Current Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives on Political Culture

Current research in the field of political culture explores the connections between political ideas, discourses, and actions within their broader cultural and social contexts, as well as the impact of factors both internal and external to the national setting. Theoretical and empirical contributions aim to address pressing issues and challenges in contemporary politics, including but not limited to various forms of democracy and the tensions within them, the construction and representation of national identities, levels of trust or distrust in local, national, and supranational institutions, the origins and lasting effects of political violence as well as the role of Artificial Intelligence. These issues encompass recent developments such as the rise of populist movements, the complex crises facing contemporary democracies, the growth of nationalist groups and identity politics, the influence of populism on political landscapes, and the rise of AI usage in political communication. To study these critical matters, interdisciplinary approaches are vital, as they offer the opportunity for a comprehensive examination of diverse yet significant factors influencing political culture. This section aims to incorporate fresh perspectives from diverse disciplines like history, political philosophy, cultural studies, political science, and sociology into research and theory of political culture, by examining how political culture influences citizenship, the process of nation building, democratic stability and transformation, as well as public sentiment and political representation. We invite both theoretical and empirical papers using qualitative or quantitative methods and employing a comparative or case study perspective. Papers may be organized along the following panel themes but we also welcome independent submissions on other topics of political culture.