Call for streams - general guidelines

The streams should be devoted to major research fields, social policy issues, and current dilemmas of social policy and the welfare state. We also invite streams that focus on innovative topics, particularly issues of importance to the challenges that welfare states are currently facing.

One of the main goals of the conference is to foster scientific cooperation, therefore the scope of proposed streams should be broad enough to encompass a variety of disciplines (sociology, political science, economics, law, etc.), perspectives, approaches and research networks.

Streams should broadly cover a particular theme; authors of proposals of themes considered too narrow may be asked to broaden their scope. Examples of themes include (but are not limited to): Pension policy; Anti-Poverty and social exclusion policies; Healthcare policy; Employment and labour market policy; Family policy; Housing policy; Migration, integration, and social citizenship challenges; Education; Welfare attitudes and discourses; Ageing and elderly care; Eco-social policies; Digitalisation and automation of welfare states; The politics of welfare reform; Consequences of international conflicts on social policy and the welfare state; Research methodologies in social policy and politics.

We welcome stream proposals convened by 2-3 researchers, preferably affiliated with different academic institutions across different countries. Please notice that the streams must be open to abstract submissions from everyone (i.e., no closed streams). Convenors may also be asked to work together, in the case of equally good, overlapping streams.

Proposals should be submitted by one of the convenors and should include an abstract of max 500 words together with the names, affiliations and e-mail addresses of the other convenor(s). Click on the Submission buttom above and follow the instructions.

We are looking forward to receiving your submissions!

- The Local Organising Board of ESPANET Milan 2025