OPEN CALL FOR PAPERS: FOCUS LOCALIS SPECIAL ISSUE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL STUDIES (1/2026)

Local authorities and regions hold a vital role in contemporary societies, functioning as key arenas for democratic governance, the delivery of public services, and community development. They are at the forefront of addressing complex societal challenges, including climate change, urbanisation, social equity, and economic sustainability. Local and regional studies provide invaluable insights into these dynamics, offering evidence-based perspectives on how local authorities and regions adapt, innovate, and respond to evolving demands.

To foster dialogue and enhance the understanding of these critical issues, Focus Localis (a Finnish academic journal specialising in local and regional studies, level 1, journal.fi/focuslocalis), invites contributions for an upcoming English-language theme issue. This issue seeks to explore the multifaceted dimensions of local and regional governance, policy, and practice through both theoretical and empirical approaches. Submissions may address national contexts, cross-national comparisons, or broader thematic analyses.

Potential Topics

We are welcoming submissions addressing to the themes related to local authorities, regions, or governance, including but not limited to: 

• Innovations in local and regional governance
• Comparative analyses of municipal systems and regional policies
• Legal frameworks shaping local and regional governance
• Public administration and leadership in local authorities
• Different dimensions of Democracy
• Fiscal autonomy and financial management in local authorities
• State-Local relations and decentralization
• Corporate governance aspects
• Environmental policies and sustainability at the local level
• Digital transformation and data governance in local authorities
• Equity and inclusion in local decision-making processes
• Participation aspects
• Challenges of urbanisation and rural development

Types of Submissions

 We will accept the following types of contributions: 

• Peer-reviewed research articles (maximum 7,000 words, including references),
• Shorter review articles or opinion pieces (maximum 3,000 words) and
• Book reviews (maximum 800 words).

Submission Guidelines

Interested authors are invited to submit an abstract of up to 250 words by 15th March 2025 to the editorial office of Focus Localis (toimitussihteeri@focuslocalis.fi).

The cover letter should include author(s) contact information, and indication of the type of submission (peer-reviewed article, shorter piece, or book review).

The editorial team will select proposals which align best with the special issue's focus and scope. Peer-reviewed articles will undergo double-blind peer review, while the editorial board will evaluate shorter pieces and book reviews. Authors will be notified of the suitability of their abstracts by 31st March 2025. Final manuscripts, prepared in accordance with the Focus Localis author guidelines, must be submitted by 31st August 2025.

This special issue will be published in early 2026. For more information about the journal, its guidelines, or the submission process, please visit journal.fi/focuslocalis or contact toimitussihteeri@focuslocalis.fi.