Focus and Scope

JCISS (Diskursus: Critical Inquiry and Social Studies) is an interdisciplinary scholarly journal dedicated to advancing critical inquiry, intellectual engagement, and knowledge production concerning contemporary social realities.

The journal is founded on the belief that knowledge develops through dialogue, contestation, reflection, and continuous inquiry. Contemporary societies face increasingly complex challenges that cannot be adequately understood through a single disciplinary perspective. JCISS therefore encourages conversations across disciplinary boundaries while maintaining academic rigor, theoretical depth, and methodological integrity.

As a forum for scholarly exchange, JCISS welcomes contributions from researchers, academics, practitioners, policy analysts, independent scholars, and emerging intellectuals who seek to explore contemporary issues through critical, analytical, and interdisciplinary approaches.

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 welcomes original contributions in, but not limited to, the following thematic areas:

1. Religion, Society, and Intellectual Traditions

This area explores the relationship between religion, society, culture, and intellectual life. Topics may include Islamic studies, religious thought, theology, ethics, religion and public life, comparative religion, intellectual history, contemporary religious issues, and the role of intellectual traditions in shaping social and cultural transformation.

2. Politics, Law, and Governance

This area focuses on political institutions, governance, citizenship, public affairs, and legal developments. Contributions may address democracy, public policy, state–society relations, law and society, human rights, social movements, public administration, legal reform, and contemporary political challenges.

3. Political Economy, Development, and Social Transformation

This area examines the economic dimensions of social change and development. Topics may include political economy, development studies, economic justice, inequality, welfare, labor, community development, social innovation, sustainability, public welfare, and the broader dynamics of socio-economic transformation.

4. Media, Culture, Knowledge, and Critical Inquiry

This area welcomes studies on media, communication, education, knowledge production, cultural practices, intellectual discourse, literature, philosophy, and critical theory. Particular attention is given to how ideas, knowledge, and cultural expressions shape contemporary social life and public understanding.

5. Technology, Sustainability, and Contemporary Society

This area explores the interactions between science, technology, society, and the environment. Topics may include Science and Technology Studies (STS), artificial intelligence, digital transformation, environmental governance, sustainability, ecological challenges, technological ethics, and the social implications of innovation.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives

In addition to the thematic areas above, JCISS strongly encourages interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research that transcends conventional academic boundaries. The journal welcomes studies that connect multiple fields of inquiry to address complex contemporary issues and contribute to broader scholarly and public conversations.

JCISS particularly values scholarship that combines empirical rigor with critical reflection, engages meaningfully with theoretical and intellectual traditions, and contributes not only to academic debates but also to the enrichment of public discourse and collective understanding.

The journal welcomes empirical, theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and review-based contributions in both English and Bahasa Indonesia.