24
Aug
28
Aug
Contested Democracies at the Crossroads – CBEES Doctoral Summer School
The doctoral summer school “Contested Democracies at the Crossroads: Structures, Actors, Challenges” examines democratic transformation, political agency and rising illiberal trends.
The application round has a prolonged deadline by 30 April.
Place: Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden
Contemporary politics in Europe and globally display contrasting developments. On one hand, democracy—as a political system, ethos and form of participation—remains vibrant. On the other hand, significant elements of society are alienated from politics altogether, and political debate is often infused with elements of confrontation and intolerance. We see the frameworks of liberal democracy being challenged, and polarisation between groups in societies increasing. Also, customary vehicles of individual and collective political agency are complemented by rising actors, forums and forms of participation, such as think tanks, research institutes, social media platforms, radical religious associations, and actors inspired by authoritarian political ideologies. Even traditionally neutral actors, such as public agencies at state, regional, and local levels, have in some instances become actors in autocratization processes when established democratic practices are perceived as threatened.
Together, these trends are reshaping democracy, communities and political organising.
The aim of the CBEES Summer School Contested Democracies at the Crossroads: Structures, Actors, Challenges is to understand and conceptualise the amalgamate of contemporary forms of democracy and autocratization trends. To this end, the summer school provides insights into how individuals conceive and practice political agency—that is, the ways in which people communicate, organise and act in pursuit of shared beliefs and interests. We identify and characterise major new groups and organised interests that shape public debate and decision‑making. Moreover, we assess how these trends transform political institutions—those of the world’s liberal democracies and also those walking the path towards authoritarian regimes.
The summer school is founded on long‑standing research profiles in politics and democracy, focusing, for instance, on political participation, political parties, and the resilience of democratic government, at the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) and the research platform Contested Democracy at Södertörn University, in cooperation with international partners.
It investigates a range of crucial phenomena, including power, action and organisation—from civil society and spontaneously constructed grassroots movements to decision‑making institutions. Its empirical applications draw on a variety of contexts—Swedish, Nordic, Baltic, Central and East European—as well as urban, suburban and rural circumstances.
The summer school targets the following key themes:
- Democracy and its discontents
- Changing structures and discourses
- Radical illiberal countermovements
- Civil society’s vulnerability and resilience
- The fragmentation of the public
Practical information
- The application period is from 16 March to 30 April (23:59, Stockholm time), and participation in the summer school is free of charge.
- The summer school is open only to doctoral students.
- Attendance is free, and accommodation is included.
>>> The application button above will be active from 16 March, 8:00 to 30 April, 23:59 (Stockholm time).
For the Baltic University Programme (BUP) members
We encourage applications from PhD students of all BUP network partners to this event.
%20(2)%20BUP-logo-png%202026.png){kind=logo}
%20(Medium).png)
24 August 2026, 09:00 - 28 August 2026, 16:00
Other
Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden, find us
English
Arranged by
Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES), Södertörn University
Contact
Sidinformation
- Page last updated
- 2026-04-15