We are pleased to announce the 13th edition of State of the Federation, the annual conference jointly organized by the Association belge francophone de science politique (ABSP) and the Vereniging voor Politieke Wetenschappen (VPW).

This conference is a vibrant and inclusive forum for scholars from across the country and beyond to come together, share insights, and discuss any political science research on the polity, politics and policies in Belgium.

Call for papers

After the 2024 edition, wonderfully organized by our colleagues from the Université de Liège, we are glad to invite you to the thirteenth (13^th) edition of the State of the Federation (SoF) – a vibrant and inclusive forum for scholars to connect, share, and engage with political science research in Belgium. Year after year, this conference offers a unique and valuable opportunity for researchers from both language communities to meet — to exchange ideas, spark debates, and reflect on the state of political science in Belgium and beyond. Mark your calendars: the next edition of this conference will take place on Friday 6 February 2026.

We warmly welcome contributions from a wide range of subfields, including (but not limited to) public administration, political behavior, political communication, European Union studies, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. We encourage submissions that explore the political landscape in Belgium at all levels—local, regional, federal, European, and international. Whether your work is rooted in quantitative analysis, qualitative case studies, comparative approaches, mixed methods, or theoretical inquiry, we look forward to showcasing the rich methodological diversity of our field. Specific topics might include electoral and party dynamics, federalism and institutional reform, political representation and participation, policy processes and outcomes, public opinion, media and communication, or Belgium’s role in international and European politics.

Join us for what promises to be an inspiring and intellectually stimulating event, bringing together scholars from across disciplines and career stages to reflect on the past, present, and future of politics in Belgium and beyond.

Please submit your abstract(s) of max 200 words at state.federation@uantwerpen.be by 31 October 2025 at the latest.

​Organizing Committee: Peter Bursens, Laura Jacobs, Petra Meier, Peter Thijssen, Stefaan Walgrave, and Evelien Willems (University of Antwerp)​