Coordinators:
João Queirós [ESE-P.PORTO e IS-UP]
Sara Franco da Silva [Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa]
The Thematic Section Classes, Inequalities and Public Policies of the Portuguese Sociological Association constitutes a space for debate and reflection around sociological perspectives that take these three domains of social reality as their central analytical focus.
The analysis of social classes, inequalities and public policies remains a core axis of sociological research, both nationally and internationally. Throughout its trajectory, this Thematic Section has contributed to the deepening and dissemination of theoretical, analytical, and operational knowledge on these phenomena, taking Portuguese society as a reference point while also engaging with comparative and global dynamics.
Within the framework of the 14th Portuguese Congress of Sociology – “Futures under Construction: Sociology in the Public Sphere”, this Section seeks to critically reflect on the role of sociology in understanding, problematising and confronting social inequalities, as well as in informing, designing and evaluating public policies. In a context marked by multiple crises, intensifying inequalities, and challenges to institutions and democratic life, it becomes particularly relevant to discuss how sociological knowledge may contribute to the public sphere, influence collective debate, and participate in the co-construction of fairer, more inclusive and sustainable futures.
Contemporary transformations – economic, technological, environmental, cultural, political – have been reshaping class structures, the mechanisms underlying the production and reproduction of inequalities, and forms of public intervention. These dynamics pose new challenges to sociology, not only as a field of analysis, but also as a social practice with transformative potential, whether through the production of socially relevant knowledge or through its involvement in decision-making processes, civic participation and policy innovation.
This call invites researchers, academics, students, practitioners and other actors involved in the public sphere, including those engaged in applied research or action research within non-academic professional contexts, to submit proposals that critically and innovatively explore the relationships between social classes, inequalities and public policies. Contributions adopting local, regional, European, international or transnational perspectives are welcome.
Particular value will also be given to contributions presenting experiences in the design, implementation or evaluation of public policies, especially in the context of combating inequalities, promoting civic participation, strengthening democracy, and imagining and constructing alternative futures.
Among others, the following thematic lines are highlighted:
- Social classes, socio-professional recompositions, and social mobility
- Social classes, labour markets, and precarious employment
- Social classes, gender, ethnicity, and intersectionalities
- Social classes, consumption patterns, and living conditions
- Capital–labour relations and economic injustices
- Income inequalities and material deprivation
- Inequalities in well-being, health, and access to services
- Racism, discrimination, and inequalities of recognition
- Cultural injustices and inequalities in access to culture
- Educational, literacy, and technological inequalities
- Housing inequalities and quality of life
- Political inequalities, citizenship, and collective action
- Inequalities in local, regional, national, and global development
- Public policies aimed at reducing inequalities
- Welfare state, austerity, and new models of governance
- Income, labour, and social protection policies
- Social cohesion and sustainable development policies
We invite the submission of abstract proposals presenting research and practices developed in academic and non-academic contexts in response to this call.
Proposals should include a theoretical framework, objectives, methodology, main findings, and conclusions.
Abstracts will be evaluated by the coordination team of the Thematic Section according to criteria such as:
- Relevance and alignment with the scope of the Thematic Section;
- Clarity of objectives and relevance of the theoretical framework;
- Methodological adequacy;
- Quality and consistency of the results presented;
- Contribution to the advancement of knowledge and/or to reflection within the public sphere.
Proposals must be submitted via the personal area by the deadline specified in the submission guidelines.
Proposals may be submitted in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French.
The maximum length of the abstract is 2,500 characters (excluding spaces).
The Congress will take place in person at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Algarve, in Faro, from 23 to 25 March 2027, and may include online sessions on 22 March. At the time of submission, authors must indicate whether they intend to participate in person or online.
All the authors will be invited to submit the full papers for publication in the Congress Proceedings.
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