ESA RN05 Midterm Conference at Charles University Prague (27–29 August 2025)

The 2025 RN05 Sociology of Consumption research network midterm conference explores uncharted consumption landscapes. We are inspired by the location of our meeting in Eastern Europe , an area that has so far provided limited theoretical and empirical context to the work of European sociological research to consumption. Such uncharted territories are of course far from being terra nullius: there are many scholars here already working on understanding different aspects of consumption. Historical theories of colonialism show how the projection of power from the core puts map before landscape in the peripheries. Already ‘knowing’ the map makes regions, ideas and topics of uncharted territories distorted or invisible, foreground an imagined imagery as a technology of government over and above life and living.

Rather, the frontier could be understood as a meeting place, where we discover other social realities with specific ontological and epistemological natures. Meeting places present opportunities for fresh discoveries and acquaintances, new tools and perspectives developed on playgrounds, sometimes far away from dominance of the core. This may provide fertile ground for experiencing new ways of seeing and doing. At this midterm conference, we would like to thus inspire new ways of seeing and knowing what we know as well as draw attention to new geographical territories and parts of Europe, where we have not gone before. 

Many countries of Eastern Europe have no presence in the network. Different social configurations can put different topics to the forefront, and we call for innovation from the existing and future members of the network and participants of the conference. As a particular provocation, we call for reflection on the fascination about the future while neglecting the past. Some of our conference themes for the past midterms stand as evidence for this. However, if what we do could be seen “as a struggle to create a future out of the past, of seeing the past … as the only raw material out of which the present can be constructed” (Abrams 1982:8), we should be attentive to how we arrived at the current charting of our theoretical territory. 

Exploring uncharted territories is an opportunity to meet others, see new perspectives and, maybe, find new ways to think about our future with shared material of the past, to boldly go where we may have been before.

Abstract submission

Abstract submission page is now open and we invite submissions for individual papers, dedicated paper sessions, lightning talks, roundtables, and working sessions (details below). Abstracts should address various aspects of the sociology of consumption. Possible themes include but are not limited to:

• New ‘cartographies’ of consumption
• Neglected and / or forgotten topics and theories of consumption
• Critiques to sustainable consumption
• Consumption, citizenship and social movements
• Empowerment of consumers
• Ethics and politics consumption and production
• Inequalities and exclusions in consumption
• Different generations and consumption
• Geographies of consumer culture
• Lifestyles and consumption
• Digitality in consumptions
• Compulsive consumption
• Corporeality in consumption
• Consumption and capitals
• Cultural stratification
• (Im)materiality of consumption
• Gender and consumption
• Leisure and consumption
• Distinction, identity and taste
• Theoretical challenges in studying consumption

The submission is done on: consumption2025.fhs.cuni.cz/conftool

Deadline for the submission is 31 January 2025.

DEADLINE EXTENSION for abstract submission: 14 February 2025.

Guidelines for abstracts

Provide a title and main body text (max. 250 words)

Make sure you address the following evaluation criteria: 1. the sociological background of the research (theoretical / research / policy problem…), 2. research questions and methodology (where contribution is empirical), 3. key findings, if research is completed (if research is in progress, briefly state it) and 4. implications or contributions of your findings

We aim to send letters of acceptance to the participants by 30 March 2025. Registration and payment of conference fee are due in May 2025.

Types of submissions

1. Individual papers are designed to be more comprehensive, lecture-based oral presentation. If a submitted paper abstract is not formally submitted as part of a proposed session, then it will be organized with other accepted paper abstract proposals that fit within a similar theme. Recommended presentation length is 20 minutes (15 min presentation, 5 minutes Q&A)
2. Paper sessions resemble individual paper sessions in being comprehensive, lecture-based oral presentation. A proposed paper session is intended to be a collection of papers organized by the session organizer who submits a session abstract. Recommended presentation length is 20 min per paper (15 min presentation, 5 minutes Q&A) in a session of 90 minutes. Total number of presenting session participants is up to 5 participants who each submit an abstract indicating the paper session in question.
3. Lightning talks are intended to be a quick and dynamic presentation of a concept and/or subsequent research, or of a teaching method. This is content to be delivered in no more than 5 minutes followed by a discussion, moderated by the session chair. All lightning talks will be organized into a collective one or more sessions. Lightning talk presentation length is 5 minutes at maximum.
4. Roundtables area organized discussion-based panels (also without papers) of 90 minutes. The organisers are free to design the approach, for example, as a panel or a collection of up to 5 individual presentations.
5. Special session can be used to present ideas, projects or interest areas that can bring equally interested individuals into the same room to brainstorm with the purpose of walking away with a tangible plan of action. Possible topics could include teaching in the sociology of consumption, internationalization opportunities, large-scale projects, knowledge alliances or publications. A working session will provide you the space to refine your idea and find potential collaborators. Session length is 90 minutes but there is no maximum number of participants.

Conference fee and registration

• 120€ for the members of the Research Network of Sociology of Consumption (RN5) of ESA
• 150€ for the non-members
• 80€ for PhD students and for those who are not employed (e.g. on grants or between jobs) as well as those whose institution will not pay for the participation fee or other costs (we ask for a verifying document, see below)

Please check your RN membership on the ESA website and renew it, if needed, or become a new member by paying the network membership fee. If you are entitled to the reduced fee, please send a signed proof of your study/employment position to when registering.

The conference fee should be paid by May 2025; more precise information and payment notification to submitting authors will be specified soon. The fee includes catering during the conference days whilst evening entertainment and dinners are not included.