Social Innovation in Global South Cultural Industries
Working Paper Series:
Purpose
The purpose of the Social Innovation in Global South Cultural Industries Working Paper Series is to foster scholarly dialogue and disseminate emerging research that explores innovative approaches to Global South cultural sector organisation, production, and cross-border cooperation. By providing a platform for innovative ideas and preliminary findings, the series aims to support the development of knowledge, practice, and policy that promote social impact, sustainability, and equity in cultural industries globally.
We are particularly interested in exploring the work being done in the Global South to overcome the social and political challenges faced by the cultural industries as a result of geo-economic constraints and considerations. These include, but are not limited to, social innovations that respond to limited access to international markets, cultural homogenization, and reduced opportunities for local creators due to economic sanctions, trade restrictions or anxieties around global capital’s response to Global South innovation.
We seek submissions primarily from early-career researchers affiliated with universities, research institutes, professional associations, incubation labs, and non-profit organizations.
Image of Yanomami man in the “La causa Yanomami en la mirada de Claudia Andujar” / ENG: “Claudia Andujar and the Yanomami Struggle” art exhibition at the Miguel Urrutia Art Museum (MAMU) in Bogotá (September 2024). Learn more here.
| Call for Papers Open | Culture in Sustainable Development Thinking: Geographies, Networks, and Paradigms | Submit by November 10, 2026
| Call for Papers Open | Culture in Sustainable Development Thinking: Geographies, Networks, and Paradigms | Submit by November 10, 2026
Call for Papers
South x South Collaborations Society invites you to participate in the inaugural issue of the Social Innovation in Global South Cultural Industries Working Paper Series, to be published in March 2027.
Culture in Sustainable Development Thinking: Geographies, Networks, and Paradigms
In September 2026, The United Nations General Assembly adopted draft resolution A/80/L.102 declaring the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development (2027-2036). Despite the United States of America being the only country to vote against, the Declaration gives global cultural and creative industries an opportunity to identify and shape relevant development priorities while demonstrating innovative ways to respond to shared global challenges.
Inspired by this declaration, we are thrilled to announce the theme for South x South Collaboration’s inaugural Working Paper Series: Culture in Development Thinking: Geographies, Networks, and Paradigms.
We invite working papers from early-career researchers affiliated with universities, research institutes, professional associations, incubation labs, think tanks, and non-profit organizations that address questions at the intersections of innovation, culture and sustainability. We are interested in working papers addressing geo-political, geo-economic, as well as domestic social, political, and/or economic challenges faced by cultural and creative industries. We welcome submissions that unsettle dominant ideas about modernisation, Western liberal democracy, and technological determinism.
Potential questions for exploration:
How does culture drive and enable development priorities?
How does resolution A/80/L.102 (and others) by the global community meet the multi-polar moment?
How do the trajectories of upper-middle-income economies and emerging economies influence inclusive sustainable development?
How can cultural and creative industries of small and/or middle powers be potential venues for sustainable development agendas?
How can diaspora groups and networks support social innovation in cultural industries?
How do sustainable development frameworks affect cultural practices, and vice versa?
Please feel free to address your own questions within the broad themes.
Please send your manuscripts to the Editor at workingpapers@southxsouth.org. In your email, please provide a 150-word abstract and a maximum of five (5) keywords. The final submission deadline is January 29, 2027. Only submissions of sufficient quality will be shared with the review committee. Within two months, the Editor will contact authors on the status of their submission. Authors of accepted and conditionally accepted manuscripts will be invited to an online conversation/workshop to receive feedback before publication via our website.
Submission Instructions
Authors must submit their manuscript directly to the Editor at workingpapers@southxsouth.org.
Authors must provide a 150-word abstract and a maximum of five (5) keywords.
Authors have the option to include their social media information (if available).
Submission Requirements
Working papers are short research articles, no more than 5,000 words in length (including references, notes, tables and figures), that are circulated for discussion and comment.
Review Process
Editorial Policy
Manuscripts are initially evaluated by the Editor and assessed on the basis of their themes and contribution, and by the author’s adherence to the highest scholarly standards. Only those of sufficient quality will be sent out for review.
The Editor will contact authors on the status of their submission (either accepted, conditionally accepted, or rejected) within two months. Authors of accepted manuscripts will then be invited to a series of themed online conversations/workshops (or a thematic working group) to receive feedback before publication.
Competing Interests
Authors must indicate their competing interest status by use of the appropriate statement:
The authors declare that they have no competing interests related to this work.
Or, if applicable:
The authors declare the following competing interests: [disclose any financial, personal, or professional interests that could be perceived to influence the work].
Style Guide
British English is preferred for submissions. However, authors may submit using Canadian, British, or American English, and must indicate which spelling convention is being used and must be consistent with its use
Referencing Style
Authors are advised to use Chicago-style citations. Only cited works should be included in the references list. Accepted manuscripts that do not follow the required citation style will be returned to the author(s) for reformatting. Authors are encouraged to reach out to the Editor at workingpapers@southxsouth.org for advice on adhering to the required citation style.
Preparing your Manuscript
Authors are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:
Initial submissions do not need to be formatted to the prescribed style guide (see below). Only those accepted will require reformatting.
Submissions should adhere to the length requirement, and submitted in MS Word, double-spaced and in 12-point typeface.
Manuscripts should include a cover page, with the title and author name(s). It should also include a 150-word abstract, and up to five (5) keywords that summarizes the submission’s main takeaways.
Due to space limitations, tables and figures are to be used sparingly to illustrate findings relevant to the main argument.
Authors should clearly label any tables, figures, appendices, and supplementary material.