April 28–29 2025: Nordic Conference on Civil Society Studies

We welcome researchers working on civil society studies to Bergen, Norway for a working conference.

Tid og sted: 28. apr. 2025 12:00–29. apr. 2025 14:00, NORCE Nygårdsgaten 112, 5008 Bergen, Norway

The Centre for Research on Civil Society and Voluntary Sector, a collaboration between NORCE Norwegian Research Centre in Bergen and the Institute for Social Research in Oslo will be this year’s hosts. The conference will take place in NORCE’s offices in Bergen.
It is our aim that the conference will facilitate quality academic discussions on contemporary civil society in European societies.

We are looking for papers that cover a broad range of topics, including but not limited to studies on engagement and volunteering, organization and mobilization, cross-sector collaboration and co-production, social movements and NGOs, power and resource inequalities between civil society actors, as well as advocacy and philanthropic actors and activities. Papers may be theoretical or empirical in nature.

See the Call for papers here (.pdf).

Bergens Universitetsfond is sponsoring this event.

Abstract Submissions

Abstract of no more than 500 words (not including references) must include:

A working title
A statement of the empirical or theoretical concern
A short summary locating the concern within a wider literature
A concise account of the empirical or theoretical methodological approach
The main arguments of the paper and an indication of the supporting evidence
A statement of the main conclusions and their relevance to an international audience.

Registrer here

Practical information

This event is free to register.

Program

See an updated program draft (pdf)

Important dates

Registration and abstract submission deadline: 15 February

Confirmation of abstract and or registration: 1 March

Final paper submission deadline: 21 April

Accomodation

Thon Hotel Bristol. Torgallmenningen 1 (entrance from Markeveien).

The hotel is situated right in the middle of Bergen Centre, with about 15 minutes walk from the hotel to our offices in Nygårdsgaten 112. You can also use Bergen Light Rail, which is located 2 minutes from the hotel, and it will take you to NORCE in about 5 minutes.

The price is NOK 1.436, - pr night, with breakfast included.

You can use this link to book your stay: https://www.thonhotels.no/event/norce/

Please note that after 14^th March 2025 the link will no longer be valid.

Travelling to the venue in Bergen

The conference venue is Nygårdsgaten 114, close to the city centre.

From the airport in Bergen, there are two easy ways to reach the venue:

By Tram (Bergen Light Rail - Bybanen): approx. 40 minutes, leaving every 5-10 minutes from right outside the arrival terminal. Cost: approx. NOK 50 / EUR 4. Tickets can be bought on the platform with any major debit or credit card, or by downloading the Skyss App on your smartphone. Go off at the stop called Nygård (4^th last stop before city centre), walk approx. 100 meters to the venue.

By Airport Bus (Flybussen): approx. 25 minutes, leaving approx. every 30 minutes. Cost: approx. NOK 169 / EUR 14 (return ticket cheaper). Tickets can be bought on the bus, at https://www.flybussen.no/en, or by downloading the Flybuss App on your smartphone. Go off at the bus station (Bergen busstasjon), which is less than 10 minutes’ walk from the venue.