CFP - In France, as abroad, questions of democracy span multiple social fields. The University appears as a privileged place for observation and reflection. As a space for academic and civic education, for the transmission of knowledge and collective experimentation, it also constitutes a laboratory for democratic practices.
Orléans - FRANCE
Organization: Université d'Orléans - Université de Poitiers
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
CALL FOR PAPERS
Democracy at University: Voicing Choices
???? UFR LLSH, Orléans
???? June 9, 2026
Co-organized by:
the University of Poitiers
the University of Orléans
the MIMMOC research laboratory
the REMELICE research laboratory
the LLL research laboratory
(Working languages: French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese)
_____________________________________________
ENGLISH
In France, as abroad, questions of democracy span multiple social fields. The University appears as a privileged place for observation and reflection. As a space for academic and civic education, for the transmission of knowledge and collective experimentation, it also constitutes a laboratory for democratic practices.
With the support of RÉMÉLICE (Reception and Mediation of Foreign and Comparative Literatures and Cultures, “Cultures and Citizenship” axis, University of Orléans), LLL (Loire Valley Laboratory of Linguistics, University of Orléans), and MIMMOC (Memories, Identities, Marginalities in the Contemporary Western World, University of Poitiers), and of the FE2C (Federation for the Study of Contemporary Civilisations), and placed under the patronage of the IRES (Institute for Research in Economic and Social Studies) and the CHA (Henri Aigue Perse Centre), this conference, which will take place at Université d’Orléans on 9 June 2026, aims to explore the place and evolution of democratic practices and values at university, which contribute to shaping the citizens of today and tomorrow.
Possible areas for exploration include, but are not limited to:
representations and methods of engagement within higher education communities (associations, collectives, unions, student initiatives, university mobilisations...);
the places and media of engagement (traditional channels, new technologies, debates, general assemblies, councils, activist or institutional speeches, leaflets, etc.);
the analysis of oral and written discourse (collective or minority speech, activist or institutional statements, speeches, slogans, manifestos, press releases...);
the analysis of verbal and non-verbal interactions (discursive strategies, gestures, expressions of emotion in contexts of exchanges, conflicts, consensus, negotiations, debates, general assemblies, councils...).
Researchers (linguists, specialists in civilisation studies, historians, sociologists, jurists, managers, etc.) will bring, through the methodological specificities of their disciplinary fields, elements capable of enriching the debate on the questions and challenges of democracy at university in France and abroad, in a contrastive perspective (France/abroad).
Submissions (title, abstract 300 words max., institutional affiliation, short biography and contact details) should be sent before March 13, 2026 to editionsVPM@gmail.com
Acceptance notifications will be sent from April 10, 2026.
The accepted working languages are French, English, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
Format: In-person and online.
The participation fee is €25 for participants.
Key dates:
13 March 2026 : Submissions deadline
10 April 2026 : Acceptance notifications
30 May 2026 : Registration deadline
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Organizing Committee:
Claire Decobert (University of Orléans)
Sylvie Fournié-Chaboche (University of Orléans)
Elodie Gallet (University of Orléans)
Rodolphe Pauvert (University of Poitiers)
Scientific Committee:
Gabriel Bergounioux (University of Orléans)
Enrica Bracchi (University of Nantes)
Claire Decobert (University of Orléans)
José Luis Dader (Complutense University of Madrid) – dader@ccinf.ucm.es
Karin Fischer (University of Orléans)
Sylvie Fournié Chaboche (University of Orléans)
Élodie Gallet (University of Orléans)
Augustin Habran (University of Orléans)
Benoît Kermoal (Henri Aigueperse Center – UNSA Education; PhD candidate, CESPRA–EHESS)
Christèle Le Bihan-Colleran (University of Poitiers)
Dominique Lassare (Honorary Professor of Social Psychology, University of Nîmes)
Jonathan-Olivier Merlo (University for Foreigners of Siena)
Rodolphe Pauvert (University of Poitiers)
Katja Ploog (University of Orléans)
Martine Raibaud (University of La Rochelle)
Karine Rivière de Franco (University of Orléans)
Virginie Saint-James (University of Limoges)
Sebastian Türk (University of Orléans)
Biagio Ursi (University of Orléans)
David Waterman (University of La Rochelle)
Rodolphe Pauvert