About the Journal

 
Issue Discourse Cover
Journal Title Discourse: Journal of Critical Inquiry and Social Studies
Frequency 3 issues per year (April, August and December)
Language English and Indonesian
Access Open Access Journal
Publisher Diskursus Institute, Indonesia

Discourse: Journal of Critical Inquiry and Social Studies (JCISS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access interdisciplinary journal published by Diskursus Institute. The journal is dedicated to advancing critical inquiry, intellectual engagement, and knowledge production concerning contemporary social realities through rigorous academic scholarship and interdisciplinary dialogue.

JCISS provides a platform for scholars, researchers, practitioners, policy analysts, and independent intellectuals to examine contemporary issues from critical, analytical, and interdisciplinary perspectives. The journal welcomes contributions in the fields of religion and intellectual traditions, politics and governance, political economy and development, media and cultural studies, education and knowledge production, philosophy and critical thought, as well as technology, sustainability, and contemporary society.

Particular attention is given to issues emerging from Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and the Global South, while remaining open to comparative and international scholarship. The journal values research that combines empirical rigor with theoretical engagement and contributes not only to academic debates but also to broader public understanding of contemporary social transformations.

DJCIS welcomes original research articles, review articles, conceptual papers, critical essays, and book reviews written in English or Bahasa Indonesia. Originality, analytical depth, intellectual contribution, and methodological integrity are central considerations throughout the editorial and peer-review process.

Critical Inquiry, Social Transformation, and Intellectual Traditions.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Volume 1, Issue 2 (August 2026)

Critical Inquiry, Social Transformation, and Intellectual Traditions

JCISS (Discourse: Journal of Critical Inquiry and Social Studies) invites scholars, researchers, academics, practitioners, graduate students, and independent intellectuals to submit manuscripts for its inaugural issue.

Published by Diskursus Institute, JCISS is a peer-reviewed, open-access interdisciplinary journal dedicated to advancing critical scholarship, intellectual engagement, and scholarly dialogue on contemporary social, cultural, religious, political, economic, and technological transformations.

The journal welcomes original and unpublished manuscripts that contribute to academic debates, theoretical development, and critical reflection on issues affecting contemporary societies at local, national, regional, and global levels.

Areas of Interest

JCISS welcomes submissions related to, but not limited to, the following thematic areas:

1. Religion, Society, and Intellectual Traditions

Research on religion, Islamic studies, intellectual history, religious thought, ethics, theology, public religion, comparative religion, and the role of intellectual traditions in shaping contemporary societies.

2. Politics, Law, and Governance

Studies concerning democracy, citizenship, public policy, governance, state-society relations, law and society, human rights, social movements, public institutions, and contemporary political issues.

3. Political Economy, Development, and Social Transformation

Research addressing development studies, political economy, economic justice, social inequality, welfare, labor, community development, sustainability, and the socio-economic dimensions of social change.

4. Media, Culture, Knowledge, and Critical Inquiry

Studies on media, communication, journalism, digital culture, cultural studies, education, knowledge production, philosophy, critical theory, literature, and contemporary intellectual debates.

5. Technology, Sustainability, and Contemporary Society

Research exploring science, technology, and society (STS), artificial intelligence, digital transformation, environmental governance, sustainability, and the social implications of technological change.

The journal particularly encourages contributions related to Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and the Global South while remaining open to comparative and international perspectives.

Types of Manuscripts

JCISS accepts:

  • Research Articles

  • Review Articles

  • Conceptual Papers

  • Critical Essays

  • Book Reviews

Submission Information

Language

  • English

  • Bahasa Indonesia

Manuscript Length

  • Research Articles: 6,000–8,000 words

  • Critical Essays and Review Articles: 4,000–6,000 words

Citation Style

  • Turabian Style (9th Edition, Notes–Bibliography System)

Review Process

  • Double-Blind Peer Review

Publication Model

  • Open Access

Publication Charges

  • No Submission Fee

  • No Article Processing Charge (APC)

  • No Publication Fee

Important Dates

Submission Opens
1 June 2026

Submission Deadline
31 July 2026

Publication Date
August 2026

Why Publish in JCISS?

JCISS seeks to bridge rigorous academic scholarship with broader intellectual and public conversations. The journal values manuscripts that demonstrate analytical depth, theoretical engagement, and meaningful contributions to contemporary scholarly debates.

As a forum for critical inquiry and interdisciplinary dialogue, JCISS encourages scholarship that not only advances knowledge within specific fields but also contributes to understanding the social transformations, intellectual traditions, and public issues shaping contemporary societies.