Call for Proposals 

Social Development Issues 

A Special Issue on the Second World Summit for Social Development Social Development Issues, Vol. 49 – 2027 

Editors: Benjamin Lough, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign 

 Lynne Healy, University of Connecticut School of Social Work   

Submission Deadline for Proposals:  November 30, 2025 

The Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held in Qatar in November 2025, marks a key moment in  global efforts to advance social progress. Building on the commitments made at the 1995 World Summit for Social  Development in Copenhagen, it presents an opportunity to reassess global commitments to social progress, in light  of emerging challenges and persistent inequalities. The Summit will focus on three core pillars that remain essential  

to social development: (1) poverty eradication, (2) full and productive employment and decent work for all, and (3)  social inclusion. This special issue aims to serve as a platform for rigorous debate and fresh perspectives on the  evolving landscape of global social development. 

This special issue of Social Development Issues will highlight research and analysis that critically engage with the  Summit’s objectives, themes, and policy implications, offering insights into its potential impact on national and  international social development strategies. We welcome contributions that explore the Summit’s significance,  including but not limited to: 

• Revisiting the Copenhagen Commitments. How have the original social development goals evolved over  the past three decades, and where do gaps remain? What actions are needed to address them and the SDGs? 
• Policy and Governance Perspectives. Analyses of global, national, or local policy frameworks that  respond to the Summit’s agenda, including policy design and implementation. What constraints might  impact the effectiveness of these policies? 
• Challenges in Measuring Social Progress: Critical assessments of how poverty, employment, and  inclusion are quantified and evaluated in international research or policy. 
• Regional and Context-Specific Approaches: Comparative studies on how different regions or sectors  interpret and implement social development goals. 
• Intersectional and Cross-Sectoral Solutions: Research that examines how intersectionality, cross-sector  collaboration, and multi-disciplinary approaches can be integrated to advance social well-being. 

Proposals for complete papers should follow these sections as applicable to the proposed paper: Objective,  Literature Review, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. Paper proposals should outline the research focus, key  arguments, and relevance to the 2025 Summit. Proposals should not exceed 1000 words (2-4 pages with references and an  abstract of 50 words).  

• Send in electronic format to the Editor of Social Development Issues at sdijournal@uga.edu by November 30, 2025.
• Authors will be notified by February 1, 2026 of the decision regarding the submission of completed manuscripts.  Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to submit full manuscripts for peer review. 
• Completed manuscripts are due May 1, 2026, and will be peer reviewed.  

All work must be original, unpublished, and not submitted for publication elsewhere. For information, contact Ben Lough,  bjlough@illinois.edu or Philip Hong, sdijournal@uga.edu