Global Geopolitics invites contributions for a special issue commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025. This issue aims to critically reflect on the enduring legacy of the World Wars while exploring the contemporary geopolitical dynamics that evoke fears of a potential World War III. By examining the historical, theoretical, and practical dimensions of global conflict, this special issue seeks to provide insights into the challenges of maintaining peace in an era of escalating global tensions.

The history of world wars is not confined to the 20th century. While World War I and World War II were pivotal in shaping modern geopolitics, earlier conflicts such as the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and the Napoleonic Wars (1792-1815) also had profound global implications. Such conflicts exemplify how intertwined political, economic, and ideological factors can escalate into large-scale confrontations involving multiple powers across continents.

The conclusion of World War II in 1945 heralded a new international order aimed at fostering peace and cooperation. Yet, eight decades later, the specter of global conflict remains a pressing concern as the world faces intensifying rivalries among great powers, rapid technological advancements in warfare, and growing instability fueled by economic, political, and environmental crises. As the international community reflects on the lessons of WWII and other world wars, this milestone anniversary presents an opportune moment to assess how those lessons can guide efforts to prevent large-scale conflicts and promote stability in the 21st century.

We welcome original research articles, theoretical explorations, and case studies on topics including, but not limited to:
- The Legacy of World Wars: Lessons learned, unresolved tensions, and their impact on contemporary geopolitics.
- Geopolitical Conditions for Global Conflict: Parallels between world wars and today's international landscape.
- Theoretical Approaches to WWIII: Insights from realism, liberalism, constructivism, world-systems analysis, and other paradigms.
- World Wars and Global Leadership Transitions: Exploring how world wars have historically facilitated shifts in global hegemonies, including the emergence or decline of great powers and the reconfiguration of international leadership structures.
- The Role of Technology in Global Warfare: From nuclear weapons to artificial intelligence and cyberwarfare.
Economic Drivers of World Wars: The role of economic crises, class struggle, economic competition, and protectionism in fueling global conflicts.
- The Multipolar World and Global Instability: How shifting power dynamics heighten the risk of global war.
- Proxy Wars and Their Escalatory Potential: Analyzing historical and contemporary conflicts as precursors to larger confrontations.
- The Role of International Institutions: How effective are global governance mechanisms like the UN in preventing large-scale wars?
- Global Narratives and Cultural Memory: How societies remember and interpret the World Wars, and their impact on current geopolitics.
- Scenarios of WWIII: Strategic and geopolitical analyses of potential flashpoints and conflict trajectories.
- Peace Movements and Alternatives to Global War: Historical and contemporary efforts to resist the drift toward large-scale conflict.
- Cultural and Social Dynamics of War: The role of nationalism, ideology, and propaganda in global conflicts past and present.