The XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology will take place as a fully in-person event from 4 to 10 July 2027 in Gwangju, a city marked by South Koreans’ historic struggle for democracy. The Congress theme “Global Sociology in Turbulent Times” calls attention to the experiences of those most affected by crises and to their role in the production of knowledge. Sociologists working in contexts of war, genocide, extreme inequality, or environmental devastation linked to extractivist capitalism demonstrate that sociology remains not only possible but essential under such difficult conditions. They remind us that societies are shaped not only by crises, but also by resistance, creativity, and the pursuit of alternatives.

In a world shaped by persistent turbulence and rapid transformations, how can sociology produce knowledge that goes beyond immediate reactions and contributes to a deeper understanding of ongoing changes?

The XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology will bring together a global community of researchers driven by the shared conviction that sociology has a crucial role to play in making sense of these turbulent times, by uncovering the social roots of crises and transformations, analysing how inequalities are produced and contested, examining how institutions, democracy and society are reshaped, and understanding how actors, from grassroots movements to global elites, navigate and transform our world.

 

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