In the context of social sciences, crisis is broadly defined as a period of severe disruption or instability that challenges established structures, norms, or systems within societies. Crises can manifest in various forms—economic collapses, political upheavals, environmental disasters, technological shifts, wars, pandemics, climate or cultural conflicts. Historically, crises have always triggered societal change, which necessitate adaptation, reorganization, and innovation within communities. Throughout history, the impact of crises has been profound, shaping the trajectories of societies by prompting adaptation and transformation. Societies that fail to address crises effectively often face decline, while those that develop robust strategies can recover and evolve. Understanding crises within an interdisciplinary framework helps to reveal patterns, inform policies, and foster resilience in the face of contemporary and future challenges.

About Congist

CONGIST is an international social sciences congress organized by the Faculty of Letters at Istanbul University. Held every two years, the congress brings together scholars, researchers, and experts from various disciplines, providing a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and critical reflection on contemporary global issues. Each edition focuses on a specific theme within the field of social sciences, encouraging innovative approaches and collaborative research. Hosted by one of Türkiye’s oldest and most prestigious academic institutions, CONGIST fosters scholarly exchange at both national and international levels. Following each congress, the papers presented are collected and published as thematic edited volumes.

Presentation of Congist’26

Since 2018, Congist has been an international social sciences congress organized by the Faculty of Letters at Istanbul University. Our previous congresses focused on the themes Homecoming Soldier-War and Society (2018), The City's Language (2019), and Social Sciences and Artificial Intelligence: Theory and Practice (2024).

Our fourth Congist, to be held on May 13–15, 2026, will focus on the theme Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Crisis. This congress aims to bring together scholars from various fields of social sciences to explore the societal dimensions of crises and to seek viable solutions.

We chose this theme for the following reason:

In the social sciences, a crisis is broadly defined as a period in which established structures, norms, or systems within societies are severely shaken or destabilized. Crises can manifest in various forms such as economic collapses, political turmoil, environmental disasters, technological transformations, wars, pandemics, climate disruptions, or cultural conflicts. Historically, crises have marked turning points in societal change, compelling communities to adapt, restructure, or innovate. The impacts of crises have been profound, shaping societal trajectories, prompting adaptation, and triggering transformations. Societies that fail to effectively address crises often face collapse, while those that develop robust strategies are able to recover and evolve. Understanding crises within an interdisciplinary framework helps to reveal patterns, inform policies, and strengthen resilience in the face of current and future challenges.

Congist’26 aims to explore the dynamics of crises and sustainability through interdisciplinary perspectives. The event will highlight the importance of interdisciplinary work, fostering academic exchange and knowledge-sharing among experts from different fields. Beyond academic discussions, our congress seeks to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and offer innovative and applicable perspectives within the social sciences.

Argument

In the context of social sciences, crisis is broadly defined as a period of severe disruption or instability that challenges established structures, norms, or systems within societies. Crises can manifest in various forms—economic collapses, political upheavals, environmental disasters, technological shifts, wars, pandemics, climate or cultural conflicts. Historically, crises have always triggered societal change, which necessitate adaptation, reorganization, and innovation within communities. Throughout history, the impact of crises has been profound, shaping the trajectories of societies by prompting adaptation and transformation. Societies that fail to address crises effectively often face decline, while those that develop robust strategies can recover and evolve. Understanding crises within an interdisciplinary framework helps to reveal patterns, inform policies, and foster resilience in the face of contemporary and future challenges.

This international congress aims to explore the dynamics of crises from interdisciplinary perspectives. Potential themes for papers and panels include, but are not limited to:

• Cultural Crises and Sustainability
• Representations of Crises and Sustainability in Media, Cinema, and Art
• The Crisis of Art Criticism
• Aesthetic Reflections of the Crisis
• Crisis in Performing Arts
• The Role of Discourse in Shaping Collective Action about Crisis and Sustainability
• Discourse(s) of Crisis
• Semiotics of Crisis
• Ontology and Crisis
• Identity construction and Crisis
• Language and Signs of Crisis
• The Role of Globalisation in Triggering and Resolving Crises
• Crisis, Sustainability, and Misinformation
• Social Crises and Transformation: Sociological and Psychological Approaches
• Information and Records Management in Times of Crisis: Digitalization, Archiving, and Sustainability
• Eco-Communication in Crises
• Crisis and Ethics
• War, Crisis, and Sustainability: The Impact of Conflict on Societal Continuity
• Sustainability and Resilience in Historical and Archaeological Perspectives
• Utopian and Dystopian Visions of Crisis and Sustainability
• Geographical Approaches to Environmental Crises and Sustainable Solutions
• Philosophical Reflections on the Relationship Between Crisis and Sustainability
• Crises and Sustainability in the Ancient World
• Anthropological Perspectives on the Social and Cultural Impact of Crises
• The Language of Crisis: Linguistic Perspectives
• Eco-Linguistics and Sustainability
• Multimodal Communication in Crisis Situations: Ecolinguistic and Ecosemiotic Perspectives
• Ecocriticism, Ecofeminism, and the Climate Crisis: Literary Representations of Sustainability
• Local Effects of Global Crises
• Preparation for Future Crises in the Light of Historical Analyses
• Sustainable Development and Crisis Prevention Policies
• Income Inequality, Class Conflicts and Crises
• The Search For Social Justice and Crisis Management
• Wars, Famines, And Waves of Migration
• The Effects of Refugee Crises on International Politics
• Geographical Dimensions of the Climate Crisis
• Natural Disasters and Social Vulnerability
• Resource Crises and Geopolitical Tensions
• Urbanization and Ecological Crisis
• Digital Crises and Social Interaction
• Social Impacts of Crises
• Post-Crisis Psychological Transformation,
• Resilience, and Adaptation Processes
• Psychological Impacts of Crises
• The Evolution of Crisis-Related Vocabulary: Historical and Contemporary Linguistic Trends
• Narratives of Crisis and Sustainability: Literary Responses to Environmental and Social Challenges
• Historical Perspectives on Crisis and Recovery
• The Psychological Impacts of Crises
• Apocalyptic and Post- Apocalyptic Fiction: Crisis, Survival, and Sustainable Futures
• Literary Depictions of Resource Scarcity and Environmental Collapse
• Crisis in Logic
• Episteme and Crisis
• Eco-translation and Climate Crisis
• Disaster and Crisis Interpreting
• Phenomenology of Crisis
• Postmodernity and Crisis

Submission guidelines

Congress Languages: English and Turkish

• Proposals (abstracts) should be submitted via the official congress website: https://congist.istanbul.edu.tr/tr .