By Edward Dunbar
Edited by Aliona Yermalayeva, Communications Committee Team Member
SIETAR USA is excited to share an upcoming roundtable event and scholarship opportunity as part of the The New Authoritarian Project which was presented at our most recent conference in Portland, OR.
Roundtable Event on The New Authoritarianism
The heightened concern for many people today centers around the loss of democratic representation that is occurring at a time of heightened climate change, international warfare, and the looming societal dominance by artificial intelligence. The reemergence of authoritarianism calls for attention and critical thought that engages both social scientists and the general public.
On May 27th, in Barcelona, there will be a review and discussion of the new authoritarianism of the 21st century. The presenters will consist of researchers and practitioners who are contributing to a new book series, to be published by Springer press, devoted to the study of and response to antidemocratic regimes globally.
The presenters include Milton Bennett, Ida Castiglioni, Edward Dunbar, and Shahar Gindi. They will address the emerging trends of authoritarianism, detailing its impact on political liberties and citizen well-being, while highlighting the challenges this regression from a civil society poses for peace, the climate, and social stability. What: in person and broadcast meeting on the new authoritarianism
When: May 27, 17:00 to 19:00 CET (11:00am to 1:00pm EDT)
More information on the program is available at: https://www.idrinstitute.org/activities/the-new-authoritarian-project/
To join this event online, please use the Zoom link that will be provided on the IDRInstitute’s official page. For in-person attendance, please RSVP by contacting Edward Dunbar.
The New Authoritarianism: Soliciting Scholarship
In the twenty-first century, we are witnessing “new authoritarianism." This evolving landscape demands renewed, rigorous study. A broader analytical lens and an expanded scholarly community are essential to understanding and countering this global anti‑democratic surge.
Solicitation of Contributions
We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to join a growing, multi‑disciplinary initiative dedicated to understanding and confronting the new authoritarianism. Through a series of volumes to be published by Springer Press, this project brings together voices from the behavioral and social sciences, political theory, cultural studies, economics, and law to illuminate one of the defining global challenges of our time. By assembling diverse perspectives, we hope to generate a contemporary body of scholarship that informs resistance, resilience, and policy innovation during a period of profound global transformation.
Book One in the series is now in pre‑release. We are currently soliciting contributions for Books Two and Three.
For Book Two, we especially welcome work addressing:
- AI‑driven authoritarian compliance and surveillance,
- Leader–follower dynamics in autocratic systems,
- Complex systems theory as applied to modern autocracy.
For Book Three, priority will be given to studies examining:
- Communities targeted by state‑sponsored or quasi‑governmental oppression (e.g., ICE and similar entities),
- Mental‑health impacts of regime‑backed coercion and intimidation,
- Forms of social resilience emerging within subaltern or marginalized communities,
- Advocacy strategies that challenge autocratic structures.
If you are interested in contributing to this evolving body of work, please contact Dr. Edward Dunbar.
