Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science: Announcements

Call for Deputy Editor-in-Chief

2025-03-31T11:30:04-04:00

Are you passionate about democratizing knowledge and amplifying diverse voices in political science? Join us in our mission to make quality research more accessible and promote diverse perspectives in the field!

As an independent open access journal, Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science aims to bridge the gap between emerging scholars and the wider academic community.

We are currently seeking a new Deputy Editor-in-Chief to support our editorial team and contribute to this important endeavor.

Position Details:

One-year term
Unpaid volunteer work
Must maintain IAPSS membership throughout the editorial collaboration

Deputy Editor Responsibilities:

Support the Editor-in-Chief in implementing editorial strategy aligned with IAPSS goals and Politikon's mission
Assist in managing the editorial process: reviewing submissions, coordinating peer-review, and maintaining publication schedule
Help ensure content quality, accuracy, style, and tone
Build relationships with authors and reviewers, providing guidance and feedback
Contribute to promotion strategies, including social media, email marketing, and partnerships
Co-organize Politikon's methodological seminar series
Collaborate on special issues and potentially lead a special issue in 2026 on a topic of your choice

Ideal Candidates:

PhD student or early career scholar in Political Science or related field
Strong writing and editing skills with some publication experience
Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects
Commitment to IAPSS goals: promoting Political Science education and international dialogue

Benifits:

Develop advanced editorial skills and scholarly publishing expertise
Access to exclusive IAPSS resources, networks, and academic events
Build digital literacy through journal management systems and academic publishing platforms
Enhance academic CV with recognized editorial experience
Establish connections with emerging and established scholars in the field
Gain insights into academic publishing processes and standards
Opportunity for leadership advancement - the current Editor-in-Chief's term ends in May 2026, and the Deputy Editor will have the opportunity to take over the journal
Contribute to shaping Political Science research

Application Process:

Complete the online form
Submit cover letter, CV, and one writing sample
If upload issues occur, email documents to politikonjournal@iapss.org

Applications accepted until the position is filled. All applicants will receive a status update within 2 weeks of application submission.

Important Dates:

Deadline for submission: 5 June 2025
Notification of short-listed candidates: 15 June 2025
Interviews with Editorial Team to follow notification

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION VIA THIS GOOGLE FORM.

Tips for your Deputy Editor cover letter

Here are some key points to include in your cover letter for the Deputy Editor position at Politikon:

Your academic background in Political Science or related fields, highlighting your specific research areas and methodological expertise
Previous editorial experience, even if informal (departmental journals, blog management, peer review experience)
Publication history, mentioning any articles, book chapters, or conference proceedings you've authored
Your vision for how you could contribute to Politikon's mission of democratizing knowledge and amplifying diverse voices
Specific skills relevant to the role (organizational abilities, communication skills, language proficiencies, or digital literacy, including familiarity with journal management systems, social media platforms, or other relevant tools)
Why you're interested in this particular journal and the IAPSS organization specifically
Availability and commitment to the time requirements of the position over the one-year term
Ideas for a potential special issue you might want to develop during your tenure

Keep your letter concise (1-2 pages) while clearly communicating your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.

New Call for Contributions! Migration and Mobility in Latin American and the Caribbean: A Lexicon

2025-02-07T11:32:37-05:00

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Submission Deadline: 28 February 2025

Guest editors:

Mauricio Palma-Gutiérrez (University of Warwick / Universidad del Rosario)
Lucie Laplace (Université Lyon 2 / Triangle Research Center / French Collaborative Institute on Migration)
Cécile Blouin (Durham University / Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú)

Continuing with the aim of decolonising migration studies, we are calling colleagues working on migration and mobility in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) from multiple / interdisciplinary perspectives to contribute to a new, original collective work, which we have envisioned as a “Lexicon.” We aim at compiling and editing a critical glossary of terms, concepts, and notions based on the work, reflections, and findings of a plurality of migration and mobility researchers and activists, whose critical work, located in LAC, can contribute to wider, global discussions on the subject.

This Lexicon will be structured as an alphabetic glossary with textual, graphic, multimedia or mixed entries, based on the contributors’ original research. Each researcher (or group of researchers) is invited to suggest a term (ideally one word, and if necessary, a sematic expression). Each term, discussed in a short textual, graphic, or multimedia entry, will be used to suggest, provoke, and unsettle longstanding ideas on migration and mobility. As examples, we want to put together often discussed terms in the context of LAC such as caravan, trocha, care, territoriality, or struggle (among many others) which can add to the global conversation on migration and mobility.

The guidelines for the proposal are:

Each researcher or group of researchers can suggest one term / notion/ concept (ideally one word, or short expression if absolutely necessary)
They should include the type of contribution they are interested in, along the following guidelines:

Original textual contribution (around 1000 words)
Graphic contribution (Original, full resolution pieces with an accompanying text of up to 500 words – For a series of pieces please get in touch with the editors)
A multimedia piece (Original, audio or video files of up to 5 minutes with an accompanying text of up to 500 words)

All texts should be submitted in English. Graphic and multimedia contributions can include contents in any other language. However, the accompanying texts should be written in English.

