Broadening our Understanding of Alliances for Social Change: Conflict and Cooperation as Independent and Co-existing (04.02.2026-06.02.2026, Granada, Spain)
Overview
Threatened social identities—stemming from economic, cultural, political, or environmental sources—often spur the emergence of cooperation strategies aimed at achieving common goals. These alliances can form between disadvantaged groups (e.g., the LGBT movement and different ethnic minorities confronting prejudice) or between advantaged and disadvantaged groups (e.g., men supporting the gender equality movement).
Traditionally, conflict and cooperation are viewed as opposite ends of a continuum, implying that groups we cooperate with are separate from groups we are in conflict with. However, by treating conflict and cooperation as two independent dimensions of intergroup relations, we acknowledge that an outgroup can be an ally in one domain while remaining an opponent in another. We can simultaneously cooperate with an outgroup while maintaining a salient level of conflict.
The 2026 Small Group Meeting aims to bring together research on the psychological antecedents, processes, and consequences of intergroup alliances. Our goal is to better understand how the interrelation of conflict and cooperation facilitates or hinders social change and collective action, providing novel insights into the development of social movements.
The event will host between 30 and 40 Junior and Senior researchers from diverse countries. We are honored to note that this meeting will also be an opportunity to celebrate the work of Russell Spears, one of the most influential researchers in this field.
The small group meeting will take place at the University of Granada (UGR), Spain from February 4-6, 2026. It is a public university situated in the historical city of Granada, a cross-road of cultures and an example of coexistence between Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities. The University was officially founded in 1531, and built on a centuries-old teaching tradition dating back to the madrasahs. It is one of the most significant universities in Europe in terms of its historical and intercultural importance.
Target Audience
This call is addressed mainly to Early-Career Researchers (i.e., pre- and post-doc researchers). We especially invite participation from those coming from historically under-represented groups and contexts.
Fees and Funding
To maximize participation from diverse backgrounds, the registration structure is as follows (food/catering services are provided for all participants):
- Free: For Early-career researchers.
- €50 (Euros): For seniors researchers. This fee includes food services.
A limited number of travel grants will be available for participants with low economic income and funding possibilities.
Submission Details
- Abstract Length: Maximum of 250 words.
- Content: The abstract must clearly detail the research question, underlying theory, methods, key results, and discussion/implications.
Important dates
October 17, 2025
Notification of Acceptance
November 14, 2025
Registration Deadline
December 15, 2026
Meeting
February 4 – 6, 2026
EASP Small Group Meeting Granada 2026 