Submission and peer review guidelines

Aims and scope

The Journal of Deliberative Democracy (JDD) is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed open‑access journal dedicated to advancing the study of deliberative and participatory democracy. Situated at the intersection of theory, empirical research, and democratic innovation in action, JDD provides a forum for rigorous scholarship and critical reflection grounded in real‑world democratic practice. 

JDD is committed to bridging academic and practical knowledge, and to enabling conversations across disciplinary, sectoral, and geographical boundaries. It publishes cutting‑edge research that engages with normative theories of deliberation while remaining attentive to how deliberative ideals are interpreted, contested, and realised in concrete political contexts. JDD seeks to foster sustained dialogue not only between researchers but also practitioners, policymakers, and civil society actors.

A defining feature of JDD is its strong normative commitment to the core values of deliberative democracy, such as inclusivity, equity, and collective learning. The journal recognises that these ideals often sit in tension with the realities of academic publishing and treats deliberative democratic values not only as objects of study, but also as guiding principles for editorial practice. 

We aim to promote research and publishing practices that strengthen inclusion, transparency and impact. 

The journal is committed to research integrity and ethical publications.

The journal is supported by the newDemocracy Foundation, the Deliberative Democracy Consortium and the International Association for Public Participation. It is hosted at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy at the University of Canberra, Australia and published by University of Westminster Press, London, United Kingdom.

Editors: Hans Asenbaum, University of Canberra, Australia, Sonia Bussu, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, Franziska Maier, University of Stuttgart, Germany, Lucy J. Parry, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Hannah Werner, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Publication Frequency: One online issue per year. The journal operates on a continuous article publication (CAP) model enabling articles to publish as fast as possible.

ISSN: 2634-0488 | Email | LinkedIn

 

Accepted Article Types

  • Research articles are full-length manuscripts that present an original contribution to the field of deliberative democracy. The length ranges from 6,000 to 8,000 words including abstract, keywords, footnotes and references. Additional tables and appendix may be published in the online version of the article and are excluded from the word count.
  • Reflections from the Field are shorter peer-reviewed articles (2,000-4,000 words) providing insights into participatory and deliberative practice that are often not captured in traditional academic publications. To be considered for publication, submissions must fulfil one or more of the following criteria:
    • Chart the latest developments and practices within the field of participatory and deliberative democracy;
    • Offer a reflective account and practice-informed insights on novel methods/cases; ethical dilemmas that researchers, practitioners and participants might navigate in the field; other neglected themes that can illuminate the "behind the scenes" work of participatory and deliberative democracy;
    • Have authorship or co-authorship by or with practitioners, policymakers, activists or civil society actors.
  • Special Features are solicited, and may include commentaries interviews, conversations and roundtables.

Please note that the Journal is no longer considering Special Issues or Book Reviews for publication. An annual Special Feature is our new format that will replace Special Issues. There will be one thematic call for Special Feature per year.