The purpose of the editors is to compile the first version of the lexicon in English, as a working language. However, the editors have made progress in securing the publication of a translated version of the lexicon in Spanish. We are open to exploring other possibilities of translations into Portuguese, Haitian Creole, French or other languages with the authors.

The call for contributions will close on 28 February 2025. You are invited to submit your proposal to Mauricio.Palma-Gutierrez.1@warwick.ac.uk. If you would like to informally discuss your ideas beforehand with the editors, please let us know.

Methodological Seminars - 2025

2025-01-20T18:17:17-05:00

We are excited to announce a series of methodological seminars for 2025!

The seminar series features engaging sessions spread across the academic year, each exploring a different research method with guidance from expert speakers.

Participants will receive reading materials beforehand and can look forward to interactive discussions and informative presentations on various aspects of each method, from its practical application to its challenges and inspirations.

How to Participate

RSVP: Please confirm your attendance via Google Form (https://forms.gle/wDNAdKQYwq2dNJTu8)

Platform: Seminars will be held on Zoom

Information: Detailed information and links will be sent one week before each event

We look forward to your participation in our engaging and informative seminars!

UPCOMING SEMINARS

Seminar 3: The Practical Governance Method: Responding to the “Lived Experience Movement” in Housing Policy and Practice

Date: February 20, 2025
Time: 16:00-18:00 (London)
Speaker: Dr. Renée McBeth (University of Alberta, Canada)

Policymakers and practitioners understand they should include people with lived experience in policy, planning, and service delivery, but often fail to do so in practice. This workshop introduces the practical governance method developed as part of local efforts to build equitable housing governance in Victoria, BC, Canada. The three-part method was used to build shared purpose among the group, to facilitate discussions that draw meaning from lived experience, and to practice making decisions together. Practical, political, and epistemic challenges underscore the contribution of the method as a participatory planning and governance strategy.

Dr. McBeth brings 15+ years of experience in university-community research partnerships, specializing in housing policy, co-creation methods, and practical governance for support services.

Seminar 4: Integrating Feminist Perspectives in Research: A Methodological Dialogue

Date: March 5, 2025
Time: 13:00-14:30 (London)

Speakers:

- Paula Otero-Hermida, Spanish National Research Council
- Violeta Colman, World Bank
- Ann-Kathrin Rothermel, University of Bern
- Valentina Nerino, University of Bern

This seminar will feature an interactive dialogue exploring how we integrate feminist perspectives and methodologies into our research. Through facilitated discussion, participants will explore the foundational elements of feminist research - examining how gender dynamics, women's rights advocacy, and feminist political frameworks shape their methodological choices.

The discussion will address critical questions at the intersection of feminist theory and research practice:

- How does a feminist lens influence methodological choices?

- What unique considerations arise when centering gender in research?

- How do scholars balance academic rigor with feminist advocacy?

As this seminar takes place just a few days before International Women's Day (March 8), we hope this discussion will contribute to the ongoing global conversation about gender equity and the importance of feminist perspectives in all fields of research.

Seminar 5: Women/Gender and Politics Research versus Feminist Research

Date: March 26, 2025
Time: 18:00-19:30 (London)
Speaker: Dr. Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat

This seminar session addresses how women and gender issues are incorporated into the discipline of political science and a subfield of women/gender and politics emerged within the discipline. In addition to noting the role of women’s movement and feminist scholarship in pushing the boundaries of “politics” and challenging the established methodological frameworks, the seminar attends to the difference between “women and politics research” and “feminist research.” It also touches upon the complexities posed by the intersectionality approach.

About the speaker: Dr. Arat specializes in human rights (particularly women's rights), democratization, globalization, and development, combining theoretical and empirical research. Her publications include numerous articles and books such as "Democracy and Human Rights in Developing Countries" (1991) and "The Uses and Misuses of Human Rights" (2014). Her current research focuses on human rights in Turkey, women's rights and neoliberalism, and the politics of human rights. At UConn, she contributes to the Human Rights and Women's, Gender and Sexualities Studies programs. She has held leadership positions in professional organizations, serves on editorial boards of several journals, and edits the "Power and Human Rights" book series. Her achievements include the APSA Award of Distinguished Scholar in Human Rights (2010) and SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence (2006). She is also active in human rights advocacy as a founding member of Turkey's Women's Platform for Equality.

Seminar 6: Mastering the Art of Interviews: Techniques for Effective Research

Date: April 10, 2025
Time: 15:00-16:30 (London), 11:00-12:30 (Brasilia)
Speaker: Dr. Debora Thome

Interviews are a powerful method for gathering in-depth insights, but conducting them effectively is something that requires skill and knowledge. This seminar will explore best practices for designing, conducting, and analyzing interviews as a research method. Participants will learn how to craft strong questions, and strategies for better wording, build rapport, and extract meaningful data. This session will provide practical techniques to enhance your research through thoughtful interviews.

About the speaker: With 15 years of experience in journalism and a PhD in Political Science, Debora Thome has conducted hundreds of interviews, some of which have been turned into academic articles and books. She has extensive experience with elite interviews and field research. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at FGV Cepesp (Brazil).

