Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research invites submissions for a special issue dedicated to a critical self-reflection on the journal’s foundational orientation toward Europe considering the rapidly shifting global academic, political, and social landscapes.
Theme and rationale
What does Europeanness mean in an age of deep interconnection, planetary crises, and an increasingly multipolar academic landscape? As the journal receives an ever-growing number of contributions from researchers based in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other non-European regions, we find ourselves at a crossroads: How can and should a self-denominated “European” journal situate itself amid such global flows of knowledge, people, and power?
This special issue seeks to explore the evolving concept of Europe, Europeanness and European integration, not as a static or geographically bounded entity, but as a dynamic, contested, and interconnected project. We welcome critical, empirical, theoretical, and methodological reflections that question the continued salience, limitations, and potential reconfigurations of “Europe” as a frame of reference in the social sciences.
Key questions may include (but are not limited to):
- What meanings do “Europe” or “Europeanness” carry in contemporary academic discourse, especially among scholars from outside Europe?
- How does a Europe-focused journal engage responsibly and inclusively with global academic communities?
- What are the colonial, postcolonial, or geopolitical legacies embedded in the category of “Europe” as used in social science research?
- Should and how might academic journals rethink their regional identity considering academic globalization, digital scholarship, and decentred knowledge production?
- What theoretical or methodological innovations can help reposition Europe within global comparative frameworks?
- How can “European integration” be made relevant beyond Europe, and what could it mean for transregional collaboration, migration, and global governance?
Scope and interdisciplinary anchors
We especially encourage contributions that speak to the journal’s thematic pillars:
- Public policy and multilevel governance in comparative perspective
- Institutional and societal transformation within and beyond Europe
- Civil society, democracy, and participation in transregional contexts
- Social justice, inequality, and digital transformation across borders
- Sustainability, ecological modernization, and planetary futures
- Science-technology-society relations with reflexive insights on locality, region, and global knowledge flows
Submissions may use qualitative, theoretical, or mixed-methods approaches. Contributions offering deconstructive critiques or constructive visions – including scenarios, strategic roadmaps, and normative frameworks – are especially welcomed.
Submission Instructions
- Abstract submission: December 31st, 2025
- Abstracts of max. 500 words (references excluded) should summarize an argument addressing the above questions and concepts.
- Manuscript deadline: January 31st, 2026
- Special issue in print: March 2027