Review Essays

As a public service, these pages aggregate information regarding journals in political science and international relations (broadly defined) that public research articles, research notes, and review essays. These lists are filterable and searchable. These lists attempt to provide the information necessary to choose where to send an article, including broad areas of interest and selected passages from their Web sites that describe their mission.

To suggest additions or corrections, email musgrave [at] umass /dot/ edu.

List of journals that publish research articles.

List of journals that publish research and theory notes.

Review Essays

JournalSubject CodesEditorsMaximumMinimumReview essays instructions
African AffairsASZ, CPZ, IDZPeace Medie, University of Ghana, and othersNone listedNone listedWe will not accept non-commissioned reviews. If you have an idea for a review essay within African Affairs’ publishing remit, please send an abstract of no more than 300 words and a one-page bibliography of the most relevant works that would guide your review essay to africanaffairsreviews@ed.ac.uk. We will contact you if we decide to commission your proposed review. We especially encourage scholars based in African Institutions to get in touch if they have an interesting idea for a review essay. African Affairs’ Review Essays will be double blind peer reviewed as normal.
AlternativesCPZ, CRZ, ENZ, IDZ, IRZ, PEZ, SSZLacin Idil Oztig, Yildiz Technical University5,000 wordsNone listedAlternatives seeks to address the possibilities of new forms of political practice under conditions of spatiotemporal transformation. The editors especially invite submissions that address the changing relationships between local political practices and emerging forms of global economy, culture, and policy.
Armed Forces & SocietySSZPatricia Shields, Texas State University San MarcosNone listedNone listedNone listed
Australian Journal of Political ScienceASZ, CPZ, IRZ, PTZAnja Gauja, Sydney University, and others7,000 words1,500 words official journal of the Australian Political Studies Association. International in its outlook, readership and content, we publish articles of high quality at the cutting edge of the discipline
British Journal of Political ScienceAPZ, CPZ, ENZ, IRZ, PEZ, PMZ, PTZ, SSZCristina Bodea, Michigan State University, and others12,000 words5,000 wordsNone listed
Canadian Journal of Political ScienceASZ, CPZ, IRZ, PTZCameron Anderson, University of Western Ontario and Mélanie Bourque, University of Quebec Ottawa10,000 wordsNone listedThe Journal welcomes review articles of up to 10,000 words in length that review the state of research in a particular area of the discipline.
Comparative European PoliticsASZ, CPZColin Hay, Sciences Po, and othersNone listedNone listedThe journal is rigorously peer-reviewed. It neither reflects nor represents any particular school or approach, nor does it restrict itself to particular methodologies or theoretical perspectives. Rather, whilst promoting interdisciplinarity and a greater dialogue between the various sub-disciplines of European political analysis, Comparative European Politics publishes the best and most original work in the field. It publishes substantial articles marking either core empirical developments, theoretical innovation or, preferably, both. The journal particularly encourages pieces which seek to develop the link between substantive empirical investigations and theoretical elaboration and those which transcend the artificial separation of domestic, comparative and international analysis. The editors publish a limited number of debate pieces and review articles related to issues of contemporary theoretical and empirical controversy. Whether solicited or unsolicited these are exposed to the same exacting process of peer review.
Energy Research and Social ScienceENZ, IDZ, PPZBenjamin K. Sovacool, University of Sussex12,000 words8,000 wordsReview articles generally do not produce new research. Instead, they scour existing peer-reviewed or even popular literature, have many references, and try to tease out major themes for those unfamiliar with a particular technology, topic, or field.
Ethics & International AffairsIDZ, IRZ, PTZJoel H. Rosenthal, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International AffairsNone listedNone listedUnsolicited book reviews and proposals for book reviews are not accepted. The Editors welcome proposals for review essays, which consider two or three recent books together and aim to develop a standalone argument.
