Institutional Challenges and Policy Responses

Philosophy, Politics, Economics & History (PPE) Conference

The main purpose of the PPE Conference is to stimulate discussion and collaboration from researchers working on complex socio-economic problems, such as climate change, migration, political polarization, inequalities, and many others.

The conference is organized by the Philosophy, Politics, Economics & History (PPE) Bachelor program and takes place annually at the Descartes Hall. We welcome all academic staff from Utrecht University, but also from other Universities in the Netherlands.

Special panel and keynote speaker

For this lustrum edition, we will have a special panel on Democracy: Challenges and Prospects with keynote speaker: Prof. dr. Scott Morgenstern (University of Pittsburgh).

Scott Morgenstern is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh and former Director of the Center for Latin American Studies. He is the author of (among others) Are Politics Local? (Cambridge, 2017) and co-editor of several influential volumes, including Legislative Politics in Latin America, Pathways to Power, and Paths for Cuba. His work spans political parties, democracy, and China’s growing role in Latin America. He is currently researching bureaucrats’ attitudes toward democracy and the evolving dynamics of U.S.–Latin American relations.

Call for Presentations

The Programme Chair invites abstract submissions for the upcoming lustrum conference. This conference seeks to foster a vibrant discussion on research addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by institutions in today´s rapidly evolving social, political, and economic landscapes. We welcome contributions that explore institutional resilience, adaptability, and policy responses to critical global and local issues (e.g. democracy, climate change, populism, inequality, migration,…).

• Proposals should engage with these (and other) topics using interdisciplinary approaches or by drawing from fields such as history, philosophy, political science, and economics. Contributions can include empirical research, theoretical frameworks, or applied policy analyses that deepen our understanding of these challenges and offer actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners.
• Proposals include abstracts (maximum 300 words) detailing the scope and potential contributions of your research.
• For questions, reach out to: Dr Julia Swart (J.Swart@uu.nl)
• Please submit your call before February 20 via this form.

PPE Conference 2026

*Please note that we choose presenters based on their research´s alignment with the theme of the conference.

*We extended the deadline for abstract submissions to the 10th of March.

Former editions

4^th edition - April 10, 2025 with a keynote  by Prof. dr. Wouter Botzen - Professor of Economics of Climate Change and Natural Disasters at the VU.

3^rd edition - April 05, 2024 with a keynote by Prof. dr. Ingrid Robeyns - Professor in Contemporary Political Philosophy and Applied Ethics at the UU.

2^nd edition - April 13, 2023 with a keynote by Prof. dr. Femke van Esch - Professor of European Governance and Leadership of the European Union at the UU.

1st edition - April 07, 2022 with a keynote by Prof. dr. Annelien de Dijn – Professor of Modern Political History at the UU.

Contact person

• 

  dr. Julia Swart

  Assistant Professor

  Email: j.swart@uu.nl