Seminar 7: An Introduction to Complex Systems for Social Scientists

Date: April 24, 2025
Time: 18:00-19:30
Speaker: Dr. Alasdair Stanton

What is a complex system — and why should social scientists care? This seminar offers a practical introduction to complexity, suitable for researchers across the social sciences. Using examples from the speakers' recent PhD research with key theoretical concepts of complexity, the session provides a guide to recognising, analysing, and working with complex systems in the social sciences.

We will explore core questions:
– What defines a complex system?
– How to recognise a complex system?
– What techniques are available to study complexity?
– Why do common interpretive and statistical methods often fail with complex datasets?

About the speaker: Dr. Alasdair Stanton researches complex systems in political science, particularly Chinese domestic bureaucracy and the Party-State system. He graduated from University of Glasgow (MA, PhD) and University of Edinburgh (MSc), and worked in East Asia for a decade before returning to academia. He currently teaches at University of Wolverhampton.

Call for Artists: Cover Art for Political Science Journal Special Issue

2024-12-12T05:06:57-05:00

Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science seeks an artist to create cover artwork for their upcoming special issue on anti-gender and anti-feminist discourses in international politics. This two-part issue features research from emerging scholars worldwide, examining digital activism, social media strategies, and transnational movements through case studies across multiple continents. More details via this Google Doc: https://shorturl.at/q8vHY.

The volunteer opportunity includes:

Full artist credit on the journal cover
Published artist statement
Digital copy of the special issue
Recognition letter for portfolio

Technical requirements: A4 size (210 × 297 mm), minimum 150 DPI, JPEG format. Artwork should accommodate journal title and logo placement.

Submission deadline: January 20, 2025 Submit to: politikonjournal@iapss.org Include: Artwork file, artist statement (350-500 words), brief bio, and contact information

Methodological Seminars

2024-09-30T17:59:47-04:00

We are excited to announce a series of methodological seminars for the upcoming academic year.

The seminar series features engaging sessions spread across the academic year, each exploring a different research method with guidance from expert speakers.

How to Participate

RSVP: Please confirm your attendance via Google Form (https://forms.gle/wDNAdKQYwq2dNJTu8)

Platform: Seminars will be held on Zoom

Information: Detailed information and links will be sent one week before each event

We look forward to your participation in these engaging and informative seminars!

Upcoming Seminars

Seminar 1: Mixing Methods: Discourse Analysis, Case Studies, and Interviews

Date: October 25, 2024
Time: 16:00-18:00 (London)
Speaker: Anya Kuteleva

Why limit yourself to a single research method? This seminar focuses on integrating qualitative research methods in the context of political science. We will explore how to effectively combine discourse analysis, which examines political language and narratives; case studies, which provide in-depth investigations of specific political events or phenomena; and interviews, which offer valuable insights from actors and stakeholders. The seminar will discuss the strengths and challenges of each method and provide guidance on how to synergistically blend them for comprehensive political research.

About the speaker: Anya Kuteleva is a senior lecturer in International Relations at the University of Wolverhampton and the Editor in Chief of Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science. Her interdisciplinary work connects international relations, development studies, energy security, and feminist-informed approaches to politics. She is the author of "China's Energy Security and Relations with Petrostates: Oil as an Idea" (Routledge 2021) and has published in leading journals.

Seminar 2: Focus Groups: Motivations, Data Collection, and Analysis

Date: November 21, 2024
Time: 16:00-18:00 (London)
Speaker: Anne-Marie Houde

Focus groups, positioned at the intersection of ethnography and interviews, have become an essential tool for social scientists conducting impactful research on political issues. Yet, this method presents some challenges that render it less common despite its important potential for data collection. This talk will shed light on this sometimes underappreciated technique and discuss why to do focus groups and for what type of research, what can be gained through their use, what are some of its shortcomings and disadvantages, and how to organise and conduct them.

About the speaker: Anne-Marie Houde is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oxford. Her research sits at the intersection of emotion research in international relations, European studies, and political psychology. Her work has been published in various outlets, such as the Review of International Studies, International Political Sociology, the Journal of European Public Policy, the Journal of Common Market Studies, and Political Psychology.

Call for Editors

2024-01-10T07:46:22-05:00

As an independent journal, IAPSS Politikon aims to bridge the gap between emerging scholars and the wider academic community.

We are currently seeking new Editors to help guide our publication and contribute to this important endeavor.

Position Details:

One-year term
Unpaid volunteer work
Must maintain IAPSS membership throughout the editorial collaboration

Editor Responsibilities:

Develop and implement editorial strategy aligned with IAPSS goals and Politikon's mission
Manage editorial process: commissioning articles, editing, overseeing peer-review, maintaining publication schedule
Ensure content quality, accuracy, style, and tone
Build relationships with authors and reviewers, providing guidance and feedback
Contribute to promotion strategies, including social media, email marketing, and partnerships

Ideal Candidates:

PhD or MA student, or early career scholar in Political Science or related field
Strong writing and editing skills with publication record
Social media expertise for content promotion
Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects
Commitment to IAPSS goals: promoting Political Science education and international dialogue

Application Process:

Complete the online form
Submit cover letter, CV, and one writing sample
If upload issues occur, email documents to politikonjournal@iapss.org

Applications accepted until positions are filled. All applicants will receive a status update within 2 weeks of application submission.

