Submit to Social Sciences Review for Social Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Special Issues

Social Sciences publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

Section

Search by Title/Keyword

Order results

Display

Results per page

Social Innovation: Local Solutions to Global Challenges

edited by

Rocco Frondizi

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 22658 | Submission Open

Keywords: social innovation; social entrepreneurship; social finance; cross-sector collaboration; collaborative governance

(This special issue belongs to the Section Contemporary Politics and Society)

The Role of Caregiving for Older Family Members in Communities

edited by Vincent W.P. Lee

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4803 | Submission Open

Keywords: informal caregivers; family caregiving; ageing society; mental health; physical health; social care; caregiver-friendly environments

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Sexual Violence in the Media: Exploring the Role of Journalism in Reflecting, Mediating and (de)Constructing Perceptions and Imageries of Sexual Violence

edited by Sofia José Santos and

Júlia Garraio

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 4689 | Submission Open

Keywords: sexual violence; media; rape; intersectionality; journalism; representations; audiences

Social Work Education in the Context of Globalization: Perceptions, Challenges and Innovations

edited by Denise MacDermott

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3740 | Submission Open

Keywords: sustainable social work practices; social justice; social work in disasters; social work education; social work field education; student–faculty pedagogic partnerships; new technologies and professional development; supervision; inter professional learning; international social work

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Emerging Trends in Family and Marriage Behaviors and Values

edited by

Xiaoling Shu

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2264 | Submission Open

Keywords: family; marriage; intimacy; emerging trends

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Civic Education in the Digital Age

edited by

Jordi Castellví

and Antoni Santisteban-Fernández

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 1415 | Submission Open

Keywords: artificial Intelligence in Schools; civic and citizenship education; competences for democratic culture; critical thinking against misinformation; digital citizenship among young people; online hate speech; social justice education; students’ counter-narratives; youth polarization

Inclusion and Integration Issues Among Forced and Voluntary Migrants in Social Work

edited by

Kati Turtiainen

and Eveliina Heino

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 933 | Submission Open

Keywords: forced migration; voluntary migration; refugee; social work; integration; inclusion

(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)

Parenthood in the Contemporary Foster Care System

edited by

Lieselot De Wilde

submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 513 | Submission Open

Keywords: shared parenthood; foster care systems; child welfare; parent–child relationship; kinship care; multi-parent families; parental responsibility; children’s rights; family diversity

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Restorative/Transformative Justice Responses to Intimate Partner Violence

edited by Mavis Morton and

Laura MacDiarmid

submission deadline 10 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 824 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender based violence; restorative justice; transformative justice; intimate partner violence; alternative justice; intersectionality; critical feminist

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Credibility and Public Belief in the Contemporary Digital Information Environment

edited by

Xiaowen Xu

submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1885 | Submission Open

Keywords: information credibility; digital communication; belief formation; misinformation and disinformation; media trust; public opinion; institutional legitimacy; media literacy; digital publics; behavioral response

Break the Chains: Global Efforts in Eradication and Prevention of Human Trafficking

edited by Cathryn Lavery

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 16889 | Submission Open

Keywords: human trafficking; sexploitation; slavery; labor trafficking; drug trafficking; mules; terrorism; asylum; task forces; global health; illegal servitude; wildlife trafficking

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Belonging and Engagement of Students in Higher Education

edited by

Mi-Young An

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 11264 | Submission Open

Keywords: student belonging; student engagement; academic success; retention rates institutional culture; peer relationships; faculty support

International Perspectives on Secure Childcare

edited by Caroline Andow, Rachel Dunn, Stefan Kleipoedszus, Nicola Wake, Raymond Arthur and Adeela ahmed Shafi

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9544 | Submission Open

Keywords: secure care; secure alternatives; deprivation of liberty; residential childcare; vulnerable children voice of the child

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Gender Equity in K-12 Education, Academia and Higher Education: A Global Perspective

edited by

James Etim

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5154 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender; equity; education; disparities; global perspectives

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

The Coming Decade: European Perspectives on Evolving Physical Health Challenges in Prisons

edited by

Miranda Davies

and

Oscar O'Mara

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 1047 | Submission Open

Keywords: prison; incarceration; inequality; prisoner health; physical health

Power, Partnership, and Parenthood: A Gender Lens on Male Involvement in Maternal and Child Health

edited by

Robsan Tura

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 536 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender and health; male involvement; maternal and child health; masculinities; gender equity

Life Course Perspectives on Crime from a Trauma-Informed Lens

edited by Christopher Dennison

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 508 | Submission Open

Keywords: ACEs; crime; trauma; EMDR; life course criminology; psychedelic-assisted therapy; substance use; PTSD; C-PTSD; criminology

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Navigating Citizenship and Education: Refugees, Belonging, and the Production of the “Good Citizen”

edited by

Sally Bonet

and

Samira Chatila

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 402 | Submission Open

Keywords: refugee; education; citizenship; belonging; social cohesion; good refugee

