Special Issues

The Swiss Journal of Sociology (SJS) publishes special issues regularly. One to two of the journal’s annual issues are dedicated to such themed collections. Special issues may be based on an open call for papers, consist of a precompiled set of papers, or be a mix of both.

Special issues of the SJS assemble different contributions around a specific topic or a method. The contributions of a special issue must be thematically coherent, and should not overlap with topics of previous special issues. They are coordinated by one or several guest editors in cooperation with the editors of the SJS.

Scholars interested in publishing a special issue can submit a proposal to socio.journal@sgs-sss.ch. We accept propositions in English, French or German. The guidelines for special issue proposals can be found here.

The proposal will be reviewed by the editorial team and a decision communicated within eight weeks. The general scientific quality and the fit with the journal’s aims and scope are the main criteria for the selection of a special issue. SJS especially aims for a fair representation of younger scholars and endorses diversity in author’s affiliation, gender, and regions.

An accepted special issue is curated by the guest editor(s) in collaboration with one member of the journal’s editorial team. Guest editors are responsible for the selection of papers (if an open call for papers is launched) and for organizing the review process in collaboration with the journal. The final decision on publication of each manuscript rests with the journal editors.

See special issue guidelines for the timeline for a special issue project with SJS. On average, it takes around one and a half years from acceptance to final publication of the special issue. Articles that complete the peer review successfully may be published Online First, ahead of the special issue.