Step-by-Step Guide for Writing a Book Review or a Review Article

2023-09-09T06:31:12-04:00

Share your thoughts, insights, and critiques by submitting book reviews. Your perspective matters, and it's a chance to contribute to the world of knowledge. Plus, it's a great way to sharpen your analytical skills and build your academic portfolio. Start reviewing today!

Step-by-Step Guide for Writing a Book Review or a Review Article

IAPSS Politikon accepts reviews of books in the broad field of political science and review articles that combine a number of recent works under a common theme.

If you're interested in making a submission, reach out to our Book Review section editor at politikon.bookeditor@iapss.org. Introduce yourself and provide reasons why you believe it would be of interest for IAPSS Politikon’s readership.

Writing a compelling book review involves careful analysis and thoughtful consideration of the book's content, style, and impact. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you craft an effective book review:

Read the Book Thoroughly

Start by reading the book from cover to cover. Take notes as you read to highlight key points, significant themes, and memorable quotes. Understand the author's main arguments and writing style.

Introduction

Begin your review with an engaging introduction. Mention the book's title, author, and provide a brief overview of its argument, field of study, and scholarly approach. Attract your reader’s attention by briefly telling what is significant about the book.

Summarise the Book’s Argument

Offer a succinct exegesis of the book's main argument, themes, and arguments. Focus on presenting the book's content in a limited and focused way, while pointing your readers to possible larger implications of the book’s contribution.

Evaluate the Author's Approach

Examine the author's method and approach to articulating their ideas. Does the author use appropriate sources and evidence? Discuss what might be novel in the way they are using established scholarly approaches.

Assess the Contribution to the Field

Discuss how the book contributes to its field of study or scholarly tradition. Does it offer new insights or perspectives and for what type of readership? Does it build upon existing literature, or does it challenge established ideas?

Critique and Discussion

In this key part, offer a critical analysis of the author's research depth, writing style, and ability to engage the reader. . Discuss points where you agree or disagree and provide reasons for your stance. Consider discussing any counterarguments or alternative viewpoints that the author did not cover.

Conclusion

Conclude with a statement about the book's overall impact and who might benefit from reading it.

Proofread and Edit

Before finalizing your review, proofread it for grammar, spelling, and clarity. Ensure your writing flows smoothly and that your points are well-organized.

Meet Length Requirements

Keep your review within the recommended word count, typically between 500 and 1000 words. A concise review that conveys your insights effectively is more likely to engage readers.

If you notice that multiple works have been recently published on a topic of your interest, you might consider submitting a review article. A review article provides a survey of recent literature and assesses its significance. While we recommend centering your review on books, review articles also offer an opportunity to examine entries from anthologies and edited volumes. Contact our Book Review section editor at politikon.bookeditor@iapss.org to discuss the sources you will be reviewing in advance.

Review articles should adhere to the guidelines set for book reviews, with the following additional requirements:

Establish a Common Theme or Problem

Structure your review of scholarly sources around a shared theme or problem. Justify your selection by illustrating how the works under review align with this perspective. Within this framework, integrate your summaries of the authors' arguments.

Comparative Analysis

Writing a review paper allows comparing recent contributions to a field. You can center your review on a recent major work by contextualizing it with contributions from anthologies and edited volumes. Alternatively, you can compare different recent major works by putting them in dialogue. You can opt for a combination of these two approaches.

Assess the State of Current Scholarship

While a review article inherently provides a limited overview or snapshot of the existing literature, it's crucial to show how the contributions under review align with or deviate from both traditional and emerging scholarly trends. What avenues for further research do they propose or hint at? Are there noticeable gaps or critical areas that remain unaddressed? Such insights can provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the landscape and possible future directions.

Writing a book review or review article requires a combination of analysis, critical thinking, and clear communication. By following these steps, you'll create a piece that informs readers and offers valuable insights into the works' content and merits.

Note that once your submission is pre-approved, we will liaise with the publisher(s) to have a complimentary copy sent to you for review.

CALL FOR PAPERS: Workshop and special issue on the rise of anti-gender and anti-feminist discourse in international politics

2023-08-31T04:53:34-04:00

CALL FOR PAPERS
WORKSHOP & SPECIAL ISSUE

The Rise of Anti-gender and Anti-feminism Discourses in International Politics and Feminist Responses

Scope:

In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in anti-gender and anti-feminist discourses in international politics. Politicians, policymakers, and diverse societal actors in various countries challenge or reject feminist ideas and gender-related concepts, as well as support policy changes that erode the structures and institutions that have been instrumental in upholding women's rights, promoting gender equality, and protecting the rights of LGBTQ people. The special issue seeks to explore the multifaceted nature of these discourses, examining their origins, implications, and potential impacts on domestic, regional, and international levels. Additionally, it aims to identify strategies and opportunities for feminist resistance and advocacy in the face of the backlash.

Background:

With the multiplying global divisions around feminism and gender equality in recent years, pro- and anti-gender equality discourses play an increasingly meaningful role in national and international “politics of belonging” (Yuval-Davis 2006). A growing number of states incorporate pro-gender equality principles not only into their domestic agendas but also into their foreign policies. Many international organizations—from the United Nations to the World Bank—institutionalize and mainstream gender equality discourses, weaving them into the fabric of international development strategies. At the same time, nationally and internationally a diverse array of political actors contests these normative changes.

