On 2 June 2026, the Observatory will host the I Permanent Seminar on Good Governance, an interdisciplinary academic event devoted to examining the multiple factors that contribute to the emergence and consolidation of anti-democratic attitudes in contemporary political systems. Bringing together scholars from different areas of expertise, the seminar aims to foster dialogue on the social, political and institutional dynamics that undermine democratic values, weaken public trust, and contribute to processes of democratic backsliding.

The seminar will be structured around four thematic roundtables held throughout the day. We warmly invite contributions that explore the relationship between anti-democratic attitudes and democratic backsliding in connection with one or more of the following thematic areas: integrity and (anti-)corruption, public opinion and citizenship, security and crisis management, and migration governance. We particularly welcome interdisciplinary perspectives, comparative approaches, and both theoretical and empirical contributions that help advance our understanding of these challenges.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is 7 May 2026. Proposals may be submitted via the following link.

Accepted abstracts will be included in an open-access proceedings volume, with the aim of ensuring broad visibility and dissemination of the work presented at the seminar. In addition, a selection of the most outstanding contributions will be considered for inclusion in a Special Issue, providing participants with a further opportunity to develop their research for publication.

This seminar seeks not only to showcase ongoing research, but also to create a space for scholarly exchange and collaboration on one of the most pressing issues facing democratic governance today. During the next weeks, a full schedule of the Seminar will be provided.