Call for Papers

UK Academy of Marketing

Special Interest Group on Political Marketing

UK Academy of Marketing – International Political Marketing Symposium

Political Marketing in the Post-Truth Era: Is Political Marketing Saving or Destroying Democracy?

September 14–16 2026

Romania

Venue: Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania

Symposium Chairs:

Prof. Paul Baines – University of Leicester

Dr Christopher Pich – University of Nottingham

Prof. Mihai Rosca – Bucharest University of Economic Studies

Organising committee

Prof. Razvan Zaharia

Prof. Alin Stancu

Dr. Alin Angheluta

Dr. Loredana Popescu

Dr. Lucian Onisor

This symposium aims to bring together academics, practitioners, policymakers and researchers from a wide range of disciplines to reflect on the role of political marketing in an age of disinformation, misinformation, polarisation, and public distrust. The symposium will feature a range of thought-provoking presentations and key notes speakers from the world of academia, politics, and industry. There are also plans to organise a meet the editors’ session, which will serve as an opportunity for researchers and academics to connect with journal editors, gain insights into the editorial process, learn about topical areas of study and new trends within the field of political marketing. The symposium will also go beyond the exchange of knowledge and serve as an inclusive, inspiring and engaging event to establish new long-term collaborations and maintain existing connections across sectors and disciplines.

In a context marked by major transformations in the global political landscape, we are pleased to invite you to attend the UK Academy of Marketing Special Interest Group on Political Marketing 1st International Symposium 2026, with the theme:

“Political Marketing in the Post-Truth Era: Is Political Marketing Saving or Destroying Democracy?”

Between 2020 and 2025, global politics has been shaken by a series of major events and emerging trends that have redefined public discourse and the role of political marketing:

• The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a global health and institutional crisis. Government communication fluctuated between transparency, fear and political control, significantly influencing public trust in institutions.
• The War in Ukraine, which began in 2022, reshaped European geopolitics and reignited nationalist, militarist and identity-based discourses, alongside an unprecedented wave of propaganda and disinformation.
• The elections in the United States fuelled global political polarisation and reaffirmed a leadership style grounded in charisma, confrontation, and post-truth communication.
• Electoral interference of foreign state agents aimed at manipulating elections lead to the cancellation of elections in Romania and raised serious concerns about the fragility of democracy in the region and the legitimacy of political authority.
• The rise of far-right parties across Europe (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands) disrupted the traditional political order and introduced new forms of nationalist political branding.
• The emergance of new political movements and political parties, often conceptulaised as political brands (for example Reform UK, and Elon Musk’s America Party) often in response to the perceived failure of established parties to address key issues, societal shifts, internal party divisions, political crises, or changing electoral systems.
• The consolidation of influencer influence, the astonishing rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and the likely shift to a new industrial era.
• Governments across the globe are facing increased pressures to address key societal issues including climate change, rising inequality, food insecurity, and the rise of democratic disengagement.

These events and trends highlight an ever-growing gap between truth and public perception, between strategic communication and propaganda, and between political marketing and information manipulation.

They also underscore the urgent need for a critical, multidisciplinary analysis of political marketing – not only as a communication tool, but as a mechanism for power, control and ideological mobilisation.

We welcome contributions that explore both traditional perspectives (election campaigns, party strategies, voter behaviour) and interdisciplinary or innovative approaches – such as the marketing of ideologies, social movements, or the use of commercial marketing tools for political purposes.

Suggested Topics (including but not limited to):

• Political marketing in the post-truth era: between emotion, manipulation and strategy
• Populist political brands and nationalist rhetoric
• Propaganda strategies during the pandemic and war
• The impact of election cancellations on public trust
• The role and impact of AI [Artificial Intelligence] in political marketing
• Election campaigning in regimes with weakened institutions
• Information warfare: state and non-state actors in elections
• Electoral propaganda in the digital age
• The drivers and barrirers to democratic engagement
• Disinformation and strategic communication in the 2024–2026 electoral cycle
• Cancelling elections: institutional justification or political instrument?
• Neuromarketing and political persuasion
• The impact of citizenship education on young people’s democratic engagement and participation
• The role of social media in shaping voter behaviour
• Political communication in authoritarian vs. democratic regimes
• Foreign influence in elections (state and non-state actors)
• Visual politics and the aesthetics of power: symbols, leaders, campaigns
• The ideological marketing of corporations and social movements
• Political activism and digital mobilisation
• The effects of polarisation on social cohesion and political participation
• Public policy delivery and perceptions of governance through a marketing lens
• Ethical boundaries in political marketing

Submission of Extended Abstracts

To participate in the symposium, please submit an extended abstract (450 to 1200 words) until 27 April 2026 to: ipmc@mk.ase.ro

Instructions for Submitting the Abstract

In addition, every abstract must come with a front page which should include the Title, and will be the ONLY part of the paper which includes:

1. title of paper
2. author name(s)
3. author affiliations
4. postal address
5. e-mail address
6. telephone number
7. up to five key words

Please include “Competitive paper” followed by the paper title in the subject line of your email. All submissions will undergo double-blind peer review by two members of the scientific committee.

Accepted papers will be announced by: 1 June 2026

The final programme and additional details will be published on the official symposium website.

Doctoral Submissions

PhD students are invited to submit extended abstracts.

Please include “Doctoral submission” followed by the title of your paper in the subject line.

Accepted contributions will be presented in a special doctoral session, which will be part of the main symposium programme.

Important Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: 27 of April 2026
• Notification of acceptance: 1 June 2026
• Early bird registration (10% discount): until 17 July 2026
• Symposium dates: 14–16 September 2026, Bucharest

Indicative Symposium Fees (in Euros)

Front Pages

Page Set-Up of all Abstracts

All papers must be presented as A4 documents (with margins Top: 2.54cm, Bottom: 2.54cm, Left: 3.17cm, Right: 3.17cm).

The main text font must be 12 point Times New Roman.

Other fonts all Times New Roman:

Headings

• Title Bold 22 point centred uppercase
• Level 1 Bold 14 point left-justified uppercase numbered 1 to 10
• Level 2 Bold 12 point left justified no numbering
• Level 3 Italic 10 point left justified no numbering

Figures and Tables

• Embedded in text
  • Centred
  • Numbered either Fig. 1 or Table 1
  • Font 12 point Bold Centred at base of Figure/Table

References

Harvard referencing system applies Italics

Journal Paper: Author(s) (Year) Title Journal Volume (Issue) Page Numbers

Book: Author(s) (Year) Title Publisher Place Edition