(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)

Innovations in Comparative Welfare Study

edited by

Tae Kuen Kim

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 292 | Submission Open

Keywords: comparative welfare; social policy; welfare state transformation; methodological innovation; social inequality

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Creative Research and Interventions in Exploitation and Trauma Recovery

edited by Carole Murphy, Runa Lazzarino and Anna Westin

submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 267 | Submission Open

Keywords: creative health; creative research; trauma recovery; exploitation; gender-based discrimination; participatory methodologies; embodied approaches; survivor-led practice; social determinants of health; representation and storytelling

Identity and Well-Being of LGBTQIA + People and Communities

edited by

Jay Irwin

submission deadline 1 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1279 | Submission Open

Keywords: LGBT health; sexual orientation; gender identity; lesbian health; gay health; bisexual health; transgender health; MSM; WSW; sexual minority health

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

Decision-Making in Contexts of Child Vulnerability: Perspectives of Professionals, Families, and Children

edited by Merav Jedwab and

Hanin Mordi

submission deadline 1 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 771 | Submission Open

Keywords: decision-making ; child protection ; professionals ; child abuse and neglect ; risk and protective factors ; child well-being

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Integration and Settlement Outcomes Among Immigrant and International Students

edited by

Eugena Kwon

, Sonja Senthanar and

Emmanuel Kyeremeh

submission deadline 10 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 538 | Submission Open

Keywords: international students; immigrant students; educational migration; integration experiences; settlement outcomes; social inclusion & Sense of Belonging; intersectionality; transnationalism

(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)

Gender-Based Violence and the Lived Experiences of Survivors

edited by

Johanna Thomas

, December R. Maxwell, Sarah Leat and Shaun Thomas

submission deadline 15 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1517 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender-based violence; lived experience; survivors; intersectionality; trauma; resilience; qualitative research; social justice

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

Contemporary Challenges to Democracy, Citizenship and Political Participation

edited by Paul W. Posner

submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 8427 | Submission Open

Keywords: inequality; political polarization; extremism; identity politics; ethno-nationalism; voter turnout; erosion of trust; decline of political participation; populism; marginalization of minority groups

(This special issue belongs to the Section Contemporary Politics and Society)

Zones of Violence: Mediating Gender, Power, and Place

edited by

Krista Mcqueeney

submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6822 | Submission Open

Keywords: gender-based violence; intersectionality; spatial logics of violence; private/public spheres; victimhood narratives; power and place; media representation; criminalization of gendered bodies; abolitionist feminism; state violence; carceral feminism; survivor resistance; queer and trans experiences of violence; anti-trafficking discourse; moral panic

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

The Impact of Legal and Extralegal Factors on Judicial Decision Making

edited by Carly Hilinski-Rosick and

Tina Freiburger

submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1639 | Submission Open

Keywords: pretrial detention; bail; sentencing; extralegal variables; legal variables; sentencing disparity

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Public Policy and Family Economic Stability: Fostering Security in Macroeconomic Instability

edited by Dylan Bellisle and Renada Goldberg

submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1098 | Submission Open

Keywords: family economic security; social welfare policy; anti-poverty policy; employment policy; economic inequality; policy reform

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Critical Issues in Policing: Training, Decision-Making and Outcomes

edited by

Lorna Ferguson

submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 520 | Submission Open

Keywords: policing; police training; police decision-making; policing outcomes and effectiveness; police reform; evidence-based policing; police legitimacy; police practice and policy; public trust; public safety

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Child Abuse in Sporting Environments: Rights, Power, Systems, Culture and Safeguarding

edited by Suzanne Everley and Seamus Byrne

submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 214 | Submission Open

Keywords: child rights; safeguarding; sport; child abuse; child welfare

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Criminal Justice Responses to Juvenile Delinquency

edited by

Jamie L. Flexon

submission deadline 15 Oct 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 4724 | Submission Open

Keywords: juvenile justice; delinquency; youth crime; diversion; rehabilitation; juvenile courts; prevention; adolescent development; reentry; justice policy; risk-assessment; dual-process youth

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Ethical Challenges in the Intersection of AI, Digital Technology, and Society

edited by

José-Luis Fernández-Fernández

and

Esperanza Hernández-Cuadra

submission deadline 15 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 824 | Submission Open

Keywords: digital ethics; ethics of artificial intelligence; algorithmic governance; technology and society

Eco-Social Policies and Work in the Poly-Crisis: Sustainable Welfare in a Conflicting Ecological Transition

edited by

Barbara Da Roit

Matteo Villa

and

Elisa Matutini

submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4940 | Submission Open

Keywords: Eco-social policies; eco-social work; sustainability; ecological change; social inequalities

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Breaking the Silence: Gender Violence in Sports

edited by

Melody Huslage

submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 477 | Submission Open

Keywords: power-based violence; gender-based violence; sports; athletics; gender; trans athletes

