We would like to thank again @emisimison.bsky.social and @scottrw630.bsky.social for serving as committee, and here is their assessment:

The 2025 Best PhD Paper Award for the best article/chapter written by a current PhD candidate goes to...

@linettelim.bsky.social PhD candidate at @ucddublin.bsky.social for her chapter "Foreign Bogeymen: The Use of Anti-Foreign Media Propaganda in China"

Congratulations!! 🥳

We would like to thank once again @annemwolf.bsky.social ‬ and @chankaming.bsky.social for serving as evaluation committee, and here is their assessment:

The 2025 Best Paper Award for the best paper on autocracies and/or regime change presented at the PSA Annual Conference 2025 goes to...

@tjermanova.bsky.social with "Beyond Coordination: The Authoritarian Constitution at the Centre of Intra-Regime Conflict in Post-1979 Iran."

Congratulations! 🥳

Finally, authors may also discuss their briefs at a roundtable
during the 2026 @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social Conference in Oxford, 30 March - 1 April!

Production process

1. 6 to 8 proposals will be accepted & authors will submit a full manuscript of 3,000/4,000 words

2. Review process by the editorial board @fabioangiolillo.bsky.social, @jbeisermcgrath.bsky.social, @felixwiebrecht.bsky.social

Submission process

1. abstract of max. 500 words. – specify general findings in this area, and their potential policy implications

2. author’s CV and a summary (200 words) of their (academic and non) experience on the topic

3. Deadline is 3 October!

Topics 2/2

3. Recovery from Authoritarian Rule (e.g., opposition strategies, citizens’ mobilizations)

4. Digital space (e.g., usage of A.I., digital society, disinformation)

5. International influence (e.g., electoral interference, international organizations)

Topics 1/2

We are interested in research focusing especially on:

1. Political institutions (e.g., legislatures, political parties, elections)

2. Authoritarian Peer-Learning (e.g., inter-state conferences, economic agreements)

The series has 3 aims:

• Review key pillars of authoritarianism

• Define key domestic and international challenges that authoritarian eco-systems pose to democracies

• Propose actionable policy directions from existing research for policymakers in the UK and other democracies

📣 Call for Papers: The Authoritarian Eco-System 📣

We are launching a new policy brief series w/ the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on authoritarian politics!

Deadline: 3 October 2025
Submit abstract (500 words) researcher’s profile, and CVs to: [email protected]

Details? Read the call &🧵

Best PhD Paper Award

For the best article/chapter written by a current PhD candidate.

The paper *does not* have to have been presented at the PSA Annual Conference 2025.

The committee consists of @emisimison.bsky.social (@qmul.ac.uk) and @scottrw630.bsky.social (@ox.ac.uk).

Award prize: £50

Best Paper Award

For the best paper on autocracies and/or regime change presented at the PSA Annual Conference 2025.

The 2025 Award committee consists of @chankaming.bsky.social (@nclpolitics.bsky.social) and @annemwolf.bsky.social (@ox.ac.uk).

Award prize: £50

🚨 We are now accepting submissions for two of our Specialist Group’s Awards 🚨

- Best Paper Award 📄

- Best PhD Paper Award 📔

Rules: anyone can nominate – self-nominations are welcome! – a paper for these awards by emailing [email protected]

Deadline: 19 May 2025

Details on the rules👇

🎤 Six Panels: We also have six amazing panels, on elites, civil society, surveillance, public opinion, regime change and legitimacy in autocracies. Make sure to find them on the programme!

🍸 Tuesday Night, 8 PM: Join us for a Drinks Social at Bacchus Bar! Come along to meet other autocracy researchers!

📅 Tuesday, 11:30 – 12:30: Roundtable on publication strategies and tips for early career researchers, also in Exec 2.

📅 Monday, 11:30 – 12:30: Our Annual General Meeting in Exec 2. Come to hear about what we’ve been up to, our plans for the year ahead and how you can get involved in the group!

🚨 Only three days until the PSA @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
Annual Conference and the Autocracy and Regime Change Group has a jam-packed programme! Get ready for our Annual General Meeting, a session with publishing tips for early career researchers, a drinks social, and six amazing panels! 👇

We have an exciting programme for the PSA Annual Conference in two weeks in Birmingham, including six panels, our AGM, a roundtable for early career researchers and a social!

📢 Calling scholars of autocracies and political transitions! We are the PSA Specialist Group on Autocracy and Regime Change. Follow us for updates on our activities and events!