About the Conference

The Comparative Politics Conference (Sampolkonferansen) is organized by master's degree students from the Department of Comparative Politics at the University of Bergen. Since its establishment in 1985, the conference has served as a lively platform for debates centered around significant and contemporary social issues. Throughout its three decades of existence, the conference has developed into a reputable forum for political science discussions, attracting participation from students, voluntary organizations, businesses, and government bodies alike. The conference has addressed a diverse array of subjects within the realm of Social Sciences, ranging from Arctic policy, the welfare state, and democracy to corruption, terrorism, and drug policy.

About this years Conference

The master's students at the Department of Comparative Politics are pleased to invite you to Sampolkonferansen 2025: "Kampen om kartet - Geopolitisk spenning i en usikker tid."

Sampolkonferansen celebrates its 40th anniversary with an in-depth exploration of the complex changes shaping contemporary great power politics. In a world marked by global unrest, ongoing conflicts, and rapid technological development, geopolitics has once again become a highly relevant field of research. Ideological divides take a backseat to strategic questions of geographical power positioning and resource distribution. New actors are asserting their place on the international stage, challenging the great powers. We will turn our attention to different regions of the world to understand how great power competition and geopolitics are shaping these areas.

This year’s conference sets the agenda for a future of complex geopolitical challenges, bringing together leading researchers, politicians, and experts to provide insight into our increasingly turbulent world. Through a diversity of perspectives, the conference seeks to shed light on how we can navigate this new landscape of global forces. At a time when the rules of great power politics are being rewritten, Sampolkonferansen serves as an arena for understanding, cooperation, and reflection on the world of tomorrow.