IPSA President Pablo Oñate at the 2024 Polish Political Science Association Congress

IPSA had a strong representation at the 2024 Polish Political Science Congress, hosted by the Polish Political Science Association (PPSA) and the University of Łódź from 18-20 September 2024. Held under the theme Future Politics: Trends, Perspectives, Challenges, the event brought together over 700 scholars worldwide. 

Representing IPSA at this international gathering were IPSA President Pablo Oñate, PPSA President and IPSA Executive Committee (EC) member Magdalena Musiał-Karg, and EC member Jesús Tovar. In his speech at the opening ceremony, President Oñate thanked Prof. Musiał-Karg and the PPSA for organizing this successful congress, which underscores the strength of the Polish political science community. Prof. Oñate also highlighted IPSA’s key academic activities, including the association’s 75th-anniversary conferences in Montréal and Lisbon in 2024. Finally, Prof. Oñate invited Polish scholars to participate in the 2025 IPSA World Congress of Political Science in Seoul. 

The highlight of the congress was the roundtable titled Backsliding of Democracy in the World: Challenges and Solutions for Restoring Democratic Standards, chaired by Prof. Musiał-Karg, with Professor Oñate serving as a panelist. The roundtable featured contributions from Fernando Casal Bértoa (University of Nottingham, UK), Izabela Kapsa (Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland), and Aleks Szczerbiak (University of Sussex, UK).

Photo: IPSA President Pablo Oñate delivers his address at the opening ceremony.

PPSA President Magdalena Musiał-Karg highlighted the success of the congress, noting that over 720 attendees participated in more than 160 thematic sessions. She emphasized that the event serves not only as "a forum for different ideas and perspectives," but also as "a place where we create a community that inspires research and cares about the development of political science." Prof. Musiał-Karg added that the congress fosters discussion on future challenges and solutions for the scientific community, making it "a place where new ideas, initiatives, long-term scientific collaborations, and friendships are born."

Following the congress, President Oñate and EC members visited the Polish Parliament, where they met with several elected officials.

Photo (left to right): Prof. Fernando Casal Bértoa (University of Nottingham, UK), Prof. Pablo Oñate (IPSA President), Joanna Mucha (Member of Parliament), Prof. Magdalena Musiał-Karg (PPSA President and IPSA EC member) Prof. Jesus Tovar (IPSA EC member, Mexico), Michał Gramatyka (Member of Parliament).

*Photos by the Polish Political Science Association.