Trading Zones and Epistemic Silos: SYNERIS as a Test Case for Interdisciplinary Knowledge Production 0 0
SYNERIS and the Quest for a Unified Social Science: Promise, Peril, and Potential
Abstract
This academic review provides a comprehensive examination of SYNERIS – Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Science, a newly established peer-reviewed open-access journal dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research across the full spectrum of the social sciences. The review situates SYNERIS within the broader intellectual history of interdisciplinary social science, drawing on foundational and contemporary scholarship to evaluate its mission, scope, methodological pluralism, and potential contribution to the field. It argues that SYNERIS addresses a critical gap in the scholarly landscape by providing a dedicated platform for research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries—a necessity given the complex, interconnected nature of contemporary social challenges. The review assesses the journal's commitment to methodological diversity, its focus on emerging and cross-cutting issues, its operational model, and its potential to foster genuine interdisciplinary dialogue. It also considers the epistemological, institutional, and practical challenges facing interdisciplinary social science and how SYNERIS might navigate these challenges to make a meaningful contribution to academic knowledge and societal understanding. Drawing on the work of Klein (1990), Repko (2008), Szostak (2015), and others, the review concludes that SYNERIS occupies a vital and timely niche, with the potential to become a leading forum for integrated social science research that bridges disciplines, methodologies, and perspectives.
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