Charles University, Faculty of Arts, Prague, Friday, October 23, 2026

The European University Institute (EUI), through its Widening Europe Programme, the Department of Political Science at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, and the Czech Political Science Association jointly organise a PhD workshop in Comparative Politics on Friday, October 23, from 9:00 to 18:00. The workshop understands comparative politics broadly and invites papers from all empirical subfields of political science. The workshop welcomes all methodological approaches, although submissions employing quantitative or mixed methods will be given priority.

The aim of the workshop is to provide PhD researchers with an opportunity to advance their research and to have their papers discussed in depth by international and Czech senior scholars, as well as by their peers. Approximately 45 minutes will be devoted to each paper. During this time, the paper will be presented and discussed first by an assigned senior scholar and subsequently by all participants. In addition to the paper discussions, the workshop will include a short training session on publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals.

The workshop is part of the Opportunities for Czech Academia: The European University Institute Forum at Charles University event. On Thursday, October 22 (15:30-19:30), it will be preceded by a presentation of academic opportunities at the European University Institute, a keynote lecture on EU politics delivered by Professor Simon Hix, and a cocktail reception.

Submission Guidelines

The submission deadline is Monday, June 22, at 12:00 CEST. Selected participants will be informed by Friday, July 10. To apply for the workshop, use the following link: application form. You will be asked to paste the title and abstract of your paper and report your gender, academic status (PhD Year), affiliation, and citizenship information. Please note that you will need to create an EUI account first if you do not already have one. You should also indicate whether you apply for financial support and whether you will attend the Thursday programme (see the Costs Financial Support section below). Note that if your abstract is selected, you will be expected to submit the entire paper by October 1st.

Eligibility

All PhD students in political science who are duly enrolled at a Czech university are eligible to apply. Nationality is not a selection criterion. The selection process will aim to ensure balance in terms of gender and geographical representation. Priority will be given to single-authored papers and papers co-authored exclusively by PhD students. However, papers co-authored with senior faculty members are also eligible.

Costs & Financial Support

The workshop is entirely free of charge. All participants will receive complimentary lunch and refreshments throughout the event. Participants travelling from universities outside Prague are eligible for reimbursement of their travel expenses and, if they attend the Thursday Programme (on October 22), of accommodation costs for a one-night hotel stay.

Convenors

Professor Jelena Dzankic (EUI), Associate Professor Petra Guasti (Charles University), Professor Vlastimil Havlik (Masaryk University), Professor Simon Hix (EUI), Professor Filip Kostelka (EUI; Chair of the Organising Committee), Associate Professor Karel Kouba (Charles University), Professor Jan Rovny (Science Po), Assistant Professor Martin Štefek (Charles University). All academic questions can be addressed to Professor Kostelka (filip.kostelka@eui.eu). All logistical questions can be sent to the EUI Widening Europe Programme team (Widening@eui.eu).