specialissue

A special issue is a collection of scholarly articles published within a journal that focuses on a particular topic, theme, or event. It is typically organized under the direction of guest editors who are responsible for shaping the scope, inviting contributions, coordinating the review process, and assembling the final set of papers to form a coherent whole. The issue may arise from a conference, an interdisciplinary initiative, or a strategic topic the journal aims to emphasize.

Organization and process often begin with a call for papers that specifies the theme, submission guidelines, and deadlines. Submissions are usually reviewed through a standard peer-review process, though timelines may be adjusted to accommodate the thematic schedule. The guest editors select reviewers, make decisions, and curate the accepted manuscripts to ensure consistency in scope, quality, and contribution. Accepted papers are published as part of the special issue, and may appear online ahead of print or in a dedicated issue within the journal.

A special issue differs from a regular issue primarily in scope and coherence. While regular issues present a range of articles on diverse topics, a special issue concentrates on a specific theme and includes multiple related contributions. This format can attract submissions from researchers who are working in a niche area and can enhance the visibility and impact of the thematic topic.

Critically, special issues can influence research agendas and interdisciplinarity, but they may also face challenges such as longer review cycles, potential bias in editorial selection, or resource demands on the journal. Overall, they serve as a mechanism to foreground focused scholarly dialogue within a broader publication.