Guest Editors: Bianca Mitrică – Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy (Bucharest, Romania), International Geographical Union, Commission on Local and Regional Development (biancadumitrescu78@yahoo.com); Irena Roznoviețchi – Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy (Bucharest, Romania); Gaurav Sikka – Patliputra University (Patna, Bihar, India); International Geographical Union, Young & Early Career Geographers Commission (IGU YECG); Ines Grigorescu –  Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy (Bucharest, Romania); International Geographical Union, Commission on Local and Regional Development

The core-periphery paradigm has long been central to geographical, regional and development studies, shaping our understanding of spatial inequalities, uneven development, and territorial polarization across local, regional, national, and global scales. From classical formulations in regional science and political economy to contemporary debates in economic geography and spatial planning, the model has provided a powerful framework for interpreting patterns of concentration and marginalization.

This thematic issue of Europa XXI, prepared as a joint initiative of the International Geographical Union Commission on Local and Regional Development (LRD) and the Young & Early Career Geographers Commission (YECG), invites original contributions that critically assess the core-periphery paradigm through innovative theoretical, methodological, and empirical approaches. Contributions are welcome from diverse territorial contexts, with a particular focus on Europe, while also encouraging comparative and global perspectives. Early career scholars are particularly encouraged to submit contributions presenting emerging research, novel investigations, and comparative case studies.

Submission procedure and timeline:

This Call for Papers follows a two-stage submission process:

Deadline for abstract submission: 15 May 2026

Extended abstracts (300-400 words mail to biancadumitrescu78@yahoo.com or Europa.XXI@twarda.pan.pl) should outline the research question, conceptual framework, data and methodology, and expected contribution.

Notification for full paper invitation: 1 June 2026

Deadline for paper submission: 31 January 2027

All manuscripts will undergo the standard double-blind peer-review process of Europa XXI. Submissions must comply with the journal’s author guidelines. Authors should clearly indicate that their submission is intended for the thematic issue “Rethinking the core-periphery paradigm: evidence from Europe and beyond.”