January 8-9, 2024

University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

Deadline: October 25, 2023

Central and Eastern European (CEE) nations have undergone profound economic, social, and political transformations in the past four decades, significantly reshaping their societal dynamics. While some countries, particularly those that became part of the European Union during the enlargements of 2004 and 2013, have made significant progress in their transformation and development processes, others still need to grapple with challenges. These challenges include the establishment of democracy (e.g., Belarus), resolution of independence or geopolitical issues and war (e.g., Ukraine and Kosovo), resurgence of civic protests (e.g., Poland), and a rise in support for populist leaders (e.g., Hungary and Poland).

Throughout this period, Central and Eastern Europe has also experienced rapid technological advancements. Although internet access is widespread, it remains lower than in Western Europe, especially concerning broadband access. The digital divide, notably pronounced between rural and urban areas, imposes constraints on access to information, the availability of internet resources for disseminating civic knowledge, participation in political discourse, and engagement in political activities.

New media, including digital and social media, have allowed citizens to express their opinions and engage in collective actions. However, unequal access to the internet can limit these connections to privileged groups, leaving others marginalized. The digital divide, often rooted in educational and financial disparities, exacerbates societal misunderstandings and polarization.

This conference explores the relationship between technological advancements and the sustainability of democratic systems and civil society in CEE. We strongly encourage regional researchers to submit their research grounded in diverse theoretical frameworks and comprehensive qualitative or quantitative methodologies in the areas of (but not only):

• The role of technological development of the media in the consolidation of the democratic processes
  
• Political and civic engagement in the light of new media affordances
  
• Political actors and their employment of new media communication strategies
  
• The challenges to sustainable democratic institutions from online communication  
  

The conference highlights:

Keynote: Sabina Mihelj and Vaclav Stetka (Loughborough University, UK)

Roundtable I: “Digital democracy and civil society in CEE” - a lunch of the Journal of Information,

Technology and Politics special issue.

Roundtable II: “Political Information Environment: Threats and solutions for sustainable democracy”- presentation of the THREATPIE project and discussion with non-academic stakeholders (journalists, NGO representatives, educators, and politicians).

Organizers:

Institute of Journalism and Media Communication and Faculty of Social Sciences University of Silesia in Katowice

Journal of Information, Technology and Politics

THREATPIE: The Threats and Potentials of a Changing Political Information Environment project, http://threatpie.eu/ 

NORFACE Joint Research Programme on Democratic Governance in a Turbulent Age and co-funded by FWO, DFF, ANR, DFG, NWO, NCN, AEI, and ESRC, and the European Commission through Horizon 2020 under grant agreement No 822166.

Venue:

University of Silesia in Katowice

Faculty of Social Sciences

Institute of Journalism and Media Communication Bankowa 11, 40-007 Katowice, Poland

Conference organizers:

Damian Guzek, University of Silesia in Katowice

Karolina Koc-Michalska, Audencia Business School Nantes and University of Silesia in Katowice Agnieszka Stepinska, Adam Mickiewicz University

Schedule:

Submission of the abstracts: October 25, 2023 Acceptance of the abstracts: end-October, 2023

Requirements for the Authors:

Submission of an abstract of max. 300 words to cee.media.conference@gmail.com providing:

• Title
  
• Brief description of the proposed research scope
  
• Research questions
  
• Description of the data (methodological approach, sample, analytical strategy) 
• First analysis (if available)
  
• Short Bio of the Authors (outside of the word limit)