Journal “Temas de Integração”

2026 – n.º 46

30th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

Launched in 1996, the Journal Temas de Integração (RTI) was conceived as a space for reflection on the newly created European Union and other regional integration movements that were then shaping a world undergoing accelerated globalisation in the post–Cold War era, in which citizenship and democracy gained central prominence. As it reaches thirty years of existence in 2026, the publication has consolidated itself as a living testimony to the evolution of ideas of integration, cooperation, and sovereignty throughout three decades of profound global transformations. Now in a digital, open-access format, RTI welcomes articles in English, French, and Spanish, in addition to Portuguese, on the processes of launching, developing, consolidating, and contesting regional integration spaces, from a range of disciplinary perspectives — including, for example, law, economics, international relations, political science, journalism, sociology, anthropology, social psychology, geography, history, philosophy, and linguistics — as well as interdisciplinary approaches.

Call for Papers: 

What Future for Spaces of Integration?

The history of the journal Temas de Integração is, in itself, a reflection of the recent history of regional and global integration. Over the course of three decades, each issue has mirrored the major political, economic, and legal transformations of its time, conveying the concerns of a broad academic community, both within and beyond Europe, in search of answers to the challenges of autonomy, cooperation, and interdependence. It is this plural and constantly evolving trajectory that is presented below.

The first editions of RTI (1996–1999) reflected the emergence of Euro–Latin American regional integration, highlighting themes such as European cohesion, the institutionalisation of Mercosur, and the relationship between law and sovereignty. From 1998 onwards, under the inspiration of Francisco Lucas Pires, the journal came to understand integration not only as an economic and legal phenomenon, but also as a political and civilisational one, in a context marked by the consolidation of the Schengen Area, the Eurozone, and Mercosur.

In the years marking the turn of the century (2000–2006), RTI broadened its thematic and geographical scope, addressing the impacts of globalisation on economic regulation, agriculture, taxation, and culture, with the regular participation of Adriano Moreira. Emblematic editions were published on Luso-Brazilian cooperation, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil, and on the role of universities in integration processes. During this period, the journal followed closely the debate on the European Constitution and on the Treaties of Amsterdam, Nice and, later, the Treaty of Lisbon, consolidating its position as a channel for critical reflection on the tensions between the global economy, state sovereignty, and legal legitimacy.

Between 2007 and 2014, RTI marked the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and deepened its critical analysis of the European project, with special attention to issues of sustainability, global governance, and social cohesion. With the international financial crisis, the focus shifted towards the institutional and economic transformations of the European Union and the resurgence of nationalisms, a phenomenon that puts the very foundations of integration to the test.

The period from 2015 to 2019 marked a phase of renewal, with emphasis on the Portuguese language as an instrument of scientific and cultural cohesion, reinforcing Lusophone identity within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLC). Topics such as economic, energy, and environmental integration, new regional blocs, and the role of the BRICS in global reforms were explored. Debates on inclusion, migration, gender equality, and social sustainability also gained prominence. The issue published in 2019, dedicated to Lusophone countries, symbolised the maturation of this stage by proposing a profound reflection on democracy, populism, and the tensions of the post-globalisation world.

In recent years (2020–2025), RTI has reaffirmed its commitment to scientific dissemination and editorial innovation, responding to the transformations accelerated by the pandemic, digitalisation, the emergence of climate justice, and human displacement driven by conflict, inequality, and climate change. The journal has become a true observatory of transitions, namely ecological, technological, and institutional, anticipating the political, legal, and economic tensions that today shape integration processes.

As it reaches thirty years in 2026, RTI reasserts its role as a bridge between continents, legal traditions, and academic generations. Its trajectory, spanning European integration, the institutionalisation of Mercosur, global climate justice, and migratory phenomena, mirrors the evolution of integration processes themselves and of contemporary global and regional thought. More than a publication, RTI is today a platform of public knowledge, grounded in the conviction that integration is a legal, political, and human project sustained by dialogue, diversity, and a continual search for meaning in an interdependent world.

In this context, issue no. 46, the 30th Anniversary Commemorative Edition of RTI, invites all interested parties to reflect on the historical lessons, current challenges, and future directions of integration in contexts of uncertainty, transition, and global transformation. It aims to foster a broad reflection on the trajectory and future of integration processes, at multiple scales and across diverse dimensions, considering a plurality of thematic axes, among which the following, inspired by insights from the RTI Editorial Board, stand out:

(1) Integration, Sovereignty and Global Crises

• EU–Mercosur Agreements: challenges of approval and implementation, particularly in the areas of climate law, international cooperation, and agricultural agreements.
• The war between Russia and Ukraine and the geopolitical impact of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
• The European Union between normative coherence and security imperatives: the test posed by the conflict in the Middle East.
• Transformations in the architecture of European security: from the Niinistö Report to the notion of “Safer Together?”
• The European Union in the Indo-Pacific: between normative power and perceptions of a force-less superpower.
• The role of political leadership in shaping the institutional configuration and functional dimension of the European Union.

(2) Economy, Sustainability and Justice 

• The new generation of free trade agreements and the role of the BRICS in redefining global economic relations.
• The impact of the Global South on the world and European economies in the reconfiguration of production chains.
• Regional integration and sustainable public policies in the context of ecological and energy transitions.
• Climate and COPs: the role of international organisations and regional blocs in climate diplomacy and environmental governance.
• Climate justice, the rights of future generations, and green finance as foundations of a new ethic of European and other types or regions of integration.

