European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy: 2025 Conference & Submissions Deadlines
1st Call for Papers
The Janus Face of AI: Opportunities and Threats
EAEPE Annual Conference 2025
Athens, Greece | September 24–26, 2025
The 2025 Conference Theme
Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a transformative technology that has in recent years generated positive expectations for a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future. At the same time, it has raised scepticism and concerns about the long-term, unintended, and possibly irreversible consequences for increasing the concentration of power, inequalities, job displacement, undermining of democracy, and ethical and security issues.
The analysis of the multifaceted impact of AI requires a multidisciplinary approach involving economists, sociologists, policy makers, ethicists, technologists, and others, to ensure that AI is developed and deployed in ways that benefit society.
The aim of this conference is two-fold:
I. To deepen our knowledge about the emerging ecosystems related to enablement, production and consumption of AI, and their dynamics.
II. To highlight diverse facets of the academic and political discourse on the complex socio-economic and political implications of AI, giving voice to both supportive and sceptical arguments.
In pursuit of these aims, the conference wishes to address key academic topics including:
1. The macro, meso and micro evolutionary dynamics of the AI landscape. Are they shaped in the context of national systems of innovation (varieties of capitalism) or globally by dominant players? What are the main elements determining the creative process within the AI industry?
2. Opportunities arising for economic growth, productivity enhancement, innovation, economic inclusion, and sustainability. Could economies benefit from the adoption of AI-driven solutions to bridge economic divides? What opportunities are created for specific industries (e.g. AI-driven solutions for agriculture, health, energy systems, education etc.) or organisations (e.g. adoption of AI-driven technologies by SMEs, enablement of new business models etc.)?
3. Challenges related to inequalities and the developmental aspects of AI dynamics. How do we ensure that all economies will be a part of AI evolution and that the benefits of AI are shared equitably to avoid exacerbating inequalities?
4. AI and labour market. The impact of AI on employment, with an emphasis on job creation vs job displacement, labour market changes and skill transitions.
5. The consolidation of monopolistic power and technological dependency. The dominance of a small number of tech giants in research, development of AI infrastructures and production of AI-driven solutions, puts pressure on governments and markets. What is the role of governments and international institutions in preventing monopolistic control in AI?
6. The major sociological, ethical, and security risks and how to alleviate them. The challenge of establishing global regulatory frameworks to address issues of surveillance, data privacy, and algorithmic bias as well as ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness.
7. The impact of AI on science and education. AI offers opportunities for learning, tutoring and scientific research, enhancing human capabilities, increasing productivity, facilitating access to information and supporting data mining and processing. However, the lack of data sharing, transparency and completeness can jeopardise the expected benefits and create new requirements for data governance.
8. The role of regulation. Is there a trade-off between the regulation and the development of AI? To what extent does the cliché hold true that the US leads in AI development but lags in regulation, while EU excels in regulation but falls behind in AI development?
9. The political and geopolitical impact of AI. Policies (especially industrial ones) aim to sovereignty and domestic AI development. However, they might also hamper competition from foreign players (firms or countries) to protect their dominant position. Moreover, AI can be misused to manipulate public opinion, spread misinformation, develop AI-weapon systems and undermine trust in democratic institutions with important implications for international relations and global security.
10. Theoretical and methodological challenges. Beyond the phenomenological interest on AI and its implications, it is important that academic research considers how mainstream and heterodox theoretical and methodological perspectives are being challenged and applied to the specificities of this technology.
We welcome studies on the implementation of AI, emphasising both the benefits and threats for specific cases, such as healthcare, education, smart cities, agriculture, climate action and sustainability, and the financial sector.
We particularly encourage submissions that address inclusion, race and gender issues transcending the above and other directly related topics.
Keynote Speaker
Susan Aaronson
Research Professor of International Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs,
George Washington University
Additional keynote speakers to be announced.
Local Organisers
Laboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics, National Technical University of Athens Department of Business Administration, University of Thessaly
Organising Committee
Boussia Alexandra, Dimas Petros, Kastelli Ioanna (coordinator), Panagiotopoulos Panagiotis, Protogerou Aimilia, Tsakanikas Aggelos.
Venue
National Center for Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’: https://www.demokritos.gr/
Patr. Gregoriou E & 27 Neapoleos Str, 15341 Agia Paraskevi, GREECE
Scientific Committee
Aaronson Susan, George Washington University; Anthopoulos Leonidas, University of Thessaly; Arvanitidis Paschalis, University of Thessaly; Boussia Alexandra, University of Thessaly; Caloghirou Yannis, National Technical University of Athens; Dimas Petros, National Technical University of Athens; Elsner Wolfram, University of Bremen; Fitsilis Panagiotis, University of Thessaly; Giannitsis Tassos, National Kapodistrian University of Athens; Giotopoulos Ioannis, University of Peloponnese; Kastelli Ioanna, University of Thessaly; Konstantellou Anastasia, University of the Aegean; Kontolaimou Alexandra, KEPE-Centre of Planning and Economic Research; Lazaric Nathalie, Université de Nice; Lazaridis Themistoklis, University of Thessaly; Liagouras George, University of the Aegean; Panagiotopoulos Panagiotis, National Technical University of Athens; Papadimopoulos Ioannis, University of Thessaly; Pepelassis Ioanna-Sapfo, Athens University of Economics and Business; Petit Pascal, Université Paris XIII; Protogerou Aimilia, National Technical University of Athens; Siokas Evangelos, University of Peloponnese; Stamboulis Yeorgios, University of Thessaly; Tsakanikas Aggelos, National Technical University of Athens; Vonortas Nick, George Washington University; Zouboulakis Michael, University of Thessaly.
Abstract and Special Session Submission
Please submit a Special Session proposal no later than December 31, 2024, or an abstract of an individual paper not later than February 15, 2025. All proposals must be submitted through the conference website.
Following the usual format, prospective participants are invited to submit a proposed paper related either to the theme of the conference or one of the diverse EAEPE Research Areas (RA) as well as the Special Sessions. Abstracts (300-750 words) for proposed individual papers or for a RA or Special Session should include the following information: authors’ names, email addresses and, affiliations, and name and code of the relevant RA. Following notification of acceptance, you will be invited to submit the full paper. Please note that only one presentation per author is permitted; additional papers can be submitted by the same author but will need to be presented by a registered co-author, if accepted by the scientific committee.
Proposals for a Special Session should include the following information:
— Title of the proposed Special Session
— Organizers of Special Session
— Number of Guest Speakers
— Expected Number of Participants
— Special Session Scope (max 400 words) and Scientific Relevance (max 300 words)
Special Session proposals are eligible for funding if submitted by Research Area Coordinators and involve at least two different research areas with all related coordinators. Each research area cannot be involved in more than one funding request. The evaluation depends on:
— Scientific Relevance
Capacity to attract interest and new submissions
— Capacity to mobilize resources if funding is required
Important Dates
Special session proposal deadline: December 31, 2024
Abstract submission for special sessions opens: January 15, 2025
Abstract submission deadline for individual papers: February 15, 2025
Notification of acceptance: March 15, 2025
Early registration closes: May 31, 2025
Late registration closes: June 28, 2025
For more information and abstract submission please visit https://eaepe.org/