Authoritarian states, such as Russia, act as “normative antipreneurs,” actively resisting the assimilation of pro-gender equality norms and feminist concepts, not only within their borders but also on the international stage (Edenborg 2023, Voss 2019). In many democracies, norms tied to anti-feminism and patriarchy – homophobia, transphobia, and anti-abortion stances – are experiencing a resurgence, closely intertwined with the rise of far-right ideologies (Kuhar & Paternotte 2017). Various transnational movements actively challenge same-sex marriage, sex education, and other phenomena they perceive as dangerous manifestations of “gender ideologies” (Harsin 2018, Rothermel 2020). Populist politicians further exploit these sentiments during election campaigns, capitalizing on criticism of feminist and gender equality movements (Avelar et al. 2022, Junn 2017, Vučković Juroš et al. 2020). Moreover, by allowing the convergence of agendas between conservative actors in the religious and political fields, the anti-gender discourses function as a “symbolic glue,” giving ideological binding to reactionary initiatives and facilitating systems of alliances (Kováts & Põim, 2015). For instance, right-wing political parties like Poland's Law and Justice Party and Hungary's Fidesz-KDNP coalition are actively changing legal frameworks and social policies, effectively dismantling the structures and institutions that have been instrumental in upholding women's rights (Dietze & Roth 2020).

This special issue aims to explore the sources and implications of the rise of anti-feminist and anti-gender discourses in international politics, as well as to delve into national and transnational strategies for feminist resistance and advocacy. We want to tackle three interrelated questions. Firstly, how do the anti-gender and anti-feminist discourses emerge and evolve? Secondly, how do these discourses travel across different socio-political landscapes and influence international cooperation on issues related to gender equality? Finally, how do pro-feminist and pro-gender activists navigate the complexities of countering far-right ideologies while simultaneously advocating for gender equality and social progress? Through critical reflection and interdisciplinary dialogue, this special issue will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between gender politics, international dynamics, and the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

Avelar, L., Cabrera, P. M., Goulart, M., & Melo, J. (2022) ‘Womanhood in dispute: The impact of feminist and counter-feminist movements on the actions of congresswomen in Brazil’, in Lima, V., Pannain, R. N., & Martins, G. P. (eds.) The Consequences of Brazilian Social Movements in Historical Perspective (London, Routledge).
Edenborg, E. (2023). Anti-gender politics as discourse coalitions: Russia’s domestic and international promotion of “traditional values”. Problems of Post-communism, 70(2), 175-184.
Harsin, J. (2018). Post-truth populism: The French anti-gender theory movement and cross-cultural similarities. Communication Culture & Critique, 11(1), 35-52.
Kováts, Eszter & Põim, Maari (2015). Gender as symbolic glue. The position and role of conservative and far right parties in the anti-gender mobilizations in Europe; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FEPS.
Kuhar, R., & Paternotte, D. (Eds.). (2017). Anti-gender campaigns in Europe: Mobilizing against equality. Rowman & Littlefield.
Junn, J. (2017). The Trump majority: White womanhood and the making of female voters in the US. Politics, Groups, and Identities, 5(2), 343-352.
Rothermel, A. K. (2020). Global–local dynamics in anti-feminist discourses: An analysis of Indian, Russian and US online communities. International affairs, 96(5), 1367-1385.
Voss, M. J. (2019) ‘Contesting “Family” at the United Nations Human Rights Council’, Religion and Human Rights, 14.
Vučković Juroš, T., Dobrotić, I. & Flego, S. (2020) ‘The Rise of the Anti-Gender Movement in Croatia and the 2013 Marriage Referendum’, Europe-Asia Studies, 72, 9.
Yuval-Davis, N. (2006). Belonging and the politics of belonging. Patterns of prejudice, 40(3), 197-214.

We welcome:

We encourage scholars from diverse academic disciplines and methodological approaches to contribute their research to this special issue. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Comparative analyses of anti-gender discourses in different countries;
Examination of transnational anti-gender strategies
Analysis of anti-gender activism in international governance arenas (such as WCF, Ordo Iuris, Citizengo and others)
The intersections of anti-gender discourses with other socio-political movements;
The role of far right political parties in disseminating anti-gender strategies;
Case studies of political campaigns or policy initiatives centred around anti-gender sentiments;
The role of churches and religion in international anti-gender politics
Transnational strategies for countering anti-feminist narratives and promoting gender equality;
Analysis of international organizations’ responses to anti-gender discourses;
Historical perspectives on the evolution of anti-feminist ideologies.

Submission Guidelines:

Interested scholars are invited to submit a 300-500-word proposal outlining their proposed research topic, methodology, and its relevance to the special issue theme.

Please include a brief author bio highlighting your expertise in the field.

Proposals should be submitted to politikonjournal@iapss.org by 15 November 2023.

Workshop:

IAPSS Politikon, with the support of IAPSS and IPSA research commitee on Gender Politics and Policy (IPSA RC19), will organize an online workshop, where the contributors present their work-in-progress papers. The workshop will give contributors an opportunity to receive feedback and comments from other contributors and discussants to revise their work before submitting it for review in IAPSS Politikon.

