Call for Application is Opened 

Important information

Where a paper proposal is co-authored, only one author may apply online. You can identify other co-authors and the paper presenter in the application form.

One Paper can be submitted only to one WG/Panel/Session.


25/11/2024

Extended deadline of application with paper proposal


The final version of the completed accepted paper  should be prepared according to  NISPAcee MANUSCRIPT GUIDELINES and submitted via the NISPAcee website by 
April 10, 2025 or by May 10, 2025, see full papers requirements in individual conference calls.

    Apply for 33rd NISPAcee Annual Conference 2025

Main Theme

MAIN THEME

Polycrisis and multi-level governance: Impacts, lessons learned, challenges and opportunities

Governments around the world have faced various crises in the past few years. However, these crises have not been separated and one can consider this recent period a period of polycrisis. In addition, due to spill-over effects and synergies, those crises hit governments and their policy intentions in a significant way. In some cases, planned policies had to be adjusted, in some other cases planned policies had to be suspended or even completely changed in terms of their objectives. Such circumstances have challenged governments, and unsurprisingly, many of them were not ready to deal with the polycrisis appropriately. More precisely, the polycrisis have uncovered insufficient capacities of many governments, and a volatile nature of this polycrisis have clearly tested the flexibility of policy making at various levels.

Working groups

WG1

Local Government

The Local Government Working Group invites submissions for the 2025 conference focusing on the recent transformations in local governments across the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. The recent period, characterized by overlapping and interconnected crises—often referred to as a polycrisis—has severely affected the capacity of local governments to effectively implement their planned policies. 

WG2

Digital Government

The Digital Government Working Group invites innovative papers on the influence of information communication technologies (ICT) on government, public administration, public policy and the public sector. NISPAcee’s focus and differentiation of regarding this topic is discovering some of the special challenges originating from the CEE region but also contributing to the general discourses on the digital transformation of citizens, institutions and governance.

WG3

Public Administration Reform in CEE and CA

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Caucasus have faced a myriad of challenges in recent decades, from economic crises and political upheavals to natural disasters and health emergencies. These crises often require complex, multi-level governance responses that span local, national, and international boundaries. As such, understanding the effectiveness, coordination, and adaptability of crisis management mechanisms in this diverse region is crucial for improving future responses and resilience.

WG4

Politico-Administrative Relations in CEE

The theme of Politico-Administrative Relations (PAR) and its focus on observing the roles and interplay between ministers and senior bureaucrats endures, both as a scholarly enquiry and as a practitioner concern.

WG5

Public Finance and Public Financial Management

The topic of the WG is public finance, which plays a vital role in providing essential public services and goods. The WG deals with the financial management of existing resources, which includes both microeconomic and macroeconomic dimensions and whose effectiveness is critical for creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development.

WG6

Evidence-Based Public Policy Making

The Working Group started in 2008 as a Panel Session on Policy Analysis Issues and became an annual Working Group based on the increased demand. The wide variety of papers and many participants confirm the strong interest in the region's evidence-based policy-making and policy analysis. Thus, the WG continues to support the scientific development of new ideas in public policies and encourages experience and knowledge exchange on how academics can meet the urgent needs of public servants and civil society.
WG7

Public Administration Education

The aim of the Working Group is Public Administration Education in its broadest sense (curriculum development, curriculum technology, e-learning, teaching technology, best practices, research on education, quality assurance, modern management of public administration programmes, international accreditation, and the like).
WG8

Non-Governmental Organisations in CEE

The working group focuses on the third sector, including civil society organisations, from now on referred to as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and their participation in governance in Central-Eastern Europe (CEE) states and regions. Our broad objective is to create a forum for the intellectual and practical exploration of NGOs' role – independently and in collaboration with government institutions and private firms – in defining, shaping and achieving the public good. We define NGOs broadly, and we are especially interested in those whose mission is strongly related to the public interest and who work in areas such as governance, social and health services, education, public policy, citizen participation, human rights, environmental protection, watchdog activities and/or humanitarian aid, and who come from all sides of the political and social spectrum.
WG9

The Rule of Law & Public Administration

This Working Group seeks presentations that address issues related to the position of law in public administration, the effect of the rule of law (RoL) on the administrative system as well an analysis of the factors strengthening or weakening the RoL.
WG10

Human in Public Administration

The Working Group (WG) "Human in Public Administration" focuses on the interplay between global phenomena and individual experiences within public administration contexts. This area of research is critical due to the increasing complexity and interdependence of global issues such as globalization, technological advancements, economic and climate crises, and geopolitical tensions. These factors significantly impact the daily lives of citizens, necessitating a thorough examination of their effects on public administration systems.

Panels

Panel
Panel

Cyber Security and AI Reforms for Smart Cities

Participants’ interventions will primarily focus on: cyber management, fake news, smart environment, smart mobilities, IoT risks, and the ethical implications of AI deployment in urban settings. Discussions will delve into the development of robust cybersecurity frameworks, the impact of misinformation on public trust, strategies for integrating AI to enhance environmental sustainability, the advancements in smart mobility solutions, and the specific vulnerabilities associated with the proliferation of IoT devices. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on case studies and practical applications demonstrating successful cyber management practices and AI implementations in various Smart Cities globally.
Panel
Panel

Mainstreaming hybridity in CEE - Public policies for hybrid governance

Governing societal activities, institutions, and work has always been ubiquitous but never self-explanatory. Concerning addressing global problems and pursuing important societal aims, such as combating climate change, easing urban congestion, advancing welfare or providing education, it is challenging to disentangle public policies and agencies from private efforts, economic institutions and civic activities (Johanson and Vakkuri 2017; Vakkuri and Johanson 2020; Vakkuri et al. 2024). Recent developments in commissioning public services, welfare mixes, corporate social responsibility and the global rise in social enterprises signify the fluidity of institutional boundaries. Societies have learned that both evolutionary adaptation and institutional design occur at multiple levels of society, which produces impacts undetected by our current policy instruments. 

Sessions

MAIN THEME

Polycrisis and multi-level governance: Impacts, lessons learned, challenges and opportunities

Governments around the world have faced various crises in the past few years. However, these crises have not been separated and one can consider this recent period a period of polycrisis. In addition, due to spill-over effects and synergies, those crises hit governments and their policy intentions in a significant way. In some cases, planned policies had to be adjusted, in some other cases planned policies had to be suspended or even completely changed in terms of their objectives. Such circumstances have challenged governments, and unsurprisingly, many of them were not ready to deal with the polycrisis appropriately. More precisely, the polycrisis have uncovered insufficient capacities of many governments, and a volatile nature of this polycrisis have clearly tested the flexibility of policy making at various levels.

Session
Session

Pre- Conference PhD Semminar

The NISPAcee Annual Conference Open Session calls for papers that cover topics beyond the conference's central theme and the working groups. The Open Session aims to include a wide array of potential contributors to accommodate the varied interests of Public Administration and Policy scholars, experts, and practitioners. The goal is to have an in-depth discussion of the papers and a mutually beneficial exchange between the authors.
Session
Session

Open Session

The NISPAcee Annual Conference Open Session calls for papers that cover topics beyond the conference's central theme and the working groups. The Open Session aims to include a wide array of potential contributors to accommodate the varied interests of Public Administration and Policy scholars, experts, and practitioners. The goal is to have an in-depth discussion of the papers and a mutually beneficial exchange between the authors.
Session
Session

Poster Session

A poster session is intended for both young and experienced researchers who need to discuss and get inspiration for their research ideas. This event will be a physical session for researchers participating in the 32nd NISPAcee Annual Conference.


   Application for 33rd NISPAcee Annual Conference 2025