of political science, history, sociology, and related disciplines, bringing together theoretical and empirical perspectives on democratization, institutional development, and regime endurance.
We welcome submissions addressing the overarching theme of democratization and state-building, including (but not limited to):
- Post-communist transitions, hybrid regimes, and variation in democratic trajectories
- State- and nation-building, institutional consolidation, elite formation, and identity politics
- Institutional resilience, rule of law, constitutional design, and governance performance
- Political polarization and populism
- External influences and international conditionality (EU, NATO, and other actors)
- Ethnic relations, conflict, reconciliation, and legitimacy in divided societies
- Comparative and theoretical approaches to democratization and regime legitimacy
The conference will be opened by a keynote address by Professor Rachel Beatty Riedl, Director of the Center on Global Democracy at the Brooks School of Public Policy and Professor in the Department of Government at Cornell University.
Submission Guidelines
Proposals should be submitted as a Word document to mopsa.mne@gmail.com, with the subject line “MoPSA 2026”, and should include:
- Title of the paper
- Abstract (300–350 words) outlining the research question, argument, and methodology
- 4–5 keywords
- Author information (full name, institutional affiliation, position, and contact details)
All submissions will be peer-reviewed by the Conference Scientific Committee. The working language of the conference is English.
- Deadline for abstract submission: 28 February 2026
- Notification of acceptance: by 15 March 2026
We warmly invite political scientists and scholars from related disciplines to join us in Budva for critical discussion and scholarly exchange on one of the most consequential political processes of our time.
For further information, please contact: mopsa.mne@gmail.com