[ecrea] Cfp: Political Communication in Uncertain Times

IPSA Joint Conference RC22 and RC10 with CICOM

*Political Communication in Uncertain Times: Digital Technologies, 
Citizen Participation and Open Governance

*
University of Navarra
Pamplona, Spain
7th and 8th September 2017

* Application deadline*: 30th January 2017

*Contact:* (ipsacicom33 /at/ unav.es) <mailto:(ipsacicom33 /at/ unav.es)>



We are pleased to announce the call for papers for the forthcoming 
International Conference of Political Communication organised jointly by 
the Research Committees for Political Communication (RC22) and 
Electronic Democracy (RC10) of the International Political Science 
Association (IPSA) with the CICOM 33rd, International Communication 
Conference, a yearly event organized by the School of Communication of 
the University of Navarra (Spain), under the title of “Political 
Communication in Uncertain Times: Digital Technologies, Citizen 
Participation and Open Governance”. The conference will be hosted by the 
University of Navarra in the city of Pamplona, Spain.

The unexpected British exit from the European Union, the migration 
crisis, the rise of Isis, conflicts in countries as Syria, the emergence 
of populism and unpredicted citizens’ reactions (such us the rejection 
of Colombia Peace Plan or the election of President Trump) are only some 
of the events that are taking place nowadays; they all have in common 
the uncertainty that brings with them and that characterize the current era.

The purpose of this conference is to consider the state of media and 
communications research in a political period marked by a variety of 
events that take place within an uncertain context. The conference theme 
focuses on the intersection between the role of political communication 
and digital technologies, both understood as potential pillars that may 
enhance democracy in a communication context characterised by continuous 
crises and their transnational consequences.


Papers should make a contribution to the development of theoretical or 
empirical studies regarding digital political communication conducted by 
diverse actors that range from governments, political parties, media 
organisations, to non-governmental actors, citizens and social 
movements. Scholars, researchers and professionals are encouraged to 
submit paper proposals that either broadly or specifically deal with the 
aforementioned issues, be it by addressing national or comparative 
studies, theoretical or empirical ones.


We welcome submissions that cover one or more of the following questions:


·      New challenges for journalism and communication in a digital 
society: What changes have journalists and the media in general gone 
through? Do digital technologies change traditional concepts of media 
power? Do media and communication technologies support the formation of 
community?

·      Media coverage and journalist behaviour during moments of 
political turmoil: What role can media play at times of crisis? Which 
frames appeared repeatedly while media reported about an event? Is there 
any danger regarding the empowerment of certain voices while others are 
ignored?

·      Digital technology in election campaigns: How have election 
campaigns changed in styles, strategies, tools and with what impacts on 
voter engagement? What factors are shaping election outcomes in the 
digital age, and to what extent?

·      Relationship between representatives and citizens: How do 
governments and institutions deal with the opportunity and challenges 
introduced by digital technologies? Do they help to promote a real 
conversation between both sides? To what extent do they reduce the gap 
between them?

·      New parties in the political scene: Are new technologies 
promoting the emergence of populist parties? To what extent 
communication from a new party is different to those from traditional 
parties? Is there any visible pattern shared by new political actors?

·      Political actors and new technologies: To what extent are new 
technologies shaping political parties? Can we distinguish different 
practices and uses depending on the countries? Are those different 
practices somehow driven by any ideological perspective?

·      Digital Technology in public diplomacy: How digital media are 
shaping international political communication? How should international 
political actors adapt communication to the new digital audiences? Do 
digital media allow dialogue and interaction with international publics?

·      New voices, a multiplicity of agents in the public sphere: Can 
digital technologies transform the characteristics of the traditional 
public sphere? Is it possible to have an online public sphere? Will an 
online public sphere enhance democracy? Do media technologies constitute 
a new public sphere?

·      Mobilization and participation: Are digital technologies really 
able to empower citizens' political participation? Do they empower 
specific voices in detriment of others? To what extent social media play 
a relevant role on social movements? Can we talk about social media echo 
chambers in some results of recent political events?


*Deadlines and submission process:*

Monday 30th January 2017     Proposal submission deadline

Monday 13th March 2017       Notification of acceptance and registration 
opening

Monday 31st July 2017           Registration and full paper submission 
deadline

*
Proposals:*

The submission of abstracts should contain the following requirements:

·      Title

·      Author, position and institution affiliation

·      Email address

·      Abstracts should include aspects as core theoretical premise, 
methodology and relevant information on data collection and key findings

·      Four key words

·      Abstracts should not exceed 350 words

Abstracts should be in English and the deadline for their submission is 
30th January.

*
Key note speakers*

JAN ZIELONKA (University of Oxford)

ANDREW CHADWICK (Royal Holloway University of London)



Further information at:

http://www.unav.edu/web/facultad-de-comunicacion/cicom33























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