Dear AoIR colleagues,

I would like to share the Call for Papers for the upcoming DiscourseNet conference DN35: “Mapping and Countering Authoritarian Discourses”, hosted at the University of Opole on 25–26 February 2027.

The event focuses on contemporary (neo)authoritarianism, its discursive manifestations, and strategies for countering authoritarian narratives. We particularly welcome contributions that engage with digital communication, platform dynamics, algorithmic amplification, and online environments that shape or intensify authoritarian discourse.

Topics of interest include:

• authoritarian and illiberal rhetoric in digital spaces,

• fear-based and polarising communication online,

• populist storytelling and emotional mobilisation,

• digital infrastructures and affordances that amplify authoritarian messages,

• discourse-analytic approaches to democratic resilience in networked publics.

Deadline for abstract submissions: 30 September 2026. Abstracts (300–400 words, without bibliography) should be submitted via the form available on the conference website.

Full details and the Call for Papers: https://discourseanalysis.net/DN35

We would be grateful if you could share this announcement within AoIR networks and among colleagues working on digital communication, platform studies, and critical internet research.