
CALL FOR COMMUNICATIONS
Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026
The Portuguese Association of Political Economy (EcPol) announces a call for papers for the 10th Annual Meeting of Political Economy, to be held at the University of Évora from January 28 to 30, 2027, under the theme “The New Great Transformation: Transitions, Technology, Labor, and Conflicts.”
The conference aims to bring together all those who, drawing from a wide range of disciplinary fields and approaches, view economic phenomena as being fundamentally shaped by social, political, philosophical, legal, cultural, technological, and ecological factors, and believe they should be studied within their institutional, historical, and geographical contexts.
PRESENTATION
In 1944, Karl Polanyi published “The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time”, a seminal work in political economy. In it, Polanyi describes how market logics spread throughout the workings of the economy and society. One of the fundamental aspects of this transformation, which began in the 18th century, was the progressive commodification of labour. In other words, social relations of production came to be mediated by money, which, reintroduced into the productive system, contributes to its own reproduction.
Since the late 20th century, many have referred to a “New Great Transformation”. However, today, the challenges posed by technological evolution (especially due to the proliferation of artificial intelligence) cast significant doubts about the place of labour in the future of economies and societies. These doubts translate into uncertainty about how people will be able to obtain the resources necessary for a dignified life. Also at stake is the urgency of transitioning to development models not grounded on infinite growth; the strengthening of democracy, placing civilizational evolution at the centre of the functioning of economy; and the primacy of social justice in the distribution of resources and access to opportunities (both individual and collective) for development.
At its core, Political Economy proposes a transformative approach to the economy and society. Thus, the 10th Annual Meeting of Political Economy challenges scholars, professionals, and activists with a direct or indirect interest in Political Economy to consider the possibility of a New Great Transformation. What characterizes it, and what are its trends? What are its consequences? What implications will it have for our well-being? What alternatives exist? What should be the stances of science, technology, and politics regarding transitions in technology, labour, and conflicts?

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Meeting president
More Keynote speakers to be announced soon
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
We welcome proposals for panels from researchers, thematic sections or regional groups, as well as communications on the following topics, among others:
1. Economic, ecological, and territorial transitions
• Transformations of capitalism and alternative models of development
• Ecological and energy transitions and sustainability
• The welfare state, provisioning systems, and economic democracy
• Crises, inequalities, and territorial dynamics
2. Technology, digitalization, and power
• Artificial intelligence, digitalization, and the future of work
• Technology, financialization, and the reconfiguration of the economy
• Rights, regulation, and democracy in the digital age
3. Work, Well-being, and Emancipation
• Decent work, inequalities, and social inclusion
• Work, distribution, quality of life, and well-being
• Economies of care, decommodification, and social reproduction
• Collective action, trade unionism, cooperativism, and social movements
4. Conflicts, Dependencies, and Geoeconomics
• Political economy of conflicts and rearmament
• Geopolitics of innovation and technological dependencies
• Strategic resources, energy transition, and global conflicts
Proposals may be submitted for:
1) Communications;
2) Communications to panels organised by EcPol’s thematic sections (list to be updated soon):
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Labour, Social Welfare and Inequalities (more information here);
3) Free thematic panels consisting of 3 or 4 papers.
Communications relating to doctoral thesis projects should preferably be presented at the Winter School.
Proposals must be submitted in the language of the communications, with the option of Portuguese, Spanish or English.
Proposals for papers and thesis projects must contain the following information:
i) Title;
ii) Type of proposal (paper, thesis project);
iii) Name, institutional affiliation and e-mail address of the proposer(s);
iv) Abstract and 4 keywords (max. 400 words).
Panel proposals must contain the following information:
i) Session title;
ii) Summary of the session (max. 200 words);
iii) Name, institutional affiliation and e-mail address of the panel proposer(s) and participants;
iv) Title, abstract and keywords (max. 400 words) of the papers included.
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
Proposals for papers and thesis projects should be submitted using the form at https://forms.gle/grdmwj13FQ2qBwcF6
Papers to be included in the panels organised by EcPol thematic sections should be submitted by e-mail (list to be updated soon):
-
Labour, Social Welfare and Inequalities: joao.p.loureiro@iscte-iul.pt.
Proposals for free thematic panels should be submitted via email: 10encontroecpol@gmail.com
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION FEES
EcPol members (2026 membership fee up to date)
100 euros (includes 2027 membership fee)
Non-members
140€
PhD candidates, students and unemployed
40 €
IMPORTANT: if you want to become a member of the Association, you will have to fill this online form. The yearly registration fee is 40€. If you are eligible for a fee waiver (student without income or unemployed), please fill the reason in the form. For further information, please contact us. The email of the Meeing is 10encontroecpol@gmail.com.
IMPORTANT DATES
September 30, 2026
Deadline for proposals of papers or sessions
October 15, 2026
Deadline for thesis project proposals
October 15-30, 2026
Notification of acceptance of proposals
December 15, 2026
Registration and payment
PROGRAMME
Soon av
ADDRESS
UNIVERSIDADE DE ÉVORA
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
TBC
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
André Carmo
Carlos Gonçalves
Conceição Rego
Felipe Rodrigues Sousa
Madalena Ferreira
Manuel Branco
Maria da Saudade Baltazar
Marina Carreiras
Ricardo Noronha
Simone Tulumello




