Special Issue Announcement

Special Issue – Call for Papers
Geopolitical Fault Lines in the 21st Century

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Merve Suna Özel Özcan
Guest Editor

The first quarter of the 21st century has been marked by multilayered and unpredictable ruptures that are reshaping the fundamental parameters of the international system. The Western-centered international order is undergoing profound transformations on multiple fronts. The relatively stable, liberal, and globalization-oriented environment of the post-Cold War era is increasingly giving way to a complex geopolitical landscape defined by great power rivalries, regional wars, economic bloc formations, climate- and environment-induced security risks, rapidly evolving technological and cyber domains, new forms of warfare, intelligence innovations, and intensified military competition. These developments deeply affect not only the balance of power, but also the normative order, alliance networks, patterns of economic interdependence, and the effectiveness of international institutions.
This transformation compels the discipline of International Relations to reconsider its analytical tools and theoretical frameworks. The geopolitical ruptures of the 21st century directly challenge classical security approaches while simultaneously shaping debates on political economy, the environment, technology, and the normative order. At the same time, existing international organizations are becoming increasingly ineffective, new institutions are emerging, and relations between regional and global actors are being redefined. Cycles of conflict and peace—including wars—are intensifying; trade corridors, energy routes, and economic-political ties are being reshaped; and new arenas of geopolitical competition such as the Arctic, Greenland, and outer space are gaining prominence, effectively redrawing the global strategic map.
The Journal of International Relations and Politics (ULIPOD) is preparing a special issue titled “Geopolitical Fault Lines in the 21st Century”, scheduled for publication in March 2026. The issue aims to examine these profound transformations from within the discipline of International Relations, providing a platform for both theoretical and empirical contributions. It seeks to bring together original academic studies that explore the evolving and reconfiguring fault lines of global politics, with a particular focus on great power competition, regional ruptures, and emerging geopolitical dimensions.
Themes
1. The Quest for Power and the Emerging International Order
  • The reshaping of global power distribution: the United States, China, India, Russia, and the European Union
  • The crisis of the liberal international order, multipolarity, and debates on a fragmented system
  • The rising role of the Global South and the East, and their implications for the normative order
  • International institutions, international law, and the question of legitimacy
2. Regional Ruptures
  • The European security architecture, NATO’s transformation and the war in Ukraine
  • Emerging security blocs in the Indo-Pacific (AUKUS, QUAD)
  • The Middle East and other regional geopolitical ruptures (e.g., the Gulf, the Horn of Africa)
  • Revisionist actors, the dynamics of proxy wars, and new forms of warfare
3. New Geopolitical Dimensions
  • Energy security, strategic dependencies, and economic geopolitics
  • Trade wars, the politicization of global supply chains, and the emergence of new trade corridors
  • Rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic, Greenland, and outer space
  • Technology, artificial intelligence, intelligence capabilities, and the strategic rise of cyberspace
  • The impact of climate change on security and the geopolitical order
The themes listed above are indicative rather than exhaustive. The special issue also welcomes theoretical, conceptual, and empirical studies within the discipline of International Relations that address the topic from diverse perspectives.
Submission Guidelines
  • Manuscripts will be accepted in English only.
  • The expected length is between 5,000 and 8,000 words.
  • Submissions must be made via the journal’s website: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ulipod (Authors should select “special issue” during the submission process.)
  • Detailed author guidelines are available at: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ulipod/writing-rules
Please note that submission of a manuscript does not guarantee publication. All manuscripts will undergo an initial editorial assessment. Those that pass this stage will be subject to a double-blind peer review process. At least two positive referee reports are required for acceptance. Further details on the review process can be found under the “Peer Review Process and Policy” section of the journal’s website.

Deadline for Manuscript Submission: February 1, 2026

Last Update Time: 9/17/25

Publishing Institution

34426

The Journal of International Relations and Politics (ULIPOD) is published by the International Relations and Politics Association (ULIPOD).


The Association is a non-profit civil society organization established to conduct scientific research and organize academic activities in the fields of international relations, international politics, political history, international law, security studies, regional studies, migration studies, diplomacy, political economy, and foreign policy. It carries out a wide range of academic activities—including seminars, conferences, workshops, congresses, and training programs—and participates in national and international projects within these areas.

In line with this mission, our journal serves as one of the Association’s academic periodical publications.

For all inquiries, opinions, or correspondence regarding the Journal or the Association, please contact us at:

📍 Address: Yalı Neighborhood, İstanbul Street, No. 12, Akçakoca / Düzce, Türkiye
📧 Email: ulipod@ulipod.com / ulipodergisi@gmail.com
🌐 Web: https://ulipod.com/