Special issues in <i>Accounting History</i> from the guest editors’ perspective

A special issue of an academic journal is a collection of scholarly articles on a specific topic within the journal's scope. Special issues could take the form of an entire issue or a themed section of an issue. These issues provide a venue for research on emerging areas, highlight important subdisciplines, or describe new cross-disciplinary applications. While literature about the special issues of accounting journals tends to emphasise the research developments in the designated fields, this contribution uses reflexivity to develop a broader discourse about the role and the phases of development of a special issue, through the eyes of the scholars directly involved. It explores our ‘behind-the-scenes’ work as guest editors, our individual perspectives on the challenges and advantages of editing a special issue for us as guest editors, the authors, the journal's editors, and the research community represented by the journal of reference, in influencing public opinion and promoting critical thinking.