Cartagena to Host the IX National Congress of Political Science: A Milestone for Academic Collaboration and Democratic Dialogue in Colombia

By Global News Desk
Updated October (Special Academic Report)

1. Main Facts

The city of Cartagena de Indias is set to become the intellectual capital of Colombia as it prepares to host the IX National Congress of Political Science. Scheduled for October 7, 8, and 9, the flagship academic gathering will take place at the historic campus of the Universidad de San Buenaventura, Cartagena Section.

Promoted by the Colombiana de Ciencia Política (ACCPOL)—an influential association uniting 34 prominent universities across the nation—this biennial event represents the pinnacle of scholarly discourse in the country. Following its predecessor, which was successfully hosted by the Universidad del Cauca in Popayán, this year’s edition positions the Universidad de San Buenaventura as the proud institutional host, welcoming nearly one thousand participants, researchers, students, and international guest speakers.

The core objective of the three-day summit is to foster rigorous dialogue regarding academic, investigative, and professional experiences. Attendees will engage in multidimensional analyses of contemporary political phenomena across regional, national, and global frameworks.

Significantly, this year’s congress carries immense organizational weight, with the presidency of ACCPOL currently held by the Universidad Surcolombiana. The event is designed not merely as a convention for presentation, but as a dynamic incubator for policy recommendations, curriculum modernization, and the bridging of academic theory with pressing societal challenges.

2. Chronology: The Journey to Cartagena

Understanding the significance of the IX National Congress requires tracing the historical trajectory of ACCPOL and its flagship gatherings, which have systematically charted the maturation of political science in Colombia over the past two decades.

• The Formative Years (Early 2000s): Political science in Colombia transitioned from being an offshoot of law, sociology, or history to establishing itself as an autonomous, rigorous discipline. Early informal networks recognized the necessity of uniting fragmented university programs.
• The Institutionalization of ACCPOL: The Colombian Association of Political Science was formalized to create a unified front for quality assurance, research collaboration, and the defense of democratic institutions through empirical and theoretical study.
• The Biennial Tradition: ACCPOL established a rotating biennial congress model, allowing different regions of Colombia to showcase their local socio-political dynamics while acting as national hosts.
• The Popayán Milestone (Previous Edition): Held at the Universidad del Cauca, the VIII Congress laid critical groundwork by addressing post-accord peacebuilding challenges and regional inequalities, setting high standards for academic participation.
• The Selection of Cartagena de Indias: Following a rigorous internal evaluation by the ACCPOL board—headed by the Universidad Surcolombiana—the Universidad San Buenaventura seccional Cartagena de Indias was chosen as the host venue for the IX edition, emphasizing the Caribbean region’s strategic importance in national geopolitics and migration studies.
• Current Preparations (October 7–9): Months of peer-review processes culminated in the approval of 460 academic papers, alongside preparations for keynote addresses, book launches, and poster presentations, culminating in the live event in Cartagena.

3. Supporting Data: The Scale and Scope of the Congress

The sheer volume of academic output accepted for the IX National Congress underscores the vibrant health and expanding scope of political studies in Colombia. Out of numerous submissions, 460 academic papers have been officially approved for presentation, distributed across nine specialized thematic lines that mirror the most critical crises and transformations of our time:

Breakdown of Approved Papers by Thematic Line:

1. Studies on Peace, Social Movements, Violence, and Armed Conflicts (135 papers): Unsurprisingly the largest track, reflecting Colombia’s ongoing historical transition toward sustainable peace, the realities of post-conflict implementation, and the socio-political impact of violence.
2. Democracy, Electoral Systems, and Political Parties (86 papers): Focuses on institutional health, voter behavior, party polarization, and the structural integrity of democratic mechanisms.
3. Government and Public Policies (80 papers): Examines state capacity, policy efficacy, administrative transparency, and decentralized governance.
4. Migration, International Relations, Geopolitics, and Socio-spatial Studies (75 papers): Explores cross-border human mobility (particularly the Venezuelan migration crisis), Latin American integration, and global power shifts.
5. Political Theory, Aesthetics, and Complexity (33 papers): Engages with foundational philosophical debates, systemic thinking, and the intersection of art, culture, and power.
6. History of Latin American Political Thought (16 papers): Traces the intellectual lineages, revolutionary doctrines, and constitutional experiments unique to the region.
7. Pedagogical Perspectives in the Teaching of Political Science (16 papers): Innovates educational methodologies, classroom practices, and the training of future civic leaders.
8. Institutionalization of Political Science (11 papers): Analyzes the professionalization of the discipline, accreditation processes, and labor market integration for graduates.
9. The Praxis of Political Science (8 papers): Explores the ethical, practical, and interventionist roles of political scientists acting as public consultants and civic agents.