IAPSS Politikon follows rigorous peer review policies to ensure the quality, validity, and integrity of the research it publishes and promotes the openness and accessibility of research methods, data, and findings. For more information about the review process and submission guidelines please visit IAPSS Politikon’s website.

Important Dates:

Proposal Submission Deadline: 15 November 2023

Notification of Acceptance: 1 December 2023

Draft Manuscript Submission Deadline: 1 March 2024

Workshop: 15 March 2024 – to be confirmed in January

Full Manuscript Submission Deadline: 10 April 2024

Expected Publication Date: September 2024

We look forward to receiving your proposals and contributions that will advance our understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding anti-gender and anti-feminist discourses in international politics and pave the way for informed discussions on feminist resistance strategies. For inquiries and further information, please contact politikonjournal@iapss.org.

Editorial Team:

Guest Editor MAJA GERGORIĆ is a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at University of Zagreb. Her research focuses on the emergence of anti-gender movements in post-communist Europe. Currently, she is conducting an extensive analysis of the anti-abortion movement. Maja is actively engaged as a researcher, lecturer, and activist in various human rights, feminist, and LGBTQ organizations based in Zagreb.

Guest Editor KUSUMIKA GHOSH is an Ireland India Institute PhD candidate at the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, Ireland. She leads the Social Policy and Equity vertical at Niti Vichaar, India's Student Policy Think Tank. Kusumika has been involved in research projects related to conflict resolution, oral history, and migration studies. She also is an organizer of the Annual South Asia Conferences at Dublin City University. She co-authored Landscape of Conflicts and Peace: Role of Religion (NESRC, 2019), edited Women and Peacebuilding: Perspectives from the Field (NESRC, 2021), and published articles locating gender in refugee regimes and citizenship laws. She holds a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies with a gold medal from TISS, India. Her current PhD research centers on women in India's contemporary contentious politics.

The Editor-in-Chief of IAPSS Politikon ANYA KUTELEVA is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work intertwines international relations, development studies, energy security, and feminist-informed approaches to politics. Her research centers on the nexus between politics and sociocultural contexts in international relations and develops a cross-disciplinary methodological toolkit around the concept of discursive politics. She is particularly interested in politics in China, Russia, Canada, and the Central Asian region. In 2022, she joined the University of Wolverhampton (UK) as a senior lecturer in International Relations. Previously, she obtained a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alberta (Canada) and held a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia).

Crafting Your Contribution: Research Notes or Research Papers?

2023-08-24T10:45:29-04:00

At IAPSS Politikon, we value the diverse voices and insights that enrich the field of political science. That's why we accept a range of contributions, from compact research notes to in-depth research papers. Both research notes and research papers undergo a thorough peer-review process to ensure quality and impactful publication. But how do you know which format is right for you? Making the right choice not only aligns with your content but also enhances your chances of successful publication.

The primary difference between a research note and a research paper lies in their length, scope, and depth of content. Both serve as vehicles for sharing research findings, but they cater to different levels of contribution and significance within the scholarly community.

LENGTH AND SCOPE:

Research paper: A research paper is a comprehensive and in-depth academic article that typically ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 words, excluding references and appendices.

Research note: A research note is typically more narrow in scope compared to a research paper. It is a short academic article, usually between 2,500 and 5,000 words.

CONTENT ADN DEPTH:

Research paper: A research paper is expected to present original research that significantly contributes to the scholarly literature. It requires a detailed and extensive discussion of the research question, a comprehensive review of relevant literature, a thorough explanation of the research methodology and data analysis techniques, and a comprehensive presentation of results. The content is rich and detailed, allowing for a deep exploration of the research topic.

Research note: A research note focuses on a more specific aspect of research and is often used to communicate smaller-scale findings or novel methodologies. While it still follows a standardized format, a research note might provide less extensive details about the research design and methodology compared to a research paper. It is meant to quickly communicate a valuable insight, finding, or method to the research community.

CONTRIBUTION AND SIGNIFICANCE:

Research paper: Research papers contribute substantially to the existing body of knowledge within a specific (sub)field. They present comprehensive research that has undergone rigorous analysis, making a significant impact on the understanding of a particular phenomenon.

Research note: Research notes, while shorter, still offer valuable contributions. They might introduce new angles, minor findings, preliminary results, or innovative methodologies that provide valuable insights or prompt further research. They are particularly suitable for sharing findings that might not warrant an entire research paper but are still worth sharing.

INTRODUCING A NEW CONCEPT:

Research paper: Research papers are well-suited for making comprehensive conceptual or theoretical contributions. These contributions involve introducing new frameworks, models, paradigms, or theories that reshape the understanding of a particular phenomenon. Research papers offer the space and depth needed to thoroughly explain and explore these new concepts. The paper would typically include a detailed literature review to contextualize the new concept within the existing knowledge landscape, an extensive explanation of the concept's underlying principles, and possibly examples or empirical evidence to support its applicability. Theoretical contributions made in research papers often have the potential to significantly influence the direction of the field and guide future research endeavors.

Research note: In addition to communicating empirical findings, research notes can also introduce new concepts, albeit in a more compact manner compared to research papers. They often highlight novel ideas, emerging trends, or preliminary frameworks that offer fresh perspectives to the scholarly community. These conceptual contributions might not be fully developed theories but can lay the groundwork for further exploration. Research notes are particularly valuable for quickly sharing innovative concepts and sparking interest among researchers. However, due to the limited length, the elaboration on the new concept might be more concise than in a research paper.

