The DN34 International Conference on Discourse, Identity and Polarisation will be held on November 10–12 2026 at Vilnius University in person and online via MS Teams. The call for papers and panel proposals is open until May 15th 2026.
This hybrid conference provides an interdisciplinary space for examining how individual and group identities are discursively constructed in today's increasingly polarised societies, and how discourse both reflects and shapes emerging social divisions. Although identity construction has long been central to discourse analysis, this conference places the interrelation between identity, subjectivity and polarisation at the forefront. In a context of political, cultural and epistemic fragmentation, identity is not only performed but also continually renegotiated through discourse. We therefore invite scholars at all career stages from across the transdisciplinary field of Critical Discourse Studies to explore how social divisions, subjectivities and identities are discursively shaped, contested and transformed. Contributions may engage with, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- Discourse and identity in times of polarisation. How are individual and group identities discursively constructed in contexts of social division or conflict?
- Identity, polarisation and socio-cultural situatedness. How do specific socio-cultural settings shape the discursive construction of identity and polarisation?
- Discursive strategies of identity and polarisation. Which linguistic or multimodal strategies enhance, negotiate or challenge polarisation?
- Affect, identity and polarisation. What emotional registers are salient in discourses of identity and polarisation? How do affect and emotion shape subjectivities and social divisions?
- Topical constructions of identity. Which issues or policy areas become focal points for the discursive construction of identities and divisions?
- Genres, media and polarisation. How do different discourse genres shape identity and polarisation?
- Nationalism, populism and identity politics. How do populist and identity-based discourses contribute to polarisation, hegemony and counter-hegemony?
- Discourse, identity and intersectionality. How do dimensions such as gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality and ideology interact in the discursive construction of identity in polarised worlds?
- Digital identities and online communities. How are identities constructed in digital spaces, and what role do online communities play in spreading or contesting polarisation?
- Historical and diachronic perspectives. What can historical developments teach us about the evolving relationships between discourse, identity and polarisation?
- Theoretical and methodological challenges. Which theoretical frameworks and methods are most suitable for analysing discourse, identity and polarisation?
Abstract submission and presentation guidelines
- Abstracts should be 250 - 400 words (including references) and anonymous. Use APA 7th edition style for references and include up to five keywords. The language of the conference is English
- Panels with three to five presentations with a panel chair are welcome. Please submit the abstract of the panel and paper abstracts separately, making sure you indicate the panel title in each submission
- Presentations should be 20 minutes long, followed by a 5-minute discussion (and 5 minutes to change rooms)
- Submit your abstracts via the registration link: https://www.dare.flf.vu.lt/registration