“Observing Intimacies: System-Theoretical Analyses of Love Relationships Today”

Call for Papers – Special Issue: “Observing Intimacies: System-Theoretical Analyses of Love Relationships Today”

Journal: Kybernetes
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Submission deadline (Full Papers): 15 October 2026

Overview

This special issue—published by Emerald Publishing—advocates for a shift from normative, nostalgic perspectives on love to a descriptive, systems-theoretical analysis of contemporary intimate relationships. By revitalizing Niklas Luhmann’s analytical toolbox, it seeks to explore how intimate systems evolve, stabilize, and communicate within a modern society characterized by pluralized options, technological mediation, and diverse sociocultural contexts.

Key Research Themes

The issue invites submissions that explore the evolution of intimate relationships through two distinct observational lenses:

• Observing Intimate Systems (Internal): Investigating the mechanics of the intimate system using concepts such as code, medium, self-reference, semantics, and autopoiesis. Research questions include how communication stabilizes volatile relationship forms, how digital platforms "irritate" intimate semantics, and how expectations are maintained amidst precarity and mobility.

• Systems Observing Intimate Systems (External): Analyzing how external social systems—such as law, politics, education, media, and art—observe, regulate, and problematize intimacy. This includes the study of legal categories (e.g., marriage, consent), the role of "family values" in political conflicts, and the inclusion/exclusion effects experienced by queer intimacies.

Submission Details

• Phase 1 (Abstracts): Prospective authors must submit an abstract by 15 April 2026 via email to Chiara Piazzesi at piazzesi.chiara@uqam.ca.

• Phase 2 (Full Papers): Following abstract acceptance, full papers must be submitted via ScholarOne by 15 October 2026.

• Special Instructions: During the full submission process, ensure you select the special issue title from the "Please select the issue you are submitting to" drop-down menu.

Guest Editors

• Chiara Piazzesi, Université du Québec à Montréal (piazzesi.chiara@uqam.ca)

• Martin Blais, Université du Québec à Montréal (blais.martin@uqam.ca)

• Riccardo Prandini, University of Bologna (riccardo.prandini@unibo.it)

Why This Issue Matters

Scholarly debate regarding modern intimacy is frequently disconnected, with rich empirical data lacking robust theoretical grounding. This special issue—published by Emerald Publishing—aims to bridge this divide by promoting an analytical approach to intimate life that avoids polarization and disinformation. It provides a unique opportunity to apply systems theory to understand the complex, multi-layered transformations of love, interaction, and encounter in contemporary society.

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