Call for Chapters: The Nexus of Digitalization and National Identity: Comparative Analyses in Nation Branding

Editors

Dauda ADEJUMO, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Vera Vale, University of Aveiro, Portugal

Call for Chapters

Proposals Submission Deadline: July 12, 2026
 Full Chapters Due: October 25, 2026
 Submission Date: October 25, 2026

Introduction

Digitalisation has emerged as a defining force of the twenty‑first century, fundamentally reshaping how states govern, interact with citizens, and position themselves within the global system. No longer confined to technological advancement alone, digital transformation now operates as a strategic instrument of statecraft, influencing institutional performance, economic competitiveness, and the projection of national identity. Governments across the world are increasingly leveraging digital public infrastructure, e‑governance systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity frameworks, and innovation ecosystems not only to enhance efficiency and service delivery but also to strengthen legitimacy and shape international perception. This edited volume explores the complex and evolving relationship between digitalisation, governance, and country profiling. Bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives from public policy, information science, economics, and country branding, the publication examines how digital strategies are designed and implemented across different political, economic, and cultural contexts. Particular attention is given to how variations in institutional capacity and governance models influence the outcomes of digital transformation, both domestically and globally. The volume also addresses critical contemporary challenges, including digital inclusion, digital sovereignty, misinformation, cybersecurity risks, and the acceleration of digital adoption in the post‑pandemic era. By combining theoretical insights with comparative, cross‑regional evidence, it aims to advance current debates and provide a more integrated understanding of how digitalisation shapes governance effectiveness and national image. We invite contributions that critically engage with these themes and offer innovative perspectives on the role of digital transformation in redefining the relationship between technology, the state, and global competitiveness. This publication aspires to serve as a key reference for scholars and policymakers seeking to understand and navigate the strategic dimensions of digital governance in an increasingly interconnected world.

Objective

This publication aims to examine digitalisation as a central driver of contemporary governance, national identity, and global country positioning, highlighting how technologies such as digital public infrastructure, e‑governance, AI, and cybersecurity function as strategic tools of statecraft. It seeks to link digital transformation with nation branding and institutional performance, showing how countries use digital strategies to strengthen governance effectiveness, legitimacy, and international reputation. Through an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, the volume explores how diverse national contexts shape digital policy design and outcomes, while addressing key challenges such as digital inclusion, sovereignty, misinformation, and post‑pandemic acceleration. Ultimately, it provides both analytical insights and policy‑relevant frameworks to better understand how digitalisation enhances competitiveness, supports development goals, and redefines the role of the state in a rapidly evolving global digital landscape.

Target Audience

The publication is designed for a broad yet specialised audience, including: Researchers and academics in digital governance, public policy, business and management, information science, innovation studies, and development studies Government policymakers and public institutions responsible for digital transformation, governance reform, and national strategy International development organisations working on digital public infrastructure, digital inclusion, and governance innovation Digital transformation practitioners and consultants designing or evaluating national digital strategies Graduate and postgraduate students studying governance, digital policy, or international competitiveness Strategic communication and country branding professionals are analysing how digital capability shapes national image Technology policy analysts and governance experts focused on cybersecurity, AI governance, and digital competitiveness This diverse audience reflects the book’s interdisciplinary nature and its relevance to both academic inquiry and real‑world policy practice.

Recommended Topics

Foundations of Digitalisation — concepts, evolution, and theoretical frameworks National Identity in the Digital Era — how digital systems shape identity and perception Digital Governance Models — e‑governance, interoperability, and administrative transformation Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — identity systems, payments, data exchanges AI and Data‑Driven Public Administration — automation, analytics, ethics Cybersecurity and National Resilience — threats, governance, and digital security Digital Inclusion and Equity — access, literacy, socio‑economic divides Digital Branding and Country Image — digital capability as a driver of reputation Digital Diplomacy and Soft Power — online influence and global communication Comparative Digital Transformation — cross‑regional and country case studies Innovation Ecosystems and Competitiveness — tech hubs, entrepreneurship, R&D Regulation, Digital Sovereignty, and Governance Ethics — data governance, AI regulation, platform control Misinformation and Information Integrity — disinformation, trust, media ecosystems Post‑Pandemic Digital Acceleration — resilience, remote work, digital health Future Trends in Digital Statecraft — foresight, long‑term strategy, emerging technologies

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before July 12, 2026, a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors will be notified by July 26, 2026 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines.Full chapters of a minimum of 10,000 words (word count includes references and related readings) are expected to be submitted by October 25, 2026, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at https://www.igi-global.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-anonymized review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication, The Nexus of Digitalization and National Identity: Comparative Analyses in Nation Branding. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-anonymized peer review editorial process.

All proposals should be submitted through the eEditorial Discovery® online submission manager.

Publisher

This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global Scientific Publishing, an international academic publisher of the "Information Science Reference", "Medical Information Science Reference", "Business Science Reference", and "Engineering Science Reference" imprints. IGI Global Scientific Publishing specializes in publishing reference books, scholarly journals, and electronic databases featuring academic research on a variety of innovative topic areas including, but not limited to, education, social science, medicine and healthcare, business and management, information science and technology, engineering, public administration, library and information science, media and communication studies, and environmental science. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2027.

Indexing Information for Prospective Authors

IGI Global Scientific Publishing meets the criteria for inclusion in major indexing services such as Scopus; however, it is important to note that all indexing decisions are made independently by these services. IGI Global Scientific Publishing books are selectively indexed by the indexing organization after publication. Indexing cannot be guaranteed for any book prior to publication, and the indexing organization has complete control over the final selection and timeline.

Important Dates

July 12, 2026: Proposal Submission Deadline
July 26, 2026: Notification of Acceptance
October 25, 2026: Full Chapter Submission
December 27, 2026: Review Results Returned
February 7, 2027: Final Acceptance Notification
February 21, 2027: Final Chapter Submission

Inquiries

Dauda ADEJUMO
University of Aveiro
daudaadejumo2@ua.pt

Vera Vale
University of Aveiro
v.c.vale@ua.pt
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