Lectio Socialis was launched in September 2017 as a peer-reviewed journal in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Its establishment and early development were made possible through the exceptional dedication and efforts of the late Hasan Fehmi Ata, then Secretary General of the Association of Istanbul Hope Movement (İstanbul Umut Hareketi Derneği), which served as the journal’s initial publisher. Mr. Ata played a crucial and selfless role in supporting the journal’s foundation and operations. Sadly, he passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic, a loss that profoundly affected the organization. Following his passing, the association decided to cease its activities, and in 2022, the publishing rights of Lectio Socialis were formally transferred to the journal’s founding editor-in-chief, Assoc. Prof. Emrah Konuralp. This transition marked the beginning of a new phase in the journal’s history, ensuring its editorial independence and long-term sustainability.

In 2019, the journal began its internationalization process by inviting scholars from around the world to join the editorial board and serve as section editors. Since assuming publishing responsibilities, Assoc. Prof. Konuralp has also served as the editor-in-chief.

Following the 2022 transition, Lectio Socialis adopted an exclusively online publishing model; its print edition (ISSN 2602-2524) was formally discontinued on 28 March 2022, and the scope was refocused to emphasize policy-relevant topics within the social sciences.

Since 2025, Lectio Socialis has adopted a continuous publication model. Under this system, accepted articles are assigned a DOI and published online immediately upon finalization, without waiting for scheduled issue release dates. At the end of each calendar year, all articles published during the year are compiled into a single annual issue. This model accelerates scholarly communication and improves access to research.

Lectio Socialis has also made key commitments to open science and fair research assessment. On 13 March 2021, the journal signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), affirming its support for diverse and responsible evaluation practices beyond traditional metrics such as impact factors. It is also a signatory of the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI), ensuring that all published content is freely and permanently accessible online.

Since 2024, Lectio Socialis has been indexed in TR Dizin, Turkey's leading national indexing platform maintained by TÜBİTAK-Ulakbim. This inclusion represents a significant milestone, affirming the journal’s scholarly quality and enhancing its visibility within the national and international social sciences community.

Prof. Dr. Sue L. T. McGregor, who had served as a founding editor since the journal’s inception, retired from her editorial duties in 2025. In line with Lectio Socialis’s commitment to full internationalization, the Editorial Board has been comprehensively restructured. Although European scholars constitute a significant portion, researchers from every continent are invited and encouraged to participate.

Editorial Board as of 2025
(Listed alphabetically by surname)

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the former members of the Lectio Socialis editorial board, whose scholarly contributions and dedication have played a pivotal role in shaping the journal’s academic identity. Their service and expertise greatly enriched our editorial practices and the overall quality of publications during their tenure. Special thanks are extended to Assoc. Prof. Gülşah Aydın (Yeditepe University, Türkiye), Dr. Erhan Aydın (IPAG Business School, France), Asst. Prof. Sonat Bayram (Trakya University, Türkiye), Prof. Christoph Giesel (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany), Prof. Ersin Erkan (Bingöl University, Türkiye), Prof. Pınar Köksal (Middle East Technical University, Türkiye), Assoc. Prof. Hüdayi Sayın (Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University, Türkiye), Assoc. Prof. Tülay Yıldırım (Istanbul Medeniyet University, Türkiye), Asst. Prof. Zeynep Özkurt Dördüncü (Nişantaşı University, Türkiye), and Prof. Reza Yavarian (Roudehen Islamic Azad University, Iran). Their efforts have significantly contributed to the journal’s development and international recognition.