Additional Academic Highlights:

Beyond the paper presentations, the congress features a robust cultural and literary agenda:

• 12 Book Launches: Showcasing recent monographs, edited volumes, and empirical research produced by Colombian and international university presses.
• 9 Academic Posters: Visual research summaries highlighting innovative data visualization and qualitative mapping.
• 6 Specialized Panels: Bringing together high-level experts for multidisciplinary debates.
• 3 Central Keynote Conferences: Delivered by globally renowned political theorists and practitioners.
• Estimated Attendance: Nearly 1,000 participants, making it one of the largest gatherings of social scientists in northern South America.

4. Official Responses and Institutional Perspectives

Leadership figures within ACCPOL and the host universities have emphasized the transformative potential of this year’s gathering. Representatives speaking on behalf of the ACCPOL presidency (held by the Universidad Surcolombiana) noted that the congress is far more than a ceremonial meeting.

"For political science programs and their allied areas, this congress is an indispensable catalyst to continue qualifying the institutionalization of our discipline," stated a spokesperson for the organizing committee. "The dialogues initiated here open vital perspectives for advancing curriculum reforms, imagining novel pedagogical practices, and articulating rigorous research with social projection projects."

Administrators at the Universidad San Buenaventura Cartagena echoed these sentiments, expressing pride in welcoming scholars back to an in-person format. After years dominated by digital screens and remote communication, university leadership stressed the irreplaceable value of physical co-presence.

"In the midst of the reign of virtual distance, this congress serves as a much-needed sanctuary for face-to-face encounters," university officials remarked. "It is an opportunity for individual researchers to fortify their networks, deepen their academic projects, and ensure that political science continues to consolidate its role as an intellectual pillar of the nation."

Furthermore, academic coordinators pointed out that the diversity of participating institutions—spanning 34 universities from public and private sectors, urban centers and peripheral regions—ensures that the insights generated in Cartagena are genuinely representative of Colombia’s complex geographical and social reality.

5. Implications: Bridging Academia and Urgent National Realities

The broader implications of the IX National Congress of Political Science extend far beyond university lecture halls and faculty lounges. At its core, the event addresses a fundamental ethical question: How can political science put its specialized knowledge at the service of a society grappling with profound structural crises?

Reforming Higher Education and Curricula

The debates scheduled for October 7–9 are designed to ripple directly back into undergraduate and graduate classrooms. By critically evaluating current curricula, faculty members aim to modernize political science education. This includes integrating data analytics, digital policy evaluation, ethnographic field methods, and conflict-resolution techniques into standard syllabi. The goal is to produce graduates who are not only theoretically sound but also technically equipped to design public interventions in real time.

Strengthening Institutional Networks

By bringing together 34 universities under the umbrella of ACCPOL, the congress creates a resilient national network. Historically, academic research in Colombia has suffered from regional isolation. By sharing methodologies, pooling data repositories (especially concerning migration, violence, and local governance), and establishing joint research seedbeds (semilleros), Colombian universities can punch above their weight on the international stage. This collaborative ecosystem enables smaller regional universities to co-publish with major urban research powerhouses, democratizing academic production.

Actionable Solutions for National Crises

With 135 papers dedicated to peace studies and armed conflict, the congress directly engages with Colombia’s most harrowing modern dilemma. As the country navigates the complexities of peace accords, localized violence, dissident groups, and human rights violations, the empirical findings presented in Cartagena offer policymakers an invaluable reservoir of evidence-based recommendations. Rather than operating in an ivory tower, political scientists are positioning themselves as diagnostic physicians of the state, offering precise diagnoses and treatment strategies for democratic decay, administrative corruption, and social polarization.

Reclaiming the Public Sphere

Finally, the emphasis on in-person dialogue carries deep democratic symbolism. In an era plagued by algorithmic echo chambers, political polarization exacerbated by social media, and the antiseptic nature of virtual conferencing, the physical gathering in Cartagena acts as a laboratory for democratic deliberation. To practice politics—and the science thereof—requires the art of listening to opposing viewpoints in a shared physical space.

As the doors of the Universidad San Buenaventura open this October, the IX National Congress of Political Science will not only celebrate intellectual achievement; it will reaffirm the unwavering commitment of Colombian scholars to democracy, institutional resilience, and the relentless pursuit of social justice.