Call for Papers
Special Issue of China Policy Journal (2025)

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Advancing Policy Studies:
Addressing Conventional Issues and Emerging Challenges in Global Transformation

China Policy Journal (CPJ) invites submissions for a special issue organized in conjunction with the Second International Conference on China Policy Studies (ICCPS 2025). The theme of both the conference and the special issue is: “Advancing Policy Studies: Addressing Conventional Issues and Emerging Challenges in Global Transformation.”

The world is experiencing rapid and profound changes. The convergence of digitalization, environmental crises, demographic transitions, and geopolitical shifts has significantly changed the environment for public policy. These changes create two types of challenges. First, traditional policy issues—such as economic regulation, social security, and Urban–Rural development—are becoming more complex. Second, new policy concerns are emerging, including artificial intelligence governance, resilient healthcare systems, and sustainable energy transitions. In this context, policy studies play a crucial role. They connect theory with practice and provide clear insights to help governments effectively address both established and emerging challenges.

This special issue seeks research that critically examines the different stages of the policy process —formulation, implementation, evaluation, and reform—across diverse sectors, including education, healthcare, the environment, the economy, social welfare, and sustainability. It highlights the essential role of China’s public policy scholarship in enriching global policy knowledge and shaping governance solutions worldwide.

Topics of Interest
We welcome submissions that advance theories, introduce new methods, or offer comparative and context-sensitive insights into Chinese and global public policy.

Suggested (but not exclusive) areas of interest include:

● Policy Analysis: Theories and Methods

● Policy Process: Theories and Methods

● Comparative Public Policy: Theories and Methods

● Public Management and Public Policy

● Policy Diffusion and Learning

● Policy Experimentation

● Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Public Policy

● Public Policy and Culture

● Other Key Areas of Public Policy: Economic Policy, Social Policy, Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, Environmental Policy, Urban–Rural Development Policy

Submission Types

● Original Research Articles (7,000–10,000 words)

These should provide rigorous empirical analyses on policy-related topics in China.

● Review Articles (6,000–9,000 words)

These should offer a comprehensive review of a policy theory or policy topic, preferably within the realm of China policy studies.

● Short Articles (3,000–5,000 words)

These can take the form of either a research note or a perspective piece. A research note presents a novel theory, argument, or methodology and its application. A perspective piece proposes future directions for an emerging research area and its agenda, or explores a future trend in the field of policy studies.

Submission Guidelines

● Submission Period: May 8 to August 31, 2024

● Submission Process: All submissions should be sent to: cpj@bnu.edu.cn.

● Title Page (separate file):

The title page should be in a separate file and include a list of the full names of the authors and each author’s institutional affiliations where the work was conducted, with a footnote for the author’s present address if different from where the work was conducted, and acknowledgments.

● Main Document:

Your manuscript should be submitted as an editable file, including text, figures, and tables. It should include an abstract of no more than 200 words and provide 3-5 keywords. Figures and tables should include legends and be placed within the text rather than at the end of the manuscript. Figures should be in the highest resolution possible.

● Formatting: The journal uses the Chicago reference style.

● Supporting Information: Supporting information should be submitted in separate files.

Contact
For questions regarding this special issue, please contact: cpj@bnu.edu.cn