Nordic Conference on Civil Society Studies

The conference – open to everyone interested in civil society research – rotates between the Nordic countries and the host this year is the School of Social Work, Lund University.

Participation is free of charge, and we especially invite people at the early stages of their research careers.

We hope that the conference will strengthen the community of civil society researchers in the Nordic countries and facilitate quality academic discussion on the development of our research field.

Call for Papers

We are looking for papers that cover a broad range of topics, including but not limited to studies on engagement and volunteering, organization and mobilization, cross-sector collaboration and co-production, social movements and NGOs, power and resource inequalities between civil society actors, as well as advocacy and philanthropic actors and activities. Papers may be theoretical or empirical in nature.

Abstract of no more than 500 words (not including references) must include:

• A working title
• A statement of the empirical or theoretical concern
• A short summary locating the concern within a wider literature
• A concise account of the empirical or theoretical methodological approach
• The main arguments of the paper and an indication of the supporting evidence
• A statement of the main conclusions and their relevance to an international audience.

Deadline for abstract submissions and registration: 23 February 2026. 

Important dates 2026

• Deadline for registration and submission of abstracts: 23 February
• Confirmation of abstract and registration: 6 March
• Paper submission deadline: 13 April
• Conference: 23-24 April

Registration

Deadline for registration and abstract submission: 23 February 2026. Register here:
Nordic Conference on Civil Society Studies | Socialhögskolan

Note, if you do not present a paper, be prepared to comment on a paper presented.

The conference is free of charge.

Best wishes, 
The organizing committee

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Håkan Johansson: hakan [dot] Johansson [at] soch [dot] lu [dot] se (hakan[dot]Johansson[at]soch[dot]lu[dot]se) or Roberto Scaramuzzino: roberto [dot] scaramuzzino [at] soch [dot] lu [dot] se (roberto[dot]scaramuzzino[at]soch[dot]lu[dot]se).