ipb Annual Conference 2026 | Berlin, 5 and 6 October 2026
Research on protests and social movements is characterised by recurring puzzles – open questions that arise repeatedly across cases, methods and theoretical traditions. While we have accumulated rich empirical knowledge, many core issues remain contested, conceptually unsettled or dependent on context. Rather than viewing these disputes as a shortcoming, this conference invites participants to recognise them as productive starting points for collective thinking.
The Format
The Institute for the Study of Protest and Social Movements (ipb) will organize its 2026 annual conference in an experimental format. Instead of conventional panels that bring together several but often unconnected papers under a shared theme, each session will be organized around one clear-cut question. Each speaker is expected to provide a concise answer, i.e. a brief contribution based on their own research, literature review, empirical case studies, data or methodological expertise.
In order to minimise the usual trade-offs between parallel sessions, the conference will run with a maximum of two parallel panels at any one time. Each 90-minute panel will include three to four speakers. Contributions will be brief (approximately 5-10 minutes, depending on the number of speakers), leaving ample time for discussion. The panels will follow a fishbowl-inspired format, whereby members of the audience can join the discussion by taking a reserved seat and providing a brief response to the guiding question or offering their own perspective and/or research-based comments on the speakers‘ answers.
The Questions
The organizing team of the conference has come up with five questions we find both timely and recurrent:
- What are we talking about when referring to social movements?
- Is protest violence ultimately detrimental or helpful for goal attainment?
- Does (state) repression work – even in the long run?
- Will social movements be able to throw a wrench in the works of fascism?
- Can social movements in the global North and South overcome hurdles to cooperate?
Do you want to discuss one (or more) of the following questions? Or do you want to suggest your own question for an additional fishbowl discussion and invite input by colleagues? We welcome submissions for both. You are more than welcome to attend the conference and take part in the discussions without submitting an answer or a quesion. You will, however, have to register for the event.
How To Get Involved
To provide an prepared answer to one of the proposed questions, write a brief abstract (max. 350 words) of your line of thinking, including information on the basis of your answer, plus a short bio.
To contribute by introducing your own question to the program, prepare the question, a brief rationale why you think it should be discussed, a list of possible speakers (optional), and a short bio (max. 350 words total).
Submit your proposal and register via this form by 17 April 2026.
We will make a decision on the final set of questions by 30 April 2026.
The Conference
The 2026 ipb annual conference will be held at Humboldt University Berlin on 5 and 6 October. Participation fee: 60 Euro (10 Euro reduced fee).
For any question, please contact the organizing team by Email: conference@protestinstitut.eu
Organizing team
Dieter Rucht, Eva-Lotte Schwarz, Marvin Stein, Simon Teune, Johanna Raphaela Wahl
