Call for papers to be published in special issue of International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure

Social cohesion, a fundamental sociological concept, seeks to understand how societies can collectively move towards shared goals. Despite its significance, the term remains ambiguously defined, often laden with assumptions and contradictions. Scholars have critiqued the broad nature of some definitions, the conflation with economic objectives, and the assumptions about values and metrics that best represent social cohesion.

In recent discourse, both popular and academic, the relationship between leisure and social cohesion has gained prominence. Policies and studies increasingly recognize social cohesion as a precursor to leisure participation, while leisure-based programs are viewed as potential tools to enhance social cohesion within communities. This intertwined relationship raises several questions: How is social cohesion conceptualized within local leisure programming? How do leisure-related policies define or operationalize social cohesion? How does leisure support social cohesion, and vice versa?

This Special Issue invites scholars to explore and clarify the relationship between leisure and social cohesion.

Potential topics for submission include, but are not limited to:

- - Conceptualizations of social cohesion within leisure programming and policies
  - Trends and developments in literature relating to leisure and social cohesion
  - Critical evaluations of the assumptions surrounding leisure and social cohesion
  - Studies on the impact of social cohesion on leisure participation
  - The role of leisure-based programs (e.g., sports, recreation) in enhancing social cohesion
  - Evaluations or case studies of specific leisure programs or organizations
  - Historical perspectives on the evolution of leisure policies and programming

We encourage contributions that not only explore these themes but also engage critically with the concept of social cohesion itself, offering new insights and perspectives on how leisure and social cohesion intersect and influence one another.

Authors are invited to submit original research articles, review articles, and theoretical papers. Submissions should be between 5,000 and 8,000 words (excluding references) and should follow the journal’s formatting guidelines. More information can be found here.

Important dates

- Abstract submission deadline: January 31, 2025
- Notification of Acceptance: April 15, 2025

Abstract submission

Abstract should be submitted to the Guest Editors:

- Louis Moustakas, University of Applied Sciences, Austria
  [email protected]
- Arnost Svoboda, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic
  [email protected]

About the IJSL

International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure publishes high-quality papers on the sociology of leisure that have a global interest, promote the development of this mature field within international sociology, and go beyond the traditional geographical areas of leisure studies. The journal provides a platform for research and theory, reflects vigorous developments in the field, and functions as an intellectual, inter-disciplinary hub for sociologists working on leisure studies and for leisure scholars working in sociology. It approaches a fresh sociology that simultaneously recognizes roots in the canons of formal western sociology deployed on the field of traditionally conceived approaches to leisure phenomena, and opens up spaces and debates for encountering and accommodating Eastern and Southern frames of reference.

Firmly placed at the crossroads of leisure studies and sociology, the sociology of leisure is about the social institution of leisure and its activities, the latter being pursued in free time or time away from disagreeable obligations. It centres on the interpersonal relations of the joy humans have in living and the structural constraints and opportunities there. Free time, play, fun and life-structuring are among the diverse substances of analyses conducted by scholars located in their own and global cultures.

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