The 5th Helsinki Conference on Emotions, Populism, and Polarisation (HEPP5) will take place this week, from 4 to 7 March, at the University of Helsinki. This event will gather some 200 scholars from around the globe to study dynamics of populist mobilisation, political polarisation, and the role of emotions in contemporary political and media landscapes.
The concept of the social contract, a tacit agreement among society's members on the principles of governance is at the core of the conference. The conference aims to explore how these societal consensuses are challenged by polarisation, exploited by populist politics, and how this subsequently affects democratic trajectories and societal well-being. Additionally, discussions will address how emotional mobilisation can renew or reshape social contracts.
- Kick-off Event: The conference will start with a discussion titled "Social Contract and Populism in Contemporary Politics" on 4 March 5-7pm. Opened by Associate Professor Emilia Palonen (University of Helsinki) and Team lead Dr. Anna Björk (Demos Helsinki), the panel features members from the CO3 consortium Alexander Alekseev (University of Helsinki), Emre Erdogan and Pinar Ulyan (Bilgi University, Istanbul), Nathanaël Colin-Jaeger (American University in Paris), and Antonia Ruiz (University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla) UNTWIST Horizon consortium.
The conference will feature keynote addresses from three influential scholars:
- Dr Allan Dreyer Hansen, Associate Professor at Roskilde University, discusses the Ghost of Populism and democratic resilience in his keynote in Metsätalo and online, 9-11am, Wednesday 5 March.
- Dr Asel Doolotkeldieva, Fellow at George Washington University and Associate Researcher at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, presents her research on political transformations in Central Asia in Metsätalo at 9-11am, March 6.
- Dr Marina Prentoulis, Professor Emerita in Media and Politics at the University of East Anglia, discusses contemporary populist movements, left-populism, and the neoliberal challenge at the Think Corner at 1-3pm, 7 March.
Conference highlights:
- Panel Sessions: Altogether 50 panel discussions will cover topics such as conspiracy theories, and social media, party politics and affective polarisation, the role of emotions in political mobilisation, and strategies for fostering democratic resilience.
- Networking Opportunities: Attendees will have the chance to engage with peers during scheduled receptions and the conference dinner, fostering collaborations and scholarly exchanges.
- Hybrid Participation: Recognising the diverse needs of the global academic community, particularly those of the Global South, HEPP5 offers both in-person and virtual attendance options, ensuring inclusive participation. With 200 papers and participants, the conference gathers more than 150 participants onsite in Helsinki.
The detailed conference programme is available on the official HEPP5 website. The conference is co-chaired by Szilvia Horváth and Kleber Carrilho. Media representatives are invited to attend and cover the discussions that will shape future research and policy directions in populism, and polarisation.
Contact: hepp@helsinki.fi, or call us at 050 448 2878 (Emilia Palonen), 040 689 9166 (Ilana Hartikainen), or 041 311 1083 (Kleber Carrilho).