--- title: "XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology 2027 — Gwangju" description: "XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology is a professional conference in Gwangju, South Korea, Jul 4–10, 2027. Dates, deadlines, fees, and prep links." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/professional/xxi-isa-world-congress-of-sociology-2027" --- # XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology Jul 4–10, 2027[Gwangju, South Korea](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=Gwangju%2C%20South%20Korea)In-person [Registration open](https://www.isa-sociology.org/en/conferences/world-congress/gwangju-2027) The XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology is a pivotal international gathering for sociologists and social scientists. Hosted in Gwangju, KOR, this event serves as a critical forum for discussing global societal challenges and advancements in sociological theory and research. It brings together a diverse group of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. ## Committees & topics - Topics Global Sociology in Turbulent Times ## Why it matters This congress is significant because it provides a global platform for addressing pressing social issues through a sociological lens. In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding diverse societal structures and dynamics is paramount. The discussions held here can influence academic discourse, inform public policy, and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of human societies. The event's location in Gwangju, KOR, offers a unique opportunity to explore sociological perspectives from Asia, enriching the global conversation with regional insights and experiences. This geographical focus can highlight specific social transformations and challenges pertinent to the region, providing valuable comparative data for attendees from various backgrounds. The congress is structured to encourage the exchange of ideas across different sub-disciplines of sociology, fostering a comprehensive approach to complex global problems. ## How to prepare To maximize engagement at the congress, participants should prepare by familiarizing themselves with the key themes and sub-themes that will be explored. This involves reviewing the published program and identifying sessions that align with one's research interests or professional objectives. Given the international scope, understanding the diverse theoretical and methodological approaches prevalent in global sociology will be beneficial. Attendees should also consider how their own work contributes to the broader sociological discourse and be prepared to articulate their perspectives clearly and concisely. Engaging with the work of other scholars, particularly those from different cultural and academic traditions, can lead to fruitful collaborations and new insights. This preparation will enable participants to contribute meaningfully to discussions and network effectively with peers from around the world. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 1 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [South Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) [Host nation, showcasing regional sociological advancements and societal challenges.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) [As the host country, KOR plays a central role in facilitating the congress. Its sociological community will likely present research on topics relevant to its unique social development, including rapid industrialization, demographic shifts, and cultural transformations. The congress provides an opportunity for KOR to highlight its contributions to global sociological thought and engage in international academic exchange.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### Global Sociology in Turbulent Times Sociology as a global discipline emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, institutionalized through figures such as Durkheim, Weber, and Du Bois, and later organized internationally through bodies like the International Sociological Association, founded under UNESCO auspices in 1949. For much of the 20th century, the discipline was dominated by North Atlantic theoretical traditions, with modernization theory, structural functionalism, and Marxian critique setting the principal agendas. Postcolonial independence movements, the rise of dependency theory in Latin America, subaltern studies in South Asia, and African sociologies progressively challenged this Eurocentric center of gravity, demanding a more pluralistic and reflexive global sociology. The early 21st century has intensified these debates under conditions of compounding global turbulence: the 2008 financial crisis, accelerating climate breakdown, the COVID-19 pandemic, large-scale migration, democratic backsliding, renewed great-power competition, and wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere. These crises have exposed deep inequalities within and between societies, while also stress-testing sociological concepts forged in more stable periods. Movements such as decolonizing the curriculum, Southern theory (associated with Raewyn Connell), and calls for "epistemologies of the South" (Boaventura de Sousa Santos) have pushed the discipline to reconsider whose knowledge counts and how global problems are framed. Today the field grapples with how to interpret simultaneous economic, ecological, political, and epistemic crises, while also confronting transformations in its own practice — including the impact of artificial intelligence on research, threats to academic freedom in multiple states, precaritization of academic labor, and unequal access to publishing infrastructures. The core dispute is less a single conflict than a contested agenda: how to produce a genuinely global, ethically engaged sociology that can analyze turbulence without reproducing the hierarchies that shaped the discipline's origins. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Hosts dominant sociology departments and journals shaping global disciplinary norms.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Center of long-standing sociological traditions and current decolonization debates.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Home of Durkheimian and Bourdieusian traditions central to European sociology.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Leading voice in Southern theory, dependency thought, and Latin American sociology.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) - [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Hub for African sociology and post-apartheid debates on race, inequality, and decolonization.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) - [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Major site of subaltern studies and sociologies of caste, development, and democracy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology. Recent reporting to ground your prep [Aarish Chhabra's Role in Indian Media Shift](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/aarish-chhabras-impact-on-indias-evolving-media-landscape) [India's Constitution](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/indias-constitution-key-developments-shaping-democracy-today) [Shashi Shekhar](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/shashi-shekhar-influencing-indian-political-discourse-today) [Jayanth Jacob on India's Foreign Policy Shift](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/jayanth-jacobs-insights-on-indias-foreign-policy-evolution) Lessons Bite-sized lessons to build the basics [Hidden Stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders) [Engagement Strategies](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/engagement-strategies) [Dynamic Analysis](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/dynamic-analysis) [Stakeholder Mapping Workshop](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/stakeholder-workshop) Courses Guided courses that go deeper on the topic [Advanced Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/advanced-negotiation) [Multilateral Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/multilateral-negotiation) [Policy Brief Writing](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/policy-brief) [Conflict Resolution](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/conflict-resolution) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [South Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [India](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/india) ## Frequently asked questions - - Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. 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