[PLing] [Call for Submissions]: Communicating Sustainability: Perspectives from International Law, Legal Linguistics, and Psychology

[Green, Daniel]

Dear Colleagues around the globe,

Following the growing interest in interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability in and around law, the Austrian Association for Legal Linguistics (AALL) is pleased to announce a call for submissions for an international interdisciplinary volume, to be co-edited by Daniel Green (Croatia), Sarah Atkins (New Zealand), Karin Luttermann (Germany) and Waldemar Nazarov (France). It is intended to be published by Frank & Timme.

This volume seeks to explore the intersection of legal communication, psychology, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Each chapter will focus on one specific SDG, examining how (applied) legal linguistics and psychology can research transformative change by monitoring, evaluating, and critiquing sustainability discourses both regionally and globally.

Particular attention will be given to how citizens perceive and interact with sustainability legislation and narratives, and how these perceptions influence and shape public political action.

Chapters should address the cyclical relationship between legal narratives, public reception, and policymaking. Empirical, theoretical, or mixed-methods studies are equally welcome.

Authors will focus mainly on one SDG but are asked to indicate at least two SDGs they would be willing to engage with in their final submission. This ensures broad coverage of all 17 SDGs across the volume. In case of overlap with another submission, authors will be informed and encouraged to consider the alternative SDG to maintain thematic diversity. Submissions addressing multiple SDGs in an integrative manner are also welcome.

We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

Legal narratives and public perception of sustainability legislation

Communication and popularization of specific SDGs at regional, national, and international levels

Discourse analysis of sustainability policies and legislation

Psychological and cognitive dimensions of sustainability communication

Interdisciplinary approaches to evaluating and monitoring sustainability discourses

Public engagement, advocacy, and transformative legal change

Cross-cultural perspectives on environmental, social, and economic sustainability

Impact of media, social media, and public campaigns on sustainability awareness

The role of law and (legal) language in shaping sustainable behaviors

Submission Guidelines:
Applicants are invited to submit an abstract of 250 words, including the title, theoretical background, research question(s), and methodology. The use of artificial intelligence tools in preparing submissions must comply with good academic practice. Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.

Please also provide 4–5 keywords and a short list of key references. The abstract, along with the full name(s) and affiliation(s) of the applicant(s), should be sent to sustainabilitycom2025 at gmail.com by 31 January 2025.

Author Contribution:
To support the costs of editing, formatting, and producing this high-profile volume, a contribution of €300 per submission is requested, to be transferred by the corresponding author. If this poses a financial difficulty, please contact the editorial team to discuss possible waivers.

Publication Timeline:

31 January 2025 – Submission of abstracts due

15 March 2026 – Notification regarding acceptance or rejection

31 October 2026 – First draft chapters due

Early 2027 – Intended publication

All submissions will undergo a triple-blind peer review process to ensure the highest academic standards.

Submissions should adhere to good academic practice; papers not conforming to the style guide or academic standards will not be considered.

Daniel Green
Editor-in-Chief
The Austrian Association for Legal Linguistics
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