Publications & Research
Startup Societies Foundation advances its charitable research and education mission by publishing and sharing work on special jurisdictions, new cities, decentralized governance, and institutional design. This library brings together the Journal of Special Jurisdictions, research hosted by the Institute for Decentralized Governance, and selected books. Each link leads to the original journal issue, source publication, or book page.
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Latest Journal Issue
JOURNAL OF SPECIAL JURISDICTIONS | VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6 | 2025
Issue VI: Theory, Practice & Stability
Issue VI examines how special jurisdictions are defined, structured, and sustained within modern legal and governance systems. Its articles address the legal foundations of special jurisdictions, autonomy within sovereign frameworks, access to digital jurisdictions, and the institutional conditions that support long-term stability.
The issue brings together theoretical, legal, and applied work for policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and communities interested in practical governance innovation.
Published: December 31, 2025
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Announced research themes
The Journal announced the following research themes for 2026. They are listed separately from published issues; consult the original announcements and editorial team for current status.
Issue VII (2026): Special Jurisdictions as Geopolitical Solutions
Announced May 13, 2026, this planned issue examines special jurisdictions in fragile and contested settings. The published call listed September 15, 2026 as the full-paper deadline; that date has passed. Read the original announcement and contact the editorial team for current submission information.
Vietnam special issue (2026): Law, Governance, and Development
Announced April 20, 2026, this research theme concerns special jurisdictions in Vietnam, including their legal design, governance and development implications. The published call listed September 15, 2026 as the full-paper deadline; that date has passed. Read the original announcement and contact the editorial team for current submission information.
Journal Archive
The Journal of Special Jurisdictions is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal focused on Special Economic Zones and other special jurisdictions. Explore every published issue below.
Issue VI: Theory, Practice & Stability
2025 | Volume 1, Issue 6
Research on the theory, legal design, practical use, and long-term stability of special jurisdictions.
Issue V: Constitutional, Economic, and Networked Perspectives on Special Jurisdictions
2024 | Volume 1, Issue 5
Legal, network-state, and economic perspectives on special jurisdictions, including ZEDEs and Brazil’s Lithium Valley.
Issue IV: Market Institutions, Private Governance, and the Future of Special Jurisdictions
2023 | Volume 1, Issue 4
Published in collaboration with the American Institute for Economic Research, this issue examines market institutions, private governance, and emerging models of special jurisdiction.
Issue III: Experimental Zones and Institutional Adaptation in the United States and a Fragmented World
2022 | Volume 1, Issue 3
Research on experimental zones and institutional adaptation, with a focus on special jurisdictions in the United States.
Issue II: The ZEDEs of Honduras
2021 | Volume 1, Issue 2
A special issue on the history, legal innovation, autonomy, and controversy surrounding Honduras’s Zones for Employment and Economic Development.
Issue I: Foundations of Non-Territorial Governance
2020 | Volume 1, Issue 1
Research on non-territorial governance, including blockchain, distributed communities, and other forms of governance that operate beyond conventional territorial structures.
Visit the Full Journal Archive
Research Hosted by the Institute for Decentralized Governance
The Institute for Decentralized Governance maintains a library of working papers and policy papers on special jurisdictions, governance reform, and institutional design. The original documents may carry the Institute’s former name, the Institute for Competitive Governance, or the abbreviation ICG. Those legacy names are part of the source record.
Inclusion in this library identifies the original source and does not change the work’s authorship, publisher, or copyright status.
Better Practices Report
Mark Frazier and Joseph McKinney | ICG Working Paper 1 | April 2019
This working paper draws on published sources and field experience to identify practical approaches for developing startup societies. It reviews the existing landscape, considers likely future developments, and presents six approaches for improving the design and launch of new governance projects.
Read the Better Practices Report (PDF)
Prosperity Zone Economic Projection Report: Brazil
Joseph McKinney, Alexander Pardalis, Bradley Hook, and Pedro Dias | 2020
This report applies an economic-projection framework to a proposed prosperity-zone model in Brazil. It is presented as research and scenario analysis, not as a guarantee of future economic results.
View IDG Working Papers View IDG Policy Papers
Selected External Scholarship
The following independent scholarship is hosted in the Institute for Decentralized Governance’s research library. It is included as an external resource. Startup Societies Foundation does not claim authorship or ownership.
Special International Zones in Practice and Theory
Tom W. Bell | 2018 | External scholarship
An examination of special international zones as a recurring legal and institutional form, with attention to how these zones operate in practice and how they fit within broader theories of governance.
Emergence of a New Hanseatic League: How Special Economic Zones Will Reshape Global Governance
Mark Frazier | 2018 | External scholarship hosted by IDG
An examination of how networks of special economic zones and city-scale jurisdictions could influence global governance, trade, and institutional competition.
Digital Trade Zones: Answering Impediments to International Trade in Information
Sam Mulopulos | 2018 | External scholarship hosted by IDG
A policy analysis of special digital jurisdictions as a response to legal and regulatory barriers affecting cross-border trade in information.
The Law and Policy of Refugee Cities: Special Economic Zones for Migrants
Michael Castle-Miller | 2018 | External scholarship hosted by IDG
A legal and policy examination of whether special economic zones could expand lawful economic opportunity and institutional options for refugees and migrants.
Books
Founding Startup Societies: A Step-by-Step Guide
Mark Frazier and Joseph McKinney | 2019
A practical, 20-step guide to designing, launching, and growing startup societies. The book combines historical examples, institutional design, field experience, and practical tools for founders and communities exploring new governance models.
Citadel, Market and Altar: Scholar’s Edition
Spencer Heath | Edited by Francisco Litvay, Joyce Brand, and Christopher Boehr | 2021
This edition presents Spencer Heath’s framework for proprietary communities through three connected spheres: security, exchange, and culture. It is offered as a work of social and political thought for readers studying community governance and institutional design.
Support Independent Research and Publishing
Donations help Startup Societies Foundation produce and share research, maintain the Journal of Special Jurisdictions, and make practical governance resources available to the public.
Donations through the Journal-specific form support the Journal and related publication work, subject to our donation policy. Undesignated gifts support the Foundation’s broader charitable research, education, publishing, and operating needs.