SUMMARY

Research Paper:

What? Explaining a major concept or presenting findings of a comprehensive empirical study.

How? Detailing a new concept or methodological framework with lots of explanation.

Why? To reshape how scholars understand a concept, event, or phenomenon.

Research note:

What? Sharing a quick insight.

How? Briefly introducing a new idea or approach.

Why? To catch the attention of other researchers and get them thinking about something fresh.

In a nutshell, research notes are like quick sparks of insight, while research papers are like comprehensive guides that transform the way your fellow scholars think about politics. The choice depends on how much you want to share about your new idea.

Mastering Manuscript Revisions: A Guide to Incorporating Reviewer Feedback

2023-08-24T08:26:47-04:00

Navigating the process of revising your manuscript based on reviewer feedback can be challenging, but it's a crucial step towards refining your work. Remember, the reviewers' insights are meant to help you enhance the quality and impact of your research. Stay focused, address the comments methodically, and approach the revisions with an open mind. By carefully considering and incorporating the feedback, you're taking important step toward making your manuscript the best it can be.

UNDERSTANDING JOURNAL RESPONSES

When you submit a manuscript, you'll typically receive one of these responses:

Revise & Resubmit: Your manuscript shows potential but needs significant improvements. Address all comments thoroughly and resubmit. This doesn't guarantee publication.
Major Revisions: Substantial changes are required. The revised manuscript will undergo another full review.
Minor Revisions: Your manuscript is generally good but needs small changes. After revisions, it will be reevaluated without extensive review.
Accept Without Revisions: Your manuscript is accepted as-is. It will proceed to the next stages of publication.
Reject: Your manuscript doesn't meet the journal's standards in its current form. Consider revising based on feedback and submitting to another journal.

Remember: Each response, whether it leads to revisions or acceptance, contributes to advancing knowledge in your field and helps you to make your work better.

EFFECTIVE REVISION STRATEGY

Follow these steps to revise your manuscript effectively:

1) Prioritize comments: Focus on critical issues first.

2) Maintain objectivity: Approach feedback with an open mind. If you disagree with comments, take a break before reassessing.

3) Address each comment: Draft a response explaining how you've addressed each point.

4) Revise systematically: Address comments one by one, ensuring clear and substantial revisions.

5) Highlight changes: Use track changes or highlighting to make your revisions evident.

6) Follow guidelines: Adhere to the journal's formatting and submission requirements.

7) Prepare a response letter: Thank reviewers and editors, summarize changes, and explain any decisions not to make certain changes.

RESPONSE LETTER TEMPLATE

Consider using this format for your point-by-point response:

Dear Editor,

Thank you for the opportunity to revise our manuscript "[Title]". We've carefully considered all feedback and revised accordingly. Below is our point-by-point response:

Reviewer 1:

Comment 1: [Reviewer's comment] Response: [Your response, including location of changes or reasoning if you disagree]

[Repeat for each comment from all reviewers]

Additional changes: [List any other improvements you've made]

We believe these revisions have significantly improved our manuscript. We look forward to your feedback.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Why do I need to submit revised manuscript with marked/highlighted changes?

A: Submitting your revised manuscript with marked/highlighted changes is crucial for several reasons:

Transparency: It clearly shows the reviewers and editors exactly what changes you've made in response to their feedback.
Efficiency: It saves a lot of time for reviewers and editors, allowing them to quickly identify and assess the revisions without having to compare the entire document word-by-word.
Thoroughness: It ensures that no changes are overlooked during the re-evaluation process.
Accountability: It demonstrates that you've carefully considered and addressed each point of feedback.
Clarity: It helps in understanding the context of your changes, especially when they're related to specific reviewer comments.
Fairness: It allows for a fair reassessment of your work, as the reviewers can easily see how you've responded to their suggestions.

Many journals require you to submit both a clean version and a version with tracked changes. The marked version is typically used during the re-review process, while the clean version is used for final acceptance and publication if no further changes are needed.

Q: Do I need to obey all reviewers' comments?

A: While you should carefully consider all comments, you're not obligated to implement every suggestion. However, you should address each comment in your response letter. If you choose not to implement a suggestion, provide a clear, respectful explanation for your decision, ideally supported by evidence or sound reasoning.

Q: What if two reviewers want me to do two different things?

A: When faced with conflicting reviewer suggestions, consider these steps:

Evaluate the merit of each suggestion in the context of your research.
If possible, find a compromise that addresses both reviewers' concerns.
If a compromise isn't feasible, choose the suggestion that best improves your manuscript.
In your response letter, acknowledge the conflict and explain your reasoning for your chosen approach.
Consider consulting with your co-authors or mentors for additional perspective.

Q: How long should I take to revise my manuscript?

A: The time needed for revisions varies depending on the extent of changes required and your other commitments. Minor revisions might take a few days to a couple of weeks, while major revisions could take several weeks to a few months. Most journals provide a deadline for resubmission, typically ranging from 30 to 90 days. If you need more time, it's usually possible to request an extension from the editor.

