Social Policy and Society

Scope & Guideline

Illuminating contemporary social issues through rigorous scholarship.

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Social Policy and Society with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1474-7464
PublisherCAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Converge2011, from 2013 to 2024
AbbreviationSOC POLICY SOC / Soc. Policy Soc.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressEDINBURGH BLDG, SHAFTESBURY RD, CB2 8RU CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The journal "Social Policy and Society" focuses on the intersection of social policy, welfare states, and societal issues, providing a platform for research that examines the implications of social policies on various populations and contexts.
  1. Social Policy Analysis:
    The journal emphasizes rigorous analysis of social policies, exploring their development, implementation, and impact on different demographics, including vulnerable populations such as the elderly, disabled, and marginalized communities.
  2. Comparative Studies:
    It promotes comparative research across different countries and regions, shedding light on varied welfare state models and their effectiveness in addressing social issues, particularly in the context of globalization and transnational influences.
  3. Emerging Social Issues:
    The journal addresses contemporary social challenges, including economic crises, health disparities, and the impacts of technology on welfare systems, highlighting how these factors shape social policy responses.
  4. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    Research published in the journal often employs interdisciplinary methodologies, integrating insights from sociology, economics, political science, and public health to provide a holistic understanding of social policy issues.
  5. Focus on Vulnerability and Inequality:
    A consistent focus on issues of inequality and social justice is present, with research examining how social policies can alleviate or exacerbate disparities in access to resources and services.
The journal has recently highlighted several emerging themes that reflect current societal changes and policy challenges, indicating a dynamic evolution in social policy discourse.
  1. Impact of Technology on Welfare:
    Research exploring the role of technology in social service provision has surged, particularly in relation to how digitalization can enhance or hinder access to welfare services in various contexts.
  2. Responses to the Cost-of-Living Crisis:
    There is an increasing focus on how social policies are adapting to the cost-of-living crisis, with studies analyzing the effectiveness of policy measures in alleviating economic hardship for vulnerable populations.
  3. Climate Change and Social Policy:
    Emerging themes around eco-social policies are gaining traction, examining how climate change intersects with social welfare and the implications for policy development in sustainability.
  4. Intersectionality in Social Policy:
    Recent publications are increasingly addressing intersectional approaches to social policy, examining how overlapping identities (e.g., race, gender, disability) influence access to services and outcomes.
  5. Post-Pandemic Policy Reforms:
    The COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed a trend towards re-evaluating and reforming social policies, with research focusing on lessons learned and the future of welfare in a post-pandemic context.

Declining or Waning

While "Social Policy and Society" maintains a robust focus on various social policy themes, certain areas have seen a decline in publication frequency or emphasis in recent years.
  1. Traditional Welfare State Models:
    Research centered on conventional welfare state models has decreased, reflecting a shift towards examining more innovative, hybrid approaches to welfare and social support.
  2. Homogeneity in Policy Responses:
    There has been a waning interest in studies that assume a one-size-fits-all approach to social policy, as more research seeks to understand the complexities and localized nuances of policy implementation.
  3. Historical Welfare Comparisons:
    While historical analyses have been crucial, there is a noticeable decline in publications focusing solely on historical comparisons of welfare states, as contemporary and future-oriented research gains prominence.

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