REVIEW of World Planning Practice Diamond Edition 2025

CITIES & REGIONS IN ACTION
Planning Pathways to Resilience and Quality of Life

ISOCARP invites urban and regional planning professionals, researchers, and policymakers to contribute to the ISOCARP Review Diamond Edition 2025, our flagship publication, aligned with the theme of the 61st World Planning Congress (WPC61): Cities & Regions in Action – Planning Pathways to Resilience and Quality of Life.

About the ISOCARP Review

For 60 years, ISOCARP has been fueled by a simple yet powerful belief: Knowledge for Better Cities. It’s more than a motto—it’s the engine behind everything we do. And this year, as we mark the society’s diamond milestone, that mission anchors the Review, driving us to ask the hard questions and seek the bold answers cities and regions urgently need. In a time of mounting uncertainty and escalating global challenges, the ISOCARP Review stands as our flagship publication—peer-reviewed, globally recognized, and focused on practical, actionable planning insights. It connects planning professionals, researchers, and policymakers with ideas that make cities and regions stronger, smarter, and more resilient.

This year’s edition tackles the most pressing urban issues head-on, examining how communities worldwide confront crises, adapt to rapid change, and reimagine urban life. We explore the digital revolution reshaping economies, the climate crises testing our built environments, the cultural shifts redefining identity and belonging, and the new forms of governance necessary for co-creating our urban future. Underlying it all is a simple, urgent question: how do we plan for places where people—all people—can truly thrive?

Submission categories

We welcome:

  • Case studies demonstrating innovative planning practices
  • Research papers offering new insights and methodologies
  • Policy analyses addressing planning challenges and solutions
  • Visionary essays exploring future planning paradigms

Submission requirements (final manuscript)

Authors must submit three separate files:

  1. Text-only draft article (Microsoft Word, editable, no password protection) indicating placement of graphics (e.g., “[Insert Graphic 1 here]”).
  2. Illustrations with captions and credits in a separate Word document. Images should be high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi). Preferably include:
    • Maps, diagrams, charts, photos (original or with permission)
    • One high-quality eye-catcher image for the article start
  3. Short author biography (max 150 words per author) and author photo(s) as separate image files (JPEG/PNG). Do not embed photos in the Word document.

Word Count: 2,500 – 3,500 words (flexibility allowed for research papers).

Headings: Numbered (1, 2, 3… and 1.1, 1.2…) to assist layout, removed at publication.

Citation Style: APA (7th Edition). In-text citations and a full reference list are required. Example resources: https://apastyle.apa.org/

Narrative Style: Contributions should tell a story: context – key project/analysis – conclusions/recommendations. Avoid jargon. Include real-world examples, illustrations, and visual storytelling.

Copyright and Third-Party Content Declaration

Authors are required to submit a Statement of Originality (sample text will be provided) which confirms

  • Proper acknowledgment of contributors beyond named authors.
  • All third-party content (images, tables, figures, data, excerpts) is used with necessary rights, licenses, and permissions.
  • Compliance with applicable copyright laws. ISOCARP bears no responsibility for any copyright-related matters arising from the publication.

Timeline

  • Abstract Submission Deadline: May 27th
  • Notification of Acceptance: June 7th
  • Full Paper Submission: July 13th
  • Review & Editing Process
  • Planned Final Publication Release: at the WPC61 in December 2025

How to Submit

Interested contributors should submit an abstract (max 300 words) outlining their proposed paper. Submissions should be sent to isocarp-review@isocarp.org  and Director of Publications, Dr. Tijana Tufek Memisevic at tmemisevic@isocarp.org with the subject line: “Review 2025 Abstract – Author Name.”

Join a global conversation, amplify your impact in sustainable urban development, and gain professional recognition.

Each paper will receive a DOI number and will be published in ISOCARP’s digital repository.

For additional inquiries, contact: isocarp-review@isocarp.org

We look forward to your contributions!

Dr. Tijana Tufek Memisevic
ISOCARP Director for Awards and Publications & Editorial Team