15th Graduate Spring School & Research conference on Comparative Media Systems: “Autocratization in Journalism and Beyond: Expanding conceptual and empirical horizons”
IUC, Dubrovnik, 5-9 April 2027
With this conference we expand the investigation of the phenomenon of autocratization beyond the focus on western democracies onto the global majority of the Global south. The third wave of autocratization is spreading in democracies and deepening in existing autocracies around the world which now outnumber democracies 91 to 88 for the first time in 20 years – only 29 countries remain liberal democracies (V-Dem, 2025, March). Global freedom has also declined for the 19th consecutive year, primarily in relation to political rights and civil liberties including freedom of expression.
The efforts to de-westernize communication theory and research contribute to better understanding of similar processes in dissimilar contexts, and guide our concern for this conference. News and journalism have traditionally been seen as the brunt of autocratic pressure. However, the conference wishes to broaden the focus of the analysis of autocratization to also include popular culture, which can be the site of both further autocratic deepening or resistance to autocratic world views and values. By focusing on popular culture production, content and reception we also extend the representation of audiences and creators in the contemporary symbolic sphere in which popular culture is prevalent over information and news content.
News and journalism remains at the brunt of autocratic pressure. Attempts to repress media freedom appear before visible changes to institutions of government and elections in later stages of autocratization and provide an early warning. Democratic indicators that have substantially declined over the last decade are all related to media freedom or freedom of expression, and government censorship of media along with media capture have significantly risen, while academic and artistic freedom as well as journalistic safety have deteriorated.
The role of AI in editorial media and social media, proprietary algorithms, as well as the structural/institutional impact of the tech architecture on what has been called “the gig public” (Splichal 2025) need investigating as well.
The conference will discuss new research on autocratization and the media in a comparative fashion including experiences from the Global Majority as well as in the sphere of popular culture.
Course directors:
Zrinjka Peruško, University of Zagreb
Carmen Ciller, University Carlos III – Madrid
Susanne Fengler, Technical University Dortmund
Göran Bolin, Södertörn University
Paolo Mancini, University of Perugia
Slavko Splichal, University of Ljubljana
Miklós Sükösd, University of Copenhagen
This 15th “slow science” IUC-CMS is an interdisciplinary research conference & post-graduate course open to academics, doctoral and post-doctoral students in media, communication and related fields engaged with the issue of media and media systems, that wish to discuss their current work with established and emerging scholars and get relevant feedback.
Invited research conference participants will deliver keynote lectures with ample discussion opportunities. In this unique academic format, student course attendees will have extended opportunity to present and discuss their current own work with the course directors and other lecturers and participants in seminar form (English language) and in further informal meetings around the beautiful old-town of Dubrovnik (UNESCO World Heritage) over 5 full working days (Monday to Saturday).
The working language is English.
Participation in the course for graduate (master and doctoral) students brings 3,5 ECTS credits, and for doctoral students who present their thesis research 6 ECTS. The course is accredited and the ECTS are awarded by the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb (www.fpzg.unizg.hr). All participants will also receive a certificate of attendance from the IUC.
Enrolment
To apply, send a CV and a motivation letter to matej.mikasinovic-komso@fpzg.hr Students who wish to present their research should also send a 300-word abstract. The course can accept 20 students, and the applications are received on a rolling basis. After notification of acceptance you need to register also on this web page https://iuc.hr/programme/2152.
The IUC requires a small enrolment fee from student participants. Participants are responsible for organizing their own lodging and travel. Affordable housing is available for IUC participants. Stipends are available from IUC for eligible participants, further information at https://www.iuc.hr/iuc-support.php. For information on these matters please contact the IUC secretariat at iuc@iuc.hr.
Venue Information
The Inter-University Centre was founded in Dubrovnik in 1972 as an independent, autonomous academic institution with the aim of promoting international co-operation between academic institutions throughout the world. Courses are held in all scientific disciplines around the year, with participation of member and affiliated universities.
Additional Information
For further information about academic matters please contact Matej Mikašinović-Komšo (matej.mikasinovic-komso@fpzg.hr), Centre for Media and Communication Research (www.cim.fpzg.unizg.hr), Department of Media and Communication, Faculty of Political Science (www.fpzg.unizg.hr), University of Zagreb (www.unizg.hr).