GLD's 9th Annual Conference

Call for Proposals

The Governance and Local Development Institute is inviting proposals for papers to be presented at its 9th Annual Conference: “Participation and Decision-Making: Studies on Citizen Engagement and Mobilization in Local Governance.” This conference aims to bring together scholars and practitioners from a range of disciplines to discuss who participates in decision-making at the local level, how, where, and to what ends. This year’s conference will revolve around how participatory mechanisms at the local level differ from each other, from those at the national level, and the extent to which elites (within the state or in other arenas of authority) use participatory mechanisms to serve their interests. We invite proposals that use a diversity of research methods, examining various geographic settings, decision-making venues, and institutional arrangements.

Please note, GLD will cover transportation and hotel costs for all successful applicants who cannot fund their own way.

Paper proposals may address a range of questions, including, but not limited to:

• In what ways do people participate in local decision-making? To what extent does participation in local decision-making differ from participation in decision-making at other levels? 
• Who participates? How does identity (e.g., gender, caste, race, or religion) facilitate or proscribe participation in local-level arenas (or local fora)?
• In what local arenas or fora do people participate? Is participation more democratic in certain local arenas than others?
• To what extent do those in power co-opt participatory mechanisms to reinforce their power? What are the implications of this co-optation for outcomes like development, representation, and public goods provision?

Proposals are due by October 20, 2025 at 11:59 pm CET. Proposals must include a project title,  abstract (300 word max), explanation for how your submission fits the theme (500 word max), and a draft of the proposed work or another example of your work (in English). All proposals must be in English. Invitations to participate will be sent in December. 

Please email contact@gld.gu.se with any questions.