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

Transitioning to Adulthood—Outcomes and Interventions for Youth Aging out of the Foster Care System

edited by

Pedro M. Hernandez

submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 315 | Submission Open

Keywords: aging out of foster care; transition to adulthood; youth outcomes and resilience; mental health treatment; substance abuse treatment; housing and employment stability; postsecondary education; racial and gender disparities

Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policies

edited by Niambi Carter

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 18277 | Submission Open

Keywords: migration; immigration; asylum/asylee; refugee; border; transmigration; resettlement; human rights; transitional justice; internally displaced persons

(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)

Women’s Voices in the Media

edited by Kathryn Shine

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 14234 | Submission Open

Keywords: news media; women in the news; gender; gender equality; news sources; news representation; diversity; journalism practice; interviewing; journalism education

(This special issue belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

Technology, Digital Media and Politics

edited by

Azi Lev-On

and Gal Yavetz

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 8852 | Submission Open

Keywords: digital engagement; social transformations; political movements; international crises; technological innovations; online platforms; global and local case studies

Youth Violence and the Urban Response

edited by Lorece Edwards

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 5709 | Submission Open

Keywords: youth violence; urban response; public health; mental health; social determinants; structural inequality; evidence-based solutions

(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

Population Studies and Human Health Inequalities from a Socio-Demographic Perspective

edited by Peter Curson

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3400 | Submission Open

Keywords: population and human health; infectious disease and human security; population and global disasters; deadly encounters and human behaviour; biosecurity and the biophysical environment; health inequalities; human mobility

Journalism, Disinformation, and Artificial Intelligence: Ethical, Political, and Social Challenges

edited by

Jorge Tuñón-Navarro

, Giulia Sandri and

Rocío Sánchez del Vas

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2687 | Submission Open

Keywords: AI-driven disinformation; media literacy and civic education; platform governance, journalism autonomy, and public accountability; political communication; political polarization

Networks of Impact: Leveraging Social Capital and Social Networks for the Social Integration and Well-Being of Immigrants

edited by

Roger Campdepadrós-Cullell

and

Mengna Guo

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2147 | Submission Open

Keywords: immigration; social integration; social networks; social capital; social impact; social inclusion; social cohesion

(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)

Selected Papers from the 1st International Online Conference on Social Sciences (2026)

edited by

Daniel McCarthy

and Lawrence Ka-ki Ho

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1173 | Submission Open

Keywords: social sciences; IOCSS 2026; crime policing justice; gender studies; family studies; society and technology; aging; childhood; youth

Social Policies in the Digital World

edited by

Marlene Haupt

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 1101 | Submission Open

Keywords: digitalization; social policy; welfare state; automation; datafication; artificial intelligence; big data; digital governance; social equity; privacy

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Challenging Norms, Pluralizing Worlds: Global Dialogues on Non-Monogamous and Queer Kinships

edited by Leehee Rothschild, Antonio Cerdeira Pilão,

Daniel Cardoso

, Christian Klesse and Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli

submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 927 | Submission Open

Keywords: queer kinship; non-monogamy; decolonial perspectives; transnational intimacy; intersectionality; alternative family formations

(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)

Social Work and Social Policy: Advances in Theory and Practice

edited by Cathy McElderry and Charnetta Gadling-Cole

submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 7513 | Submission Open

Keywords: social policy; policy development; policy reform; social work practice; equity; service delivery

(This special issue belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)

Advances in Environmental Policy/Politics and Sustainable Development Goals

edited by

Toby Miller

submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3457 | Submission Open

Keywords: environmental governance; environmental communication; climate resilience; policy innovation; circular economy; activism; transnational cooperation; equity; multilevel governance; justice

Virtual Reality for Health and Social Connection in Ageing Societies

edited by Carol Hok Ka Ma and

Lillian Hung

submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | Viewed by 745 | Submission Open

Keywords: virtual reality; health; wellbeing; social connection

Comparative Perspectives on Law Enforcement Decision-Making Processes and Their Complexities

edited by Ray Bull, Matt Long and Monika Baylis

submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | Viewed by 723 | Submission Open

Keywords: comparative criminology and policing; law enforcement decision-making processes; discretion; ethical issues/methodological approaches in international criminal justice research; comparative criminological reflexivity; complexities of researching discretion; policing models; protecting the rights of the (alleged) victims; witnesses or offenders; confirmation bias; abuse of power; miscarriages of justice

(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)

Regenerating Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development: Intradisciplinary Pathways and Sociocultural Commitments

edited by

Alejandro Gallard

submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | Viewed by 577 | Submission Open

Keywords: climate change education; social vulnerability; collective action; sociocultural commitments

(This special issue belongs to the Section Community and Urban Sociology)

Displaying special issue 1-50 on page 1 of 3.

Go to page 1 2 3

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Special Issues

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI