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
From Precarious Work to Decent Work
edited by , Hangyoung Lee and Harry Blatterer
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 18788 | Submission Open
Keywords: precarious work; decent work; employment; sociology of work; social inequality
(This special issue belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)
Understanding the Influence of Alternative Political Media
edited by Hélder Prior
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 6290 | Submission Open
Keywords: alternative media; journalism; political communication; public sphere; social media; disinformation; polarization; populism; democracy
Cybercrime and Digital Victimization
edited by , Simon Mackenzie and Daniel Silverstone
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 2797 | Submission Open
Keywords: identity theft; romance fraud; pig-butchering scams; online sexual threats; ransomware; cyberbullying; online harassment; phishing attacks; incident response; cybercrime legislation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Civic Education in the Digital Age
edited by and Antoni Santisteban-Fernández
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 1189 | 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
Contemporary Organised Crime: Challenges and Issues
edited by Robert Mclean and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 346 | Submission Open
Keywords: organized crime; drug supply; trafficking; online crimes; fraud; money laundering; international  county lines; exploitation; victimization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Advancing the Social Dimensions of Sustainability Frameworks and Indicators for Resilient Organizations and Communities submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 306 | Submission Open
Keywords: social sustainability; organizational resilience; psychological safety; employee well-being; technostress; hybrid work; gamification; artificial intelligence in organizations; ethical leadership
Zones of Violence: Mediating Gender, Power, and Place
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jul 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5655 | 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)
Social Innovation: Local Solutions to Global Challenges
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 21114 | 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)
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
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 4313 | Submission Open
Keywords: sexual violence; media; rape; intersectionality; journalism; representations; audiences
The Role of Caregiving for Older Family Members in Communities
edited by Vincent W.P. Lee
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3528 | 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)
Social Work Education in the Context of Globalization: Perceptions, Challenges and Innovations
edited by Denise MacDermott
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2931 | 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
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 1647 | Submission Open
Keywords: family; marriage; intimacy; emerging trends
(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)
Inclusion and Integration Issues Among Forced and Voluntary Migrants in Social Work
edited by and Eveliina Heino
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 473 | 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
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 415 | 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)
Media, Crime and Public Attitudes
edited by
submission deadline 1 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 250 | Submission Open
Keywords: crime; media; social media; public attitudes; crime myths; public perception
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Restorative/Transformative Justice Responses to Intimate Partner Violence
edited by Mavis Morton and
submission deadline 10 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 732 | 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
submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1508 | Submission Open
Keywords: information credibility; digital communication; belief formation; misinformation and disinformation; media trust; public opinion; institutional legitimacy; media literacy; digital publics; behavioral response
Reimagining Higher Education Through Design Justice and Inclusive Practices
edited by Erin Boyce, Katrina Little, Matthew Drake and
submission deadline 15 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1010 | Submission Open
Keywords: equity; justice; inclusivity; curriculum development; decolonizing practices; mentoring; tutoring; community-based practices; belonging; degree attainment
Beyond Arrival: Policies and Practices of Refugee and Immigrant Integration
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1617 | Submission Open
Keywords: migration; refugees; immigrants; integration; resettlement; inclusion; belonging; social cohesion; migration policy
(This special issue belongs to the Section International Migration)
Break the Chains: Global Efforts in Eradication and Prevention of Human Trafficking
edited by Cathryn Lavery
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 15657 | 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
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 9440 | 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 | 4 articles | Viewed by 8702 | 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
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4601 | 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 submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 915 | Submission Open
Keywords: prison; incarceration; inequality; prisoner health; physical health
Exploring the Dynamics of Interracial Couples and Families
edited by Gita Seshadri
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 566 | Submission Open
Keywords: individual; couple; and relational well-being; mental health; intersectionality; parenting; immigration; race; culture; faith; couple and family identity development; social support; stigma and discrimination; power and privilege; navigating difference
(This special issue belongs to the Section Family Studies)
Power, Partnership, and Parenthood: A Gender Lens on Male Involvement in Maternal and Child Health
edited by
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 478 | 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 447 | 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 and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 318 | 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
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 262 | 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 217 | 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
submission deadline 1 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 973 | 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
submission deadline 1 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 678 | 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 , Sonja Senthanar and
submission deadline 10 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 449 | 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 , December R. Maxwell, Sarah Leat and Shaun Thomas
submission deadline 15 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1157 | 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)
Exposing the Extent of Online Hate Crimes and Hate Speech, and the Barriers and Challenges in Responding to Them
edited by Jane Healy
submission deadline 25 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 674 | Submission Open
Keywords: hate crime; online hate speech; prejudice; extremism; social media
Contemporary Challenges to Democracy, Citizenship and Political Participation
edited by Paul W. Posner
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7122 | 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)
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 932 | 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)
The Impact of Legal and Extralegal Factors on Judicial Decision Making
edited by Carly Hilinski-Rosick and
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 642 | Submission Open
Keywords: pretrial detention; bail; sentencing; extralegal variables; legal variables; sentencing disparity
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crime and Justice)
Critical Issues in Policing: Training, Decision-Making and Outcomes
edited by
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 425 | 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 170 | Submission Open
Keywords: child rights; safeguarding; sport; child abuse; child welfare
(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)
Humanitarianism and Solidarity Amidst Global Crises
edited by Charlotte Dany and Alexandre Piron
submission deadline 1 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 286 | Submission Open
Keywords: humanitarianism; international solidarity; humanitarian governance; humanitarian– development– security nexus; migration and human rights; armed conflict and displacement
(This special issue belongs to the Section International Politics and Relations)
Criminal Justice Responses to Juvenile Delinquency
edited by
submission deadline 15 Oct 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 3576 | 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 submission deadline 15 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 724 | 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 submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3960 | 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
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 408 | 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
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 265 | 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
Child Protection Practice in the Face of Family Violence
edited by Tina Gerdts-Andresen
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | Viewed by 174 | Submission Open
Keywords: child protection; family violence; professional discretion; post-separation violence; vicarious trauma
(This special issue belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)
Refugee Admissions and Resettlement Policies
edited by Niambi Carter
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 17112 | 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 13366 | 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 and Gal Yavetz
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 7755 | Submission Open
Keywords: digital engagement; social transformations; political movements; international crises; technological innovations; online platforms; global and local case studies
Back to TopTop