Participating in the Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) on Visual Political Polarization at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology in Instituto Universitario de Lisboa (CIES-ISCTE) from April 20-26, 2025, was an enriching and intellectually stimulating experience. As one of the visiting scholars collaborating with other COST colleagues from Portugal and Egypt, I had the opportunity to work closely with experts in visual rhetoric and political communication, under the guidance of Dr. Claudia Alvares.
Throughout the week, we engaged in intensive collaborative sessions where each participant presented and refined their assigned section of the project—conceptual foundations, literature review, and methodological analysis. These presentations sparked rich discussions that helped align our perspectives and define a unified analytical approach to studying visual political polarization on social media platforms. We systematically reviewed over 50 scholarly works, using well-defined inclusion criteria, and worked to identify patterns in how visual content contributes to ideological division across different geographic contexts. The in-person format of the STSM proved especially valuable, as it fostered a collaborative environment where ideas could be exchanged freely and refined collectively.
The STSM not only deepened our individual and shared understanding of visual political polarization but also strengthened our academic network. By the end of the mission, we had established a clear roadmap for completing a scientific manuscript, with each team member assigned follow-up tasks to ensure continuity. The anticipated publication, currently in progress, is expected to make a significant contribution to the growing field of visual political discourse analysis. Personally, this experience was pivotal in expanding my methodological toolkit and reinforcing the value of international collaboration in academic research. I look forward to continuing this line of inquiry in future COST Action activities and related scholarly projects.
