Security Spectrum: Journal of Advanced Security Research
About the Journal
Security Spectrum: Journal of Advanced Security Research is a non-profit academic journal that publishes well-documented and analyzed studies on the full range of contemporary security issues, especially internal security and law enforcement related topics with European or global international focus.
Until the year 2023, the journal was known as Proceedings of Estonian Academy of Security Sciences.
The journal is a peer-reviewed academic journal, that since the year 2024 appears twice a year. So far the journal has been published once a year.
Security Spectrum does not charge a publication fee.
The language of the contributions is English. Before publication, each submitted paper is subject to a double-blind peer review by two independent experts. The Editorial Board accepts articles throughout the year; however the journal is published in June and December.
Security Spectrum is referenced by Central & Eastern European Academic Source (EBSCO). According to the classificators of the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS), Security Spectrum is classified as 1.2.
The 27th issue of the journal focuses on the topic of comprehensive defence. Subtitle of the next edition is Security as a social contract: The meaning of comprehensive defence in a changing security environment.
The 27th issue focuses on the evolving concept of population protection and comprehensive defence in the face of increasingly complex and unpredictable security challenges. In today’s geopolitical and socio-technical context, security is no longer the exclusive domain of the military or the state; instead, it is co-produced by a wide range of actors, including civil society, private sector partners, and individual citizens. The issue explores the idea of security as a social contract—a dynamic relationship of mutual responsibility and trust between the state and its people.
We invite contributions that critically examine how comprehensive defence strategies are conceptualized, implemented, and perceived across different societies. Key topics include the role of public trust in institutions, civic engagement in national and community preparedness, the legal and ethical dimensions of security policy, and the integration of civil and military efforts in resilience building. We are particularly interested in interdisciplinary approaches that connect political science, sociology, law, communication, and security studies. This issue aims to advance scholarly and practical understanding of how the meaning and mechanisms of national defence are being redefined, and what this implies for the future of democratic governance, social cohesion, and population security.
Submission deadline for articles: 30th of January 2026.
Articles not exceeding 25 pages (1800 characters per page) and abstracts (no more than 500 characters) should be sent to fo@sisek
Please note that each article will be subject to a double-blind peer review process and positive reviews will be a condition for the publication.
- The submitted manuscript is an original work in the field and does not duplicate any other previously published work.
- The manuscript has been submitted only to Security Spectrum and is not under consideration for peer-review or has not been accepted for any other publication at the same time and has not already been published.
- The manuscript contains nothing that is morally binding, discriminating or illegal.
By submitting your manuscript you are also agreeing to the necessary originality checks your work may have to undergo during the peer-review, editorial and publishing processes.
Security Spectrum provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
The journal has an open access, all its content is freely available without charge to users. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author as long as they cite the source.
Security Spectrum operates under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence CC-BY. This allows others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon the work, even commercially, as long as they credit the authors for the original creation. All authors publishing in Security Spectrum accept these as the terms of publication.
The authors keeps the rights to:
1. Make copies of the article (all or part) for teaching or scientific purposes.
2. Include the article (all or part) in a research thesis or dissertation.
3. Make oral presentation of the article (all or part) and to include a summary and/or highlights of it in papers distributed at such presentations or in conference proceedings.
4. Include electronic copies of the article (including final published Journal format) on:
- personal authors’ web-resources (web-sites, web-pages, blogs, etc.);
- web-resources of the Institutions (including their repositories) where authors worked when research for the article was carried out;
- noncommercial web-resources of open access (arXiv.org, and etc.).
In all cases, the availability of a bibliographic link to an article or hyperlink to its electronic copy on the official website of the journal is compulsory.
The journal adheres to Estonian Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity.
Copyright terms:
If authors wish to include any material in which they do not hold copyright, authors must obtain written permission from the copyright owner prior to manuscript submission.
Harvard referencing guidelines
Peer-review process
Security Spectrum operates on an academic quality policy of double-blind international peer-review. This means that the identity of Authors and reviewers are closed during the process.
Submitted manuscripts will be sent to the Editorial Board and then to two or more peer-reviewers, unless the manuscripts are considered to either be lacking in presentation or the written English is below an academic level.
Submitted manuscripts which are not deemed to be out of scope or below threshold for the journal will be reviewed by two academic experts. Statistical or other relevant topically specialized reviewers are also used where needed. Reviewers are asked to express their competing interests and have to agree to peer-review. Reviewers are asked whether the manuscript is academically competent and coherent, how relevant and important it is and whether the academic quality of the writing is acceptable, as well as suggestions for further revision and improvement of a submitted manuscript.
The final decision is made on the basis that the peer-reviewers are in accordance with one another, or that at least there is no bold dissenting positions. At least one peer-review should be positive in total for the final positive decision. In cases where there is strong disagreement either among peer-reviewers or between the Author and peer-reviewers, additional advice is sought from members of the Editorial Board. Additional editorial or external peer-review is also requested when needed. The journal normally allows two revisions of any submitted and peer-reviewed manuscript.
All appeals and claims should be directed to the Editors. The ultimate responsibility for editorial decisions and academic quality lies with the Editorial Board and the Editor-in-Chief.
Reasoned misunderstandings and claims are subject to additional assessment by the Editorial Board in accordance with academic traditions or relevant law.
Editorial Team
- Raul Savimaa, Editor-in-Chief
- Triin Rätsepp, executive editor
- Lauri Vanamölder, editor (publishing management)
Editorial Board
- Rūta Adamonienė, Mykolas Romeris University, Public Security Academy, Director of the Institute of general and social competences (Lithuania)
- Babak Akhgar, CENTRIC, Sheffield Hallam University, Centre of Excellence in Terrorism, Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research, Director (United Kingdom)
- Laure Brevignon-Dodin, French Ministry of Interior, Research and Innovation Office, Europe Unit, Head of Office (France)
- Mark Galeotti, Institute of International Relations Prague, Senior Non-Resident Fellow (United Kingdom)
- Holger Nitsch, Bavarian University of Public Services, Department for Policing, Research Institute CEPOLIS, Director (Germany)
- Detlef Schroeder, CEPOL, Former Executive Director; Senior Consultant (Germany)
- Arnold Sinisalu, University of Tartu, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Visiting Professor of Security Politics (Estonia)
- Mark Voyger, American University Kyiv, Master of Science Program in Global Management, Director; Associate Professor of Global Security (United States)
- Matti Vuorensyrjä, Police University College, Researcher (Finland)
Membership application for Editorial Board and Reviewer
Estonian Academy of Security Sciences is always looking for new members to the editorial board and reviewers. Applicants must have at least Masters degree (or an equivalent degree) and at least 5 years work experience in the security or security related fields. Also, previous experience in editing and/or reviewing academic papers is a benefit. Please send your application and CV (including references to your publications) to: fo@sisek