Aims and Scope
Агора. Журнал соціальних наук / Agora. Social Sciences Journal is a peer-reviewed academic periodical journal of the National University of Ostroh Academy, which publishes the results of scientific research in the field of social sciences (mainly in the specialty C2 Political Science). Priority is given to the publication of empirical studies focused on the analysis of political and social processes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, the journal accepts original results of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of political science, sociology, political geography, international relations, social communications and regional studies. The publication serves as a platform for scientific dialogue on the principles of open access and promotes the dissemination of high-quality scientific results in the social sciences.
In addition to scientific articles, the publication features reviews of new releases in the field of social sciences, scholarly debates, and reports on conferences, round tables, and other events of academic life that promote the development of professional discussion and the integration of the Ukrainian academic community into the international academic space.
The purpose of the journal is to popularize and publicize the results of scientific research in the field of social sciences (mainly in the specialty of C2 Political Science) based on the principles of open access to authors' publications.
The main objectives of this journal are:
- Popularization of empirical research dedicated to the analysis of political, social, and regional processes in Central and Eastern European countries.
- Engaging young researchers in academic dialogue by supporting high-quality scientific publications (publication of research results).
- Forming a Ukrainian and international circle of authors that encourages the submission of manuscripts in English, Ukrainian, and Polish to enhance the global exchange of knowledge based on the principles of transparency and academic integrity in accordance with the international Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) standards.
- Publishing reviews of new books, scientific events, and academic discussions to keep the scholarly community informed of current trends in the field of social sciences.
- Supporting open access to all publications without financial, legal, or technical barriers for readers and authors in accordance with the Budapest Open Access Initiative.
Journal Issues
Political institutions and processes
Original empirical studies have been published that focus on examining the structure, functioning, and transformation of political institutions, as well as the dynamics of political processes in national and comparative contexts. Topics include the institutional design of a state's political system, electoral systems, party structures, mechanisms of political decision-making, citizen participation in the political process, and the interaction between formal and informal political actors.
Political socialization and culture
Applied research has been published that focuses on the processes of political socialization, the formation of civic identity and political consciousness, and the analysis of political culture. The publications cover the influence of social institutions (education, family, media, religion, etc.) on the political development of the individual, the characteristics of national political cultures, the level of political trust, legitimacy of authority, and political participation.
Democracy and Political Transformation
Research is accepted that focuses on the practical study of democratization processes, political transitions, regime transformations, and the functioning of democracies in post-communist, transitional, or consolidated societies. Attention is paid to both institutional changes and the sociocultural factors of democratic transformation, including the influence of civil society, political culture, electoral practices, and external actors on the development of democratic regimes.
Public policy
Interdisciplinary research on the processes of development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of public policy at the national, regional, and local levels is welcome. Articles are published that focus on the analysis of public policies, stakeholder participation, the effectiveness of management decisions, and the impact of the political context on the formation and implementation of policies in various sectors (education, healthcare, environment, security, etc.).
Foreign Affairs
Research is accepted that analyzes foreign policy priorities, the institutional and normative foundations of foreign policy, and its implementation in the context of global challenges, regional security, and the transformation of the international order. Special attention is given to the analysis of the interaction between domestic political processes and foreign policy orientation.
