LIEPP is calling for papers for an international conference to be held in Paris at Sciences Po on 11 and 12 June 2026, organised by the International Network for Teaching and Research in Social Policy, Sciences Po Paris and the University of Hamburg.

Organizing committee: Bruno Palier (Sciences Po Paris), Matteo Mandelli (Sciences Po Paris), Katharina Zimmermann (University of Hamburg), Neil Gilbert (UC Berkeley), Douglas Besharov (University of Maryland).

Topics covered

● What are the new social risks that arise directly from climate change and the ecological crisis, and indirectly from the policies pursuing the so-called green transition? (See this working paper on social-ecological risks)
● To what extent and how are different existing welfare institutions, with their peculiar set of policies and governance structures, addressing and preventing (or not) new socio-ecological risks?
● Which political conflicts and coalitions are triggered by new socio-ecological risks both on the demand and supply sides of the political sphere (public opinion, social movements, parties, civil society, trade unions and employer associations, bureaucracies, interest groups), and what is their impact on institutional changes?

Submissions

We invite scholars from comparative welfare state research, political economy, and related fields to submit abstracts of 600-800 words. Selected applicants will be notified within a month after the application deadline. Conference papers should be sent in advance, three weeks before the conference at the latest. Papers should be approximately 15-20 pages long.

Applications should be sent before the 12th of January 2026. 

Full Call for contributions (pdf)