Guest Editors:
William Russell III, Ph.D. | University of Central Florida
Stewart Waters, Ph.D. | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Matt Hensley, Ph.D. | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Navigating Democracy in Polarized Times
In a time of deep political division and misinformation, the role of social studies education
has never been more critical. As democratic institutions face mounting challenges
worldwide, educators must equip students with the skills and knowledge to engage
thoughtfully in complex social and political issues while fostering democratic principles
and respectful dialogue.
This special issue of the Journal of Social Studies Education Research (JSSER) aims to
explore how civic education can meet the demands of contemporary democracy to combat
polarization. We invite scholars, educators, and practitioners to contribute research,
theoretical perspectives, and innovative strategies that support democratic engagement
in today’s polarized world.
We welcome submissions that explore a variety of topics, such as:
• Strategies for promoting civil discourse and deliberative democracy in classrooms.
• The impact of misinformation and media literacy education on civic knowledge
and engagement.
• Pedagogical approaches to teaching controversial issues in polarized societies.
• The role of studies education in strengthening democratic resilience.
• How global perspectives on democracy inform national and local civic education
initiatives.
• The challenges and opportunities of civic education in digital and social media
landscapes.
• Youth activism, civic engagement, and participatory democracy in K-12 and higher
education settings. Journal of Social Studies Education Research (JSSER) (ISSN: 1309-9108) is an
international, scholarly open access, peer-reviewed and fully refereed journal focusing on
theories, methods and applications in Social Studies Education. As an international,
online-only journal it is devoted to the publication of original, primary research
(theoretical and empirical papers) as well as practical applications relating to Social
Studies Education with no cost.
Tentative Special Issue Timeline:
• Abstract submission deadline: June 1, 2025
• Invitation to submit full manuscript: June 15, 2025
• Initial manuscript submission deadline: September 30, 2025
• Peer review feedback to authors: December 2025
• Revised manuscript submission deadline: February 2026
• Publication of special issue: Spring/Summer 2026
Submission Guidelines:
Interested authors should submit abstracts of up to 300 words, identifying their
manuscript as either an empirical research article or an essay/opinion piece. Research
articles should include a literature review, clearly stated research questions, methodology,
findings, and discussion.
Manuscripts should adhere to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association (APA) 7th Edition and be submitted as Microsoft Word file. The manuscript
should use a 12-point Times New Roman font.
Abstract proposals should be submitted via email to Matt Hensley, Ph.D.
mhensl13@utk.edu
All submissions must include:
• A title page with author(s) contact information. If there are multiple authors,
designate a corresponding author.
• An abstract of 300 words or less.
For author guidelines, visit:
https://www.jsser.org/index.php/jsser/about/submissions#authorGuidelines
For inquiries, please contact the special issue guest editor(s):
William Russell III, Ph.D. | russell@ucf.edu
Stewart Waters, Ph.D. | kwaters2@utk.edu
Matt Hensley, Ph.D. | mhensl13@utk.edu |
Journal of Social Studies Education Research