At the inaugural meeting of the new European Political Science Society (EPSS), a large delegation of EUI professors and researchers presented their work, chaired panels, and supported the launch of a major initiative in European political science.
The first annual conference of the European Political Science Society took place on 18-20 June 2026 at ICC Belfast. The Society is a non-profit, member-run association committed to the scientific study of politics and to fostering a vibrant scholarly community in Europe.
EUI Professor Simon Hix has served as the society's president-elect and was one of the conference’s lead organisers. He was closely involved in getting the new association off the ground.
"The launch of EPSS is an important moment for political science in Europe: a society run by its members, committed to rigorous scientific research, and bringing together over 1,500 scholars from across Europe and beyond," Hix said. "It has been a privilege to help bring EPSS to life and to serve as its President. It is fantastic to see the EUI take a leading role in its foundation, with our faculty, doctoral researchers, and postdocs so well represented at our inaugural conference."
The EUI Department of Political and Social Sciences sent a 34-member delegation of four professors, five postdoctoral fellows, and 25 PhD researchers. A further seven participants from the EUI's Robert Schuman Centre brought the total EUI presence to 41 - one of the largest institutional delegations at the conference.
Professor Filip Kostelka, Director of Graduate Studies in the EUI Department of Political and Social Sciences, co-chaired the conference’s Comparative Politics Section - one of the largest on the programme.
"Participating in a major conference is particularly valuable for doctoral researchers, who can present their work alongside senior scholars, gather feedback, and build the connections that support the next stage of their careers," Kostelka said. "The strong showing of EUI early-career researchers in Belfast reflects the Department's continued commitment to support the professional development of its doctoral community."
One of them was PhD researcher Nahla Mansour, who presented her work on the effects of electoral systems in ethnically divided societies. "It was an honour to present my work at the first EPSS conference. This experience was particularly valuable, allowing me to receive very helpful feedback, meet very knowledgeable scholars, and get to see interesting research in the making," she said.
The EPSS will continue to host the meeting each year as the gathering for political scientists across Europe and beyond.
The EUI Department of Political and Social Sciences addresses contemporary challenges facing European politics and societies. As one of Europe’s leading centres for research on politics and comparative politics, political theory, international relations, and sociology, the Department fosters cross-disciplinary research conversations where ideas and findings converge.