Participation, Organisational Democracy and Self-Management In Turbulent Times

We are convening this vital opening session of the ISA RC10 (Participation, Organisational Democracy and Self-Management) against the backdrop of an unprecedented global polycrisis. The contemporary era is defined by extreme turbulence: the devastating proliferation of war and armed conflict, chronic mass unemployment, and profoundly heightened socioeconomic inequality. Compounding these material struggles is a blatant resurgence of imperialism that continues to extract resources, enforce geopolitical dominance, and marginalise vulnerable communities globally.

Simultaneously, the traditional engines of collective power and workplace democracy are severely compromised. The precipitous decline of trade unions has left workers increasingly vulnerable to exploitative labour regimes, while the broader civic sphere is increasingly polluted by anti-intellectual political participation, reactionary populism, and the deliberate erosion of critical democratic deliberation.

In the face of this systemic decay, the core tenets of RC10—organisational democracy, self-management, and radical participation—are more urgent than ever. They are not merely objects of academic inquiry, but vital mechanisms for survival and blueprints for resistance.

This session invites scholars, practitioners, and activists to present both theoretical and practical contributions aimed at actively undermining this multifaceted crisis. We welcome empirical research, case studies, and novel theoretical frameworks that explore how self-management and democratic organisational forms can counter imperialist aggression, rebuild collective worker power outside traditional union structures, and foster emancipatory political engagement.