In the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and around the world, the politics of unity and division have long defined the trajectories of state formation, nation-building, and everyday power struggles. From the forging of postcolonial states to the negotiation of regional alliances, appeals to unity have often been cast as a moral and political imperative. These are manifest in dynamic political activities, ranging from the assertion of national solidarity against external threats to regional integration under international bodies like ASEAN and the EU, or collective action at different levels of society during times of crisis. 

Despite these, Unity is rarely neutral and frequently built on selective narratives, practices of exclusion, and the silencing of dissenting voices, leaving questions about who benefits from unity and who is rendered invisible in its name.

Conversely, division is frequently framed as a threat to peace, stability, and progress. It is invoked as the antithesis of harmony and as a justification for authoritarian consolidation. However, history shows that division is not merely a disruptive force. It can be a deliberate tool of governance, enabling elites to fragment opposition, mobilise loyal constituencies, or reinforce social hierarchies. 

At the same time, division can serve not only as a reminder from reality that diversity is inevitable. It is also a political resource for change and resistance—fueling movements that challenge the status quo, articulate alternative visions of belonging, or assert the rights of marginalised groups.

This conference invites scholars, practitioners, and activists to examine how unity and division operate as intertwined and dynamic forces in Southeast Asia’s political landscapes, as well as globally. How do ordinary citizens and leaders craft, receive, and respond to narratives of Unity, especially in relation to authority and plurality? In what ways are divisions—ethnic, religious, linguistic, class-based, or ideological—constructed, contested, and institutionalised? How do marginalised communities navigate these tensions, reclaim narratives, and transform exclusion into spaces of empowerment through storytelling, grassroots organising, and everyday acts of defiance?

With this theme, we aim to reframe unity and division not as static conditions, but as evolving processes shaped by historical legacies, shifting authoritarian and democratic practices, transnational flows, international relations, and the pressures of global capitalism. In critically engaging with these themes, the conference aims to create a space for envisioning political futures in which unity does not necessitate conformity, and division can serve as a foundation for pluralism, democratic deepening, and social justice.

The conference seeks to offer a wide range of opportunities for scientific inquiry and critical analysis in the fields of Philippine politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and research methodology. The 2026 International Conference of PPSA aims to convene presentations that explore both the unity and division within Philippine politics and the discipline of political science.