From 12th to 14th September 2024 the University of Trieste will host the annual conference of the Italian Society of Political Science (SISP) organised by the Department of Political and Social Sciences.

The event is part of the University's centenary celebrations and significantly falls on the 50th anniversary of the Department of Political and Social Sciences (formerly the Faculty of Political Science). 

The SISP National Conference is now the third most important meeting of political scientists and scholars held annually in Europe (preceded only by the conference of the European consortium ECPR and that of the anglophone PSA society). 

More than 700 scholars, who have already registered, are expected to attend the SISP conference in Trieste. They come from various European and non-European countries, in addition to Italy, of course. 

The conference, entitled ‘Europe and Borders: Democracy, Union and States’, presents a rich programme with over one hundred panels and numerous round tables, offering an in-depth analysis of the main issues in contemporary political science. The phenomena examined in the different sections include the erosion of democratic and the expansion of autocratic regimes, the rise of populism, international and internal conflicts, the transformation of political rhetoric, public policy, and gender issues. 

Special attention is paid to European studies, the impact of climate change on global politics, and the effects of digital developments in the political sphere. Finally, a tribute is dedicated to the memory of Giovanni Sartori, one hundred years after the birth of one of the founders of Italian Political Science.

The conference will kick off on Thursday 12th September at 13:00. However, the official opening is scheduled for the plenary session at 18:00 in Main Hall of Building A on the Piazzale Europa Campus. In addition to the participation of institutional authorities, the keynote speakers will be Prof. Stefano Bartolini and Prof. Manuela Moschella on the topic of actors and structures of politics.

The conference is organised thanks to the contribution of BCC Venezia Giulia, Fondazione CRTrieste, and Fondazione Carigo.

FULL PROGRAMME