Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais (RCCS) was founded in 1978 by a group of Sociology lecturers from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra, under the direction of Boaventura de Sousa Santos. From the issue no. 4/5 (October 1980) onwards, lecturers from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities joined the Editorial Board, thereby initiating a space for dialogue between the Social Sciences and the Humanities which since then has become one of the hallmarks of the publication.

The journal was headed by Boaventura de Sousa Santos until December 2004, year in which  the task was transferred to António Sousa Ribeiro. In 2009, Claudino Ferreira became the journal’s editor, in 2015, it was handed over to José Manuel Mendes and, in 2024, to Tiago Pires Marques. To date, the RCCS Editorial Board has included the following lecturers and researchers:

Ana Cordeiro Santos (2019-2024)
Ana Cristina Santos (2012-2015)
Ana Drago (2024--)
Ana Paula Relvas (2015-2021)
Alexandre Oliveira Tavares (2015-2019)
António Carvalho (2021--)
António Casimiro Ferreira (1993-1995; 2002-2004)
António Gama Mendes (1978-1989)
António Sousa Ribeiro (1980-2008)
Augusto Rogério Leitão (1978)
Boaventura de Sousa Santos (1978-2000)
Bruno Sena Martins (2012-2019)
Carlos Fortuna (1978-1995; 1996-2002)
Carlos Lencastre (1978-1983)
Catarina Frade (2019-2024)
Chiara Carrozza (2016-2018)
Clara Keating (2009-2015)
Claudino Ferreira (1996-2015)
Elísio Estanque (2000-2008)
Elsa Lechner (2012-2015)
Fernando Fontes (2019-2024)
Fernando Ruivo (1978-1989; 1996-2000)
Giovanni Allegretti (2024--)
Graça Abranches (1983-1989)
Helena Machado (2015-2016)
Hermes Augusto Costa (2002-2012)
Inês Amaral (2024--)
Isabel Caldeira (2019-2024)
Jacques Houart (1978)
João Arriscado Nunes (1996-2004)
João Paulo Moreira (1990-1999)
João Peixoto (1990)
João Tolda (2000-2004)
José Castro Caldas (2009-2015)
José Manuel Mendes (1996-2008; 2015-2024)
José Manuel Pureza (2000-2004)
José Reis (1980-2000)
Júlia Garraio (2024--)
Lina Coelho (2015-2021)
Madalena Alarcão (2021--)
Madalena Duarte (2018-2024)
Mara Pieri (2024--)
Maria Adosinda Henriques (1990-1995)
Maria Ioannis Baganha (1996-2000)
Maria Irene Ramalho (1983-2002; 2015-2021)
Maria Manuel Leitão Marques (1983-1995)
Maria Raquel Freire (2019-2024)
Marianne Lacomblez (1978)
Miguel Cardina (2012-2019)
Nuno Domingos (2024--)
Patrícia Branco (2015-2019)
Patrícia Vieira (2021--)
Paula Abreu (2000-2008)
Paula Duarte Lopes (2009-2019)
Pedro Hespanha (1978-2001)
Raquel Ribeiro (2021--)
Reni Barsaglini (2024--)
Rita Serra (2012-2015)
Silvia Rodríguez Maeso (2009-2013)
Sílvia Portugal (2002-2012)
Sílvia Roque (2024--)
Teresa Tavares (2000-2015)
Teresa Toldy (2012-2019)
Tiago Pires Marques (2019--)
Tito Cardoso e Cunha (1980-1982)
Virgínia Ferreira (1981-1989; 1990-1993)
Walter Rossa (2015-2021)