European Journal of Political TheoryPTZRobin Douglass, King's College London; Enzo Rossi, University of Amsterdam4,000 wordsNone listedAs well as pieces of original research, the European Journal of Political Theory also publishes reviews and commentaries of up to around 4,000 words. These pieces may be reviews of a single work, of a number of recent contributions to a debate, or indeed a survey of a debate or theme itself. The main aim of having such pieces is to offer readers an opportunity to understand the significance of developments in areas of the discipline of which they might otherwise be unaware. As such, the typical mode of engagement with material covered by reviews will be one which tries, through constructive criticism, to draw out its broader relevance.
European Political Science ReviewCPZ, IRZ, PTZMarina Costa Lobo, University of Lisbon; Matt Qvortrup, Coventry University 8,000 wordsNone listedState-of-the-field reviews should provide both a comprehensive summary and also address the future challenges which the field faces. They are expected to critically assess the extant research, put forward stimulating new research questions, and develop specific proposals for advancing any field of political science.
European Union PoliticsASZ, CPZ, IRZ, PTZGerald Schneider, University of Konstanz, Germany6,000 wordsNone listed.Forum article offer reviews of current scholarship or present novel research.
International AffairsCPZ, IRZ, PPZ, SSZAndrew Dorman, Chatham House5,000 words3,000 wordsThe journal also publishes several longer review essays in each volume. These are usually 3,000–5,000 words in length and discuss three or more books; or the impact of a seminal work on the field. The journal also publishes one review forum per year, where several reviewers engage with the same book. If you are interested in either of these formats, please contact Krisztina Csortea at (kcsortea@chathamhouse.org).
International Feminist Journal of PoliticsCRZShine Choi, Massey University, and others2,500 words2,000 wordsIFJP is now issuing a special call for review essays that cover at least three recent books. Review essays discuss several texts on the same theme and bring them into conversation with each other, aiming to explore a recent debate or emerging research field that has generated a range of new publications. While review essays should be written in English, we also welcome submissions that review feminist scholarship published in other languages, and discuss ongoing debates beyond English-speaking academia. With the aim of fostering a truly global feminist community of scholars, this will allow a broader range of feminist scholarship to be debated in IFJP, and allow IFJP readers to learn about and benefit from feminist scholarship representing diverse positionalities and perspectives.
International OrganizationCPZ, IRZ, PEZ, SSZBrett Ashley Leeds, Rice University; Layna Mosley, Princeton University14,000 wordsNone listed,Review essays survey new developments in a particular area of study. Review essays might be based on books but could also draw on scholarship that has been published in articles, including in areas not traditionally covered by IO but that are nonetheless important and relevant for an IO audience.
International RelationsIRZWilliam Bain, National University of Singapore, Singapore and Milja Kurki, Aberystwyth University, UK8,000 words6,000 wordsReview Essays, addressing 2-4 books. The purpose of a review essay is meant to be more than just rehearsing the contents of the books being reviewed. Rather, the books reviewed should be used as a foil to make a bigger statement about a particular issue or sub-field or research trends in a particular area. Therefore, the essay provides authors the opportunity to review the books and to make a statement of their own.
International Relations of the Asia-PacificASZ, CPZ, IDZ, IRZ, PEZ, SSZMotoshi Suzuki, Kyoto University4,000 words3,000 wordsInternational Relations of the Asia-Pacific (IRAP) is a major international journal publishing the best original research in the field. Papers are welcomed from all IR scholars, both within and without the Asia-Pacific region.
International Studies ReviewIRZAmanda Murdie, University of Georgia10,000 wordsNone listedReview Essays contribute to the mission of ISR by: (a) framing, synthesizing, and engaging dialogue and debate about an emerging or ongoing areas of inquiry; (b) enhancing readers’ understanding of the current state of research; (c) helping identify promising areas of future research; and (d) updating scholars and practitioners about contemporary research. Towards this end, review essays:

