Here you can find the call for papers for the journal issues we are currently working on. The initial pitches should be no longer than 300 words and explain the key argument of your piece, what kind of sources you plan to use in it, and how you will be enriching current discussions. 

If your pitch is successful and we ask you to submit the whole article, please follow the guidelines at this link.

The Made in China Journal invites submissions for a special issue on youth in contemporary China planned for July 2025. From 'lying flat' to the White Paper Movement, recent years have seen new forms of youth expression in the context of declining employment and a general perception of reducing opportunities for those approaching adulthood. This issue will be dedicated to exploring the experiences, challenges, and transformations of youth in China, as well as the complex and diverse realities facing young people in the wake of the pandemic.

We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• • Labour and Precarity: How are young people navigating the challenges of unemployment, gig work, and economic precarity? What strategies and solidarities are emerging to cope with or resist these conditions?

• • Education and Aspirations: How are shifts in China's educational system and social mobility influencing the aspirations and expectations of youth? How do they reconcile these with their lived realities?

• • Activism and Resistance: Beyond the White Paper Movement, what are other forms of political, social, and cultural resistance among youth? How do these challenge state narratives and control?

• • Mental Health and Well-being: How is the growing discourse around mental health shaping youth identities and experiences? How do societal pressures contribute to stress, anxiety, or burnout?

• • Cultural and Digital Practices: What role do online platforms, gaming, and digital communities play in shaping youth culture? How are these spaces enabling self-expression, identity formation, or new forms of consumption?

• • Youth Cultures and Subcultures: How are specific youth subcultures, such as hip-hop, punk, cosplay, and idol fandoms, evolving in contemporary China? What do these trends reveal about identity, belonging, and resistance in the face of societal norms?

• • Generational and Gender Dynamics: How do intergenerational tensions and gendered expectations manifest in the lives of Chinese youth? How do young people negotiate traditional values and modern ideologies?

• • Post-pandemic Realities: How has the COVID-19 pandemic redefined the aspirations, anxieties, and trajectories of Chinese youth? What long-term impacts might it have on this generation?

Submission Details: Pitches of up to 300 words should be submitted by 30 January 2025. Full manuscripts, upon acceptance, will be due by 16 March 2025. Please send your abstracts and inquiries to editors[at]madeinchinajournal[dot]com .