Social Inclusion, Belonging and Justice in Times of Uncertainty
ESA RN27 Midterm Conference
Chania (Crete) Greece, 3-6 September 2025
Organizer
Harokopio University of Athens (Greece), Department of Geography
With the support of:
Hellenic Sociological Association (HSS)
Venue
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh), Chania (Crete), Greece
Call for papers
The consolidation of the EU economy and the forces of globalization, which affect the quality of life and well-being of individuals and social groups, are leading to continuous transformation of European cities and regions. Current challenges related to growing inequalities, migration flows, the climate and energy crisis, and populist and right-wing politics have led to cumulative uncertainty. In this context, the general democratic demands for social inclusion, belonging, and social justice are being questioned by large sections of society and fought against in the name of social cohesion, localism/parochialism, and the defense of the market economy.
Southern European societies, faced with polycrises and the effects of austerity policies, are struggling with greater social fragmentation and a decline in their welfare policies. The previous socio-political processes that favoured social inclusion, belonging and justice are weakened under the threat of permanent uncertainty perpetuated by macroeconomic, geopolitical, and environmental conditions.
The conference welcomes theoretical and empirical research that addresses key issues affecting different countries, regions, places, social groups, ethnic groups or other categories. Topics may concern old and new challenges, which will be discussed using different theoretical or methodological tools with an emphasis on quantitative or qualitative data. Contributions from sociologists and social scientists are welcome, as are contributions based on interdisciplinary perspectives on the topics discussed at this conference. Papers with a comparative focus are particularly encouraged, as are targeted studies at different spatial scales that examine different aspects of social inclusion, belonging, and justice.
The conference welcomes the participation of researchers and academics from neighbouring countries working on common themes, especially from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and other regions of Europe. Some indicative topics are the following:
- Welfare policies and provision of social services
- Poverty and social inequalities
- Social resilience
- Governance and social participation
- Citizenship and social exclusion
- Demography and population movements
- Labour market, employment and unemployment
- Precarity, seasonal employment and deskilling
- Migrations, mobilities, and new residents
- Digital transformation and digital skills
- Platform economy
- Housing, social segregation and living conditions
- Home and belonging
- Gender inequalities and identities
- Ethnic groups, ethnicities and minorities
- Criminality, social stigmatization, and marginalization
- Climate crisis and sustainability
- Placed-based policies
- Regional identity and regionalism
- Social impact of public policies
- Education and educational inequalities
- Health and health inequalities
Abstract
Send your abstract, of a maximum of 250 words, to: Conf2025.RN27@gmail.com. Please, indicate name, surname, affiliation, and email address.
For any questions please don’t hesitate to email to: apospapa@hua.gr
Key dates
Abstract submission deadline: 25th April 2025
Notification of Acceptance: 12th May 2025
Early Bird Registration: Before 4th July 2025
Late Registration: After 4th July 2025
Program publication: 1st August 2025
More details will be shared with the notification of paper acceptance.
Fees
Early bird
Teaching and research academic staff - Members of ESA: 85€, Non-members: 125€
Students - members of ESA: 55€, Non-members: 85€
Late registration
Teaching and research academic staff - Members of ESA: 110€, Non-members: 150€
Students - members of ESA: 80€, Non-members: 110€
Local Organizing Committee
Chair: Apostolos G. Papadopoulos, Professor, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece. Email: apospapa@hua.gr
Aleka Theofili, Scientific Staff, Institute of Social Research, National Centre for Social Research, Greece.
Andreas Feronas, Professor, Department of Social and Educational Policy, University of the Peloponnese, Greece.
Christina Karakioulafi, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Crete, Greece.
Christos Zagkos, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Chryssa Sofianopoulou, Professor, Department of Informatics and Telematics, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
Chryssa Zachou, Associate Professor, The American College of Greece.
Dimitris Parsanoglou, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
Eugenia Petropoulou, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Crete, Greece.
George Mavrommatis, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
Ioanna Tsiganou, Research Director, Institute of Political Research, National Centre for Social Research, Greece.
Loukia-Maria Fratsea, Adjunct Lecturer - Researcher, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
Manolis Pratsinakis, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos Metaxidis, Teaching and Research Staff, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.
Nikos Kourachanis, Associate Professor, Department of Social Policy, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece.
Pavlos Baltas, Senior Researcher, Institute of Social Research, National Centre for Social Research, Greece.
Sokratis Koniordos, Emeritus Professor, Department of Political Science, University of the Peloponnese, Greece.
Theodoros Iosifides, Professor, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Greece.
International Organizing Committee
Inês Vieira, Lusófona University, CeiED, Portugal (ESA RN27 Coordinator)
Olga Salido, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain (ESA RN27 Vice-Coordinator)
Scientific Committee
Ana Romão, CICS.NOVA, Military Academy, Portugal
Andreas Feronas, University of the Peloponnese, Greece
Apostolos G. Papadopoulos, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece
Christina Karakioulafi, University of Crete, Greece
Ilenia Picardi, University of Naples, Italy
Inês Vieira, Lusófona University, CeiED, Portugal
Ioanna Tsiganou, National Centre for Social Research, Greece
Laura Oso, University of La Coruña, Spain
Loukia-Maria Fratsea, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece
Manuel Fernández-Esquinas, CSIC, Spain
Maria da Saudade Baltazar, CICS.NOVA, University of Évora, Portugal
María Jesús Cabezón-Fernandez, University of Alicante, Spain
Matilde Massó Lago, University of La Coruña, Spain
Olga Salido, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Paola Borgna, University of Turin, Italy
Sokratis Koniordos, University of the Peloponnese, Greece
Teresa Consoli, University of Catania, Italy
Umberto di Maggio, LUMSA University, Italy