Must make an original contribution to the literature. Although an accurate summary of the books under review constitutes an important part of a review essay, the primary focus and contribution should be the reviewer’s collective evaluation and analysis of these works. There should therefore be a clear, original message beyond the books’ content – one that advances scholarly inquiry within the area of research under consideration.
Evaluate a number of academic/scholarly works – usually between 2 and 5 – that share a common theme and/or debate, and collectively represent an emerging or ongoing area of inquiry. These works should be published recently – ideally within the last three years, but no more than five years. This provides maximum value to the readership of ISR and best helps ISR achieve the mission objectives noted above.
Journal of Information Technology & PoliticsCPZ, IRZ, ITZ, PPZLauren Copelan, Baldwin Wallace University, and others5,000 wordsNone listedAn original theoretically guided essay linking three or more related recent books to an important ITP subject area.
Journal of Peace ResearchIRZ, SSZScott Gates, University of Oslo & PRIO, Norway 5,000 wordsNone listedReview essays are either ‘state-of-the-art’ articles that assess the state of knowledge within a field of research, or they deal with one or multiple books that have been very significant to peace and conflict studies. Review essays must involve key thematic areas within JPR. Review essays can be up to 5,000 words including all elements (title page, abstract, notes, reference list, tables, biographical statement, acknowledgements, etc.).
Journal of Strategic StudiesSSZJoseph A. Maiolo, King’s College, , and Thomas G. Mahnken, Johns Hopkins UniversityNone listedNone listedReview or historiographical essays, as well as state-of-the field papers, are generally reviewed by the journal editors only. All peer review is single blind and submission is online via ScholarOne Manuscripts. The journal publishes a list of its referees in the last issue of each volume.
Latin American Research ReviewASZ, IDZ, IRZCarmen Martinez Novo, University of Florida10,000 wordsNone listedDebates The new debates section of LARR is a space for theoretical and epistemological reflections on the field of Latin American studies. The section publishes essays in any social science or humanities discipline that redefine and advance the field of Latin American studies, contrast perspectives originating in Latin America with those arising from the global North or elsewhere, discuss the conditions of production of Latin Americanist knowledge, and beyond. Essays must be of interest to an interdisciplinary audience and accessible to a general academic readership. Debates essays must not exceed 10,000 words including notes and references, are reviewed by a member of the editorial team and, if deemed suitable, are sent for external peer review. Submissions are open and, occasionally, by invitation.
MillenniumCRZ, IDZ, IRZShruti Balaji, London School of Economics4,000 words3,000 wordsMillennium welcomes review articles which interrogate recent, exciting work done in International Relations theory and related fields, as well as particular areas of recent literature in need of development.
Nationalities PapersASZ, CPZ, IDZHarris Mylonas, George Washington UniversityNone listedNone listedNo guidance given
Perspectives on PoliticsAPZ, CPZ, IRZ, PTZMichael Bernhard, University of Florida4,000 wordsNone listedReview Essays address two or more books in order to consider how they illuminate a
larger conceptual, political, or normative concern. Such essays typically bring a range of
texts into dialogue with one another, identifying both thematic commonalities and
methodological differences. Review essays vary in length, averaging about 4,000 words.
Review essays are solicited by the Book Review Editor.
Policy and PoliticsCPZ, PPZDavid Mena Alemán, Universidad IberoamericanaNone listedNone listedWe are especially interested in considering review essays of three or more recent titles in the fields of political science and international relations.
Political GeographyCRZ, IDZ, IRZKevin Grove, Florida Interntaional University4,000 wordsNone listedThoughtful discussions of two or more recently published books on a particular topic. Max. 2,000 words (including references) if two books are being reviewed and 4,000 words (including references) if three or more books are being reviewed.
Political Research ExchangeAPZ, CPZ, CRZ, IDZ, IRZAlexandra Segerberg, Uppsala University; Simona Guerra, University of Surrey12,000 wordsNone listedState of the art reviews
