A summer school dedicated to the study of political polarisation will take place from 8 to 12 June 2026 in Wrocław. The programme is organised within the framework of cooperation among Arqus Alliance universities and will bring together doctoral candidates and master’s students to examine one of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary democracies.

Political polarisation extends beyond academic debate and has tangible implications for the functioning of democratic systems. Recent research – including the work of Patkós and Plesz (2025) – indicates that high levels of polarisation may weaken democratic accountability by eroding public trust, narrowing political debate and fostering negative campaigning.

An expanding body of scholarship further investigates how polarisation influences voter behaviour, party competition and the operation of institutional checks and balances. The summer school will address these questions from a comparative European perspective, integrating theoretical approaches with empirical research. The academic programme will consist primarily of lectures delivered by scholars affiliated with the Arqus Alliance universities, alongside research presentations by selected participants.

Participation is open exclusively to doctoral candidates and master’s students from Arqus Alliance universities, with a maximum of three participants admitted per institution. Applications are welcomed from a broad range of disciplines within the social sciences and humanities, including political science, sociology, history, law, philosophy, communication studies and economics.

Selected participants will be required to submit a research paper of approximately 20,000 characters, including references, related to the theme of the summer school one week prior to the programme. During the summer school, participants will present their research and engage in academic discussion.

The application deadline is 26 February 2026. Approximately twenty-five candidates will be shortlisted for brief online interviews. Fifteen participants will be selected and informed of the results by 3 March 2026. Accepted participants must submit their research papers by 1 June 2026.

Participation is fully funded by the University of Wrocław, including travel to and from Wrocław, within the programme “Support for European Universities Alliances”, financed by the National Agency for Academic Exchange. Further information is available here.