The Journal of Socio-Technical Systems and Human Dynamics publishes special issues and special sections on focused themes within its scope, curated by guest editors. Proposals from prospective guest editors are accepted on a rolling basis.

What a special issue is

• Themed collection — a set of peer-reviewed articles organised around a coherent research theme that advances the journal's scope: socio-technical systems, human dynamics, platform governance, and adjacent fields.
• Guest-edited — led by one to three guest editors who define the theme, help solicit submissions, and oversee review in line with the journal's standards.
• Standard review — every article receives the journal's standard double-blind peer review; inclusion in a special issue is not a substitute for review.

What to include in a proposal

1. Theme and rationale — the scope of the special issue, its timeliness, and its fit with the journal.
2. Guest editor team — up to three guest editors with affiliations, ORCIDs, and a one-line statement of editorial responsibility.
3. Indicative table of contents — expected number of articles (typical range 6–12), proposed sections, and short themes or titles.
4. Call for papers — a short draft call, including how submissions will be solicited and any open-call element.
5. Peer-review plan — how reviewers will be sourced for the journal's double-blind review and how conflicts of interest with the guest editors will be handled.
6. Timeline — proposed deadlines for submission, review, revision, and publication.
7. Open-access disclosure — confirmation that all articles will be published under CC BY 4.0 in line with the journal's Open Access Policy.

How to submit

Email the proposal as a single PDF to [email protected] with the subject line:

JSTHD Special Issue — Proposal — [Theme]

Article workflow once accepted

After a proposal is accepted, individual papers are submitted through the standard JSTHD submission system with a pre-agreed section identifier. Each article goes through JSTHD's standard double-blind peer review. Standard Article Processing Charges apply, with waiver options described in the Waiver Policy.

Specific calls for papers, deadlines, and any per-issue quotas are announced on this page as special issues are confirmed. Items not yet announced reflect intent, not current status. Informal scoping conversations are welcome before a full proposal is submitted.