Political Studies ReviewAPZ, CPZ, CRZ, ENZ, IRZ, PEZ, PMZ, PPZ, SSZJustin Fisher, Brunel University London5,000 wordsNone listedReview articles: The journal is also the setting for significant and encompassing state-of-the-art reviews on significant issues across the discipline. Articles that either review recent developments in a specific field of research or confront various bodies of research on a specific issue or concept is particularly welcome.
Political TheoryPTZJoshua F. Dienstag, University of California, Los Angeles, Elisabeth Ellis, University of Otago, NZ, Davide Panagia University of California, Los Angeles2,500 wordsNone listedCritical responses to essays published in Political Theory will be considered on an ad hoc basis. Submissions of critical responses must be made no later than three months after the publication of the original essay. They should be no longer than 2,500 words in length, including notes and references.
Public Opinion QuarterlyAPZ, PMZAllyson L. Holbrook, University of Illinois Chicago, and others6,500 wordsNone listedResearch Syntheses are review essays that provide a service to readers by guiding them through a large body of recent literature. Similar to essays appearing in the Annual Reviews series, these often are organized by a broad argument, theoretical perspective, or developmental timeline. While we accept unsolicited syntheses, authors considering submission are encouraged to contact the editors in chief to discuss suitability. The editorial team will also solicit research synthesis contributions on emerging topics. All syntheses are peer reviewed. The main text should not exceed 6,500 words (including footnotes/endnotes), and the title must begin with RESEARCH SYNTHESIS (all caps) to ensure the submission is properly assigned.
Review of African Political EconomyASZ, CPZ, CRZ, IDZ, PEZHannah Cross, Chair of EWG, and others2,000 wordsNone listedNone listed
Review of International OrganizationsIRZ, PEZAxel Dreher, University of MannheimNone listedNone listedNone listed
Review of International Political EconomyCPZ, CRZ, IDZ, IRZ, PEZJennifer Bair, University of Virginia and others8,000 words6,000 wordsReview essays of 6,000-8,000 words address three or more recently published books on a given theoretical debate or substantive topic, highlighting their contributions and drawing specific implications for IPE theoretical debates and research agendas. Prospective review essay authors should first send a 1-2 page proposal to the Editors (ripejournal@gmail.com) that identifies the books to be reviewed and articulates a clear argument about their significance. Please ensure your book choices reflect diversity within the field.
Security StudiesIRZ, SSZRonald R. Krebs, University of Minnesota13,000 wordsNone listedReview articles are critical, agenda-setting surveys of specific debates and research themes or analytical and methodological approaches of relevance to the field of security studies. Reviews may, but need not, be oriented around a set of recently published books. They may address cutting-edge scholarship, or they may make the case for reviving long-forgotten debates. Regardless, review articles should not merely describe and summarize lines of research, but should engage critically with one or more of the substantive or methodological arguments of the works covered. In doing so, review articles not only orient the reader to the field, but constitute an original scholarly contribution.

Authors of prospective review articles should submit a 1-2 pp. proposal to the Editor-in-Chief that specifies the works or research themes to be reviewed and outlines the argument(s) the author(s) intend to develop. The decision to invite the submission of a review article will be made jointly by the Editor-in-Chief and a designated Associate Editor. Submitted review articles will be subject to double-blind peer review in accordance with the journal’s general procedures.
West European PoliticsASZKlaus Goetz, University of Munich8,500 wordsNone listedA review article differ from the more conventional book review by reviewing several more recent books that relate to one another and engage in closely related theoretical, methodological and/or empirical debates. Scholars should contact WEP editors beforehand with their idea for a review article to check with WEP for its suitability.
World PoliticsCPZ, IRZ, PEZGrigore Pop-Eleches, Princeton University, and others12,500 wordsNone listedReview articles in World Politics differ from conventional book reviews. First, they usually
consider a number of books that address a similar topic, rather than a single work. Second, in addition to describing the contents of the works under review, a World Politics review article should advance our understanding of one or more of the major substantive or methodological themes suggested by those works. The good review article, that is, should be a contribution in its own right to the literature on the themes selected.