CA23149 – WG2 WORKSHOP: “Mapping Actors and Transnational Networks in Anti-Gender Mobilizations”, University of Helsinki, 28–29 May 2026

Programme of the WG2 WORKSHOP

Mapping Actors and Transnational Networks in Anti-Gender Mobilizations

Date: 28-29 May 2026

Venue: P545, Porthania building, Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 3

Organisers: Susana Galán (Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals), Šárka Kolmašová (Metropolitan University Prague), Marianna Muravyeva (University of Helsinki), Didem Unal Abaday (University of Helsinki), Yuliya Brin (University of Helsinki)

Funded by COST Action CA23149

Day 1: Thursday 28 May

13:45–14:00 Registration

14:00–15:30 Opening Session
Welcome remarks
Dorota Godzecka, Vice-Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki
Marianna Muravyeva – Vice-Chair, COST CA23149 Network, University of Helsinki

Šárka Kolmašová, Katerina Krulisova, Susana Galán
Constellations of Anti-Gender Politics: Positionality, Connectivity, and the Effects of Mobilization across CEE and the NME/SWANA Region
Discussants: Didem Unal Abaday, Lenka Vochocová

15.30-16.00 - Coffee/Tea

16:00 - 17:30 Panel 2

Kristine Margvelashvili, Sandro Tabatadze
Mapping the Anti-Gender Mobilization Constellation: The State, Far Right, and the Orthodox Church in Georgia
Discussants: Marianna Muravyeva, Bianka Vida

Helen Murphey
The Intersection of State Feminism, Anti-Islamism, and Anti-Gender Politics
Discussants: Susana Galán, Tutku Ayhan

Day 2: Friday 29 May

09:00-10:30 Panel 3

Haley McEwen
Ordo Iuris and the Rhizomatic Constellations of Anti-Gender Influence in Foreign Affairs
Discussants: Šárka Kolmašová, Sandro Tabatadze

Vincent Reillon
Synchronisation and differentiated effects: the Istanbul Convention as a catalyst for transnational anti-gender mobilisation in Europe
Discussants: Didem Unal Abaday, Timo Koch

10:30-11:00 Coffee/tea

11:00 - 12:30 Panel 4

Timo Koch
Strategic dissonance: Methodological Confrontations and the Constellation of Anti-Gender Networks
Discussants: Šárka Kolmašová, Kristine Margvelashvili

Lenka Vochocová, Julia Gottstein
Engineering Fear: How Narratives of Normalcy and Threat Drive the Mainstreaming of Anti-Gender Discourse in the Czech Republic
Discussants: Katerina Krulišová, Haley McEwen

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 15:00 Panel 5

Bianca Vida
Transnational Constellations of Anti-Gender Mobilisation: Russian Ideology, Local Actors, and Network Dynamics across Ukraine, Moldova, and Hungary
Discussants: Marianna Muravyeva, Julia Gottstein

Tutku Ayhan, Didem Unal Abaday
The Anti-Gender Power Bloc: How Moral, Legitimating, and Mobilizing Authority Stabilize Authoritarian Rule in Turkey
Discussants: Susana Galán, Helen Murphey

15:00 - 16:30
Roundtable: How to Study Anti-Gender Politics: Concepts, Methods, Tools
Moderators: Marianna Muravyeva, Didem Unal Abaday
Kris Clarke, University of Helsinki
Olga Andreevskikh, Tampere Universities
Katja Kahlina, University of Helsinki
Julian Honkasalo, University of Helsinki
Barbara Gaweda, University of Helsinki

16.45 - 17:45 Special Issue Coordination (Editorial Meeting)