In this session, the aim will be to identify the different ways in which conflict is currently identified and understood in CDAA research, while also recognizing potential shortcomings and thinking about advances that can be made in future research. This means the panellists will be asked about their views on why it matters how conflict is conceptualised in CDAA research, as well as their own understandings of dialogic theory, critical theory and agonistic democratic theory as they relate to CDAA research (Tweedie, 2020). Distinctions may be made between inter/intra-organisational and inter/intra-personal conflict. Furthermore, this discussion will look to address shortcomings in the way conflict is currently conceptualised (Brown & Tregidga, 2017), and theories or approaches that have yet to be engaged (for example, theorists with non-Westernized views on conflict and democratic change: Sauerbronn et al., 2021; Seny Kan et al., 2021). Host: Helen TREGIDGA Co-Host: Matthew SOROLA Panellists: Colin DEY, Fernanda Filgueiras SAUERBRON, Konan SENY KAN (online), Stewart SMYTH, Eija VINNARI