One of the important areas of activity of the International Research Center «Digital Social Research» is attracting talented young people to scientific work. Here is one example.

From July 12 to 16, 2025, a research fellow of our center, Ayauzhan Kamataeva, took part in the 28th World Congress of Political Science held in Seoul, South Korea. Organized by the International Political Science Association (IPSA), the Congress brought together a record-breaking 3,500+ participants from around the world, making it the largest in IPSA’s 76-year history.

The 2025 Congress featured a rigorous peer-review process, with over 6,274 paper proposals submitted and carefully reviewed to curate a diverse and intellectually rich program. Under the overarching theme of “Autocratization, Populism, and Polarization”, the event included high-level theme panels, vibrant research committee tracks spanning more than 50 subfields, and innovative lunchtime events fostering peer learning and mentorship.

Among the keynote speakers were prominent figures such as:

  • Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, who addressed “Liberal Democracy, Multilateralism, and Global Citizenship”;
  • Professor Donatella Della Porta, speaking on “The Contentious Politics of Academic Freedom”;
  • Professor Neera Chandhoke, who explored “Resisting Legal Autocracy in South Asia.”

The Congress attendants were honored by the opening address of the President of South Korea, Lee Jae-Myung, whose speech underscored the enduring relevance of democratic ideals and the need to adapt them to changing political realities. His words resonated strongly, especially given South Korea’s unique blend of bottom-up and top-down democratization processes - a long-standing interest of our institute’s researcher.

As part of the Congress, our representative presented ongoing research on citizens’ political behavior and identity-based logic in multilevel governance, within the panel titled “The Local Level in Contemporary Politics: Multilevel Dynamics and Spillover Effects under Scrutiny.” This panel gathered scholars from Italy, Germany, Turkey, the U.S., Indonesia, Spain, and other countries, offering a valuable platform for academic exchange.

Beyond the academic content, the Congress offered an inspiring opportunity to connect with leading scholars, share experiences, and explore the dynamic cultural life of Seoul. We believe that participation in such global events plays a vital role in disseminating our institute’s output and elevating Kazakhstani social science and integrating its perspectives into the international academic community.