Call for Submissions Democratic Resilience and the Politics of Belonging Organizers: Ala Alrababah (Bocconi), Gemma Dipoppa (Columbia), Shigeo Hirano (Columbia), Giovanna Invernizzi (Bocconi), Carlo Prato (Columbia) Democratic systems around the world face increasing pressure from polarization, social fragmentation, and challenges to institutional trust. At the same time, questions of identity and belonging have become central to political behavior and policymaking. To advance our understanding of these dynamics, the second annual Bocconi-Columbia conference will focus on Democratic Resilience and the Politics of Belonging. The conference will be held at Columbia University on June 4th and 5th, 2026. Our goal is to bring together research examining how democratic institutions and societies respond to a wide range of internal and external threats—e.g., decreasing institutional trust and civic engagement, polarization, migration, climate change, populism, and weakening democratic norms and participation. We welcome theoretical and theory-informed empirical contributions. Proposals should be submitted no later than December 31, 2025. Please use the following form to submit your paper: https://forms.gle/rX6KfGkbw1Y64VCV8 We will arrange accommodation and cover traveling costs (in line with the CEPR Travel Guidelines) for presenters and discussants. Authors will be notified around January 31, 2026. Proposals can take the form of an extended abstract (at least 500 words) or a full paper. If you have any questions, please contact any member of the organizing committee. Ala Alrababah Assistant Professor Bocconi University https://www.ala-alrababah.com/