(3) Authoritarianism, Multilateralism and Governance

• Authoritarianism and integration: how the global resurgence of authoritarian regimes affects multilateral institutions and regional cooperation.
• The future of multilateralism: lessons from the European experience for other regions facing polarisation, populism, and democratic backsliding.
• Institutional mutations within the European Union and the role of cohesion policies in times of crisis.
• Dynamics of trust and legitimacy in regional and multilateral institutions.

(4) Subnational and Non-State Actors, Knowledge and Public Diplomacy

• Subnational and city diplomacy: the contribution of local governments and non-state actors to the realisation of integration objectives within the European Union.
• Comparative perspectives on science and technology diplomacy, academic networks, university cooperation, and regional spaces for knowledge and innovation, with particular focus on Europe.
• Knowledge, media, and public trust: the impact of communication, disinformation, and public diplomacy on the legitimacy of integration processes.

(5) Memory, Narratives and Identities

• European memories of the Cold War: convergences and divergences between East and West.
• European narratives and discourse: actors, themes, and communication strategies.
• The role of political and institutional leadership in shaping regional identities, particularly in Europe.
• Culture, heritage, and linguistic diversity as instruments of integration.

(6) Decolonisation, Epistemologies of the South and Future Integrations

• Decolonising thought and Southern epistemologies: towards a new epistemic and scientific integration, and an understanding of its significance and influence.
• Comparative perspectives from the Global South on integration in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• The rights of future generations: regional and intergenerational approaches.
• Regionalism and integration in the Global South: theories, public policies, and new paradigms of regional cooperation.

This call for papers invites a diverse audience, including researchers, students, professionals of varied areas, and other interested authors to submit works that explore these issues, present concrete cases, analyze current dilemmas, propose innovative solutions, and assess their future implications.

Key dates leading to the publication of Issue 46, expected by the end of 2026:

Date

Action

January 15th, 2026

Submission of abstracts

January 25th, 2026

Notification of accepted abstracts

March, 31st, 2026

Deadline for submission of full articles

May, 31st, 2026

Peer review process, revision by the authors and submission of the revised articles

June 30th, 2026

Notification of accepted full articles

July 31st, 2026

Deadline for any corrections and adjustments

Important: The final acceptance of full articles will be confirmed after the peer review process.

Rules for the submission of abstracts:

1. The proposed article to be developed must be presented in the form of an abstract of 200 to 250 words, including spaces, in Times New Roman, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing.
2. The title must appear above the abstract, in Times New Roman, size 14, in uppercase bold, left-justified.
3. Authorship must appear below the abstract, accompanied by a brief biographical note of no more than 500 characters (per author), including spaces. Authors are encouraged to include their ORCID identification(https://orcid.org/register) and academic affiliation, where applicable.
4. The abstract must be structured as follows: (1) a brief introduction of 1–2 sentences situating the reader in the general topic and explaining the relevance of the research problem; (2) the research objective or question; (3) methodology, specifying the methods or approaches employed[1]; (4) main results; and (5) a conclusion highlighting the implications of the results (e.g., originality, impact, contribution to the field).
5. Four to six keywords must be included, in lowercase and separated by commas. To optimise search engine results: (1) choose relevant and specific terms that accurately reflect the central topic of the article, avoiding generic terms (e.g., environmental diplomacy in the Arctic instead of diplomacy); (2) for each keyword, expressions of 2 to 5 words, with a maximum of 120 characters, are preferred; (3) consider the terms that potential readers would search for; (4) ensure coherence with the article’s content.
6. Abstracts may be submitted in Portuguese, English, Spanish, or French.
7. Authors must indicate, above the title, the thematic axis to which the proposed article belongs.
8. Abstracts must be submitted by 15 January 2026 to the email address temasdeintegracao@fd.uc.pt.

Submission Guidelines for Full Articles (Post-Acceptance of Abstracts):

1. Authors of abstracts accepted by the journal must submit their full articles by March 31, 2026, via email to temasdeintegração@fd.uc.pt
2. Articles may be written in Portuguese, English, Spanish, or French.
3. Article title must be at least bilingual (Portuguese and English) or trilingual if the article is presented in Spanish or French.
4. Articles must be submitted in an editable file format (.doc/.docx/.odt), with uniform formatting. It is recommended to use Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing for the body text, and size 10 with single spacing for footnotes. Margins should be 2.5 cm on all sides.
5. Articles should be between 12 and 15 pages in A4 format, including references.
6. APA 7th Edition style must be used for citations and references.
7. A reference list must be included at the end of the article.
8. Italics should be used instead of underlining, except for URLs.
9. Complete author(s) identification must be included (maximum of 4 lines per author), including name, affiliations, email, and ORCID.
10. The article must include four to six keywords and an abstract of up to 300 characters (including spaces) in the language of the article, in Portuguese, and in English.
11. Footnotes should be used sparingly and should not exceed 300 characters (including spaces) individually.

Any questions can be directed to the email address: temasdeintegracao@fd.uc.pt

[1] In legal articles that adopt classical hermeneutic methods, it is sufficient to provide a brief explanation of the methodology employed.