Q: Should I seek additional help or opinions during the revision process?

A: Yes, seeking additional input can be very beneficial. Consider these options:

Consult with co-authors to get their perspectives on addressing reviewer comments.
If you're a student or early-career researcher, discuss the reviews with your supervisor or mentor.
If you're struggling with clarity or language issues, consider using a professional editing service or asking a colleague proficient in academic writing to review your revised manuscript.
If you don't understand the journal's decision or have any doubts about how to approach reviewers' comments, don't hesitate to ask the editorial team for help. We can provide clarification and guidance on how to proceed with your revisions.

Remember, the goal is to improve your manuscript, so don't hesitate to seek help when needed. However, ensure that any substantial contributions are appropriately acknowledged.

Call for Editors - 2023

2023-04-24T09:28:14-04:00

ALL POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY FILLED.

IAPSS Politikon, the student and emerging scholars journal of the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS), is seeking an Editor and two Book Review Editors to join our team.

As an Editor, you will be responsible for overseeing the editorial process, ensuring the quality and consistency of all content, and developing new strategies for increasing readership and engagement.

As a Book Review Editor, you will be responsible for overseeing the review process for academic books related to political science and related fields. Our target is to solicit eight reviews every year.

The duration of IAPSS Politikon editor positions is one year. As with all IAPSS positions, IAPSS Politiknon Editors perform unpaid volunteer work. IAPSS Politiknon Editor must be members of IAPSS throughout their editorial collaboration.

What do editors do?

Develop and implement an editorial strategy that aligns with the goals and values of IAPSS and the mission of IAPSS Politikon.
Manage the editorial process, including commissioning and editing articles, overseeing the peer-review process, and maintaining the publication schedule.
Ensure the quality and consistency of all content, with a keen eye for accuracy, style, and tone.
Build and maintain relationships with writers, reviewers, and other contributors, and provide guidance and feedback to help them develop their skills.
Contribute to the development of strategies for promoting IAPSS Politikon and increasing its readership, including social media, email marketing, and partnerships with other organizations.

Who are we looking for?

A PhD or MA student or an early career scholar in Political Science or a related field.
Strong writing and editing skills, with a record of publications in academic or popular outlets.
Knowledge of social media platforms and experience using them to promote content.
Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
A deep commitment to the goals and values of IAPSS, including promoting political science education and fostering international dialogue.

How to apply?

Fill in this form: https://forms.gle/EnVh2C56ZpoXimjH6.
Submit a cover letter, CV, and one writing sample to politikonjournal@iapss.org.

Review of applications will begin on 15 May 2023, and the positions will remain open until filled.

Call for reviewers

2023-04-21T11:26:01-04:00

We would like to invite you to review articles for IAPSS Politikon, the student and emerging scholars journal of the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS).

IAPSS Politikon is a peer-reviewed academic journal that aims to provide a platform for emerging scholars and students to showcase their research in political science and related disciplines. The journal covers a wide range of subfields, including but not limited to political theory, international relations, comparative politics, and public policy.

As a reviewer for IAPSS Politikon, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the academic community by providing feedback and suggestions on the quality and relevance of submitted articles.

What does a reviewer do?

Evaluate the quality of the manuscript, assessing its significance, originality, methodology, and overall contribution to the field.
Provide constructive feedback to help the authors improve their manuscript.
Based on their evaluation of the manuscript, reviewers make a recommendation to the editor about whether the manuscript should be accepted for publication, rejected, or returned to the authors for revisions.

This is an excellent opportunity for students and early career scholars who want to gain exposure to the world of academic publishing. By joining our team, you will have the chance to work with experienced editors and reviewers, gain a deeper understanding of the peer-review process, and shape the discourse of our discipline. We welcome your participation and look forward to your contribution to the upcoming issue of IAPSS Politikon.

Please fill in this form and we will contact you soon.

Questions? Contact us at politikonjournal@iapss.org.

Best Article Award 2021: Results

2021-07-13T18:59:00-04:00

The IAPSS Politikon Best Article Award, now in its third year, is one of the initiatives aimed at fostering academic excellence in the content submitted to and published in the journal, as well as at recognising the talent and qualities in the contributions of the journal.

In 2021, the Award was given in the honor of Professor Maria Herminia Tavares de Almeida (University of São Paulo and Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (CEBRAP)) for her academic contribution to the fields of public opinion, political culture and political institutions, but also to the significant support provided to students and junior scholars through the institutional positions she has held at various academic institutions. Professor Tavares de Almeida kindly accepted to chair the Award Committee as well.

The Committee was furthermore composed of Senior Members Professor Christopher Isike (University of Pretoria; Vice President, International Political Science Association and Editor-in-Chief of Politikon: South African Journal of Political Studies) and Dr Theresa Reidy (University College Cork; Editor of International Political Science Review), and of Junior Member Mr Andrew Devine (Tulane University, Editor of IAPSS Politikon). The Committee presents the results of their assessment as follows.

"While last year's articles demonstrated high quality, there is one article in particular that stood out to the committee: 'Rising Ottoman Nostalgia in Turkish Popular Culture: An Analysis of Turkey’s Europeanization Process and Ottoman-Themed Soap Operas' by Ceren Çetinkaya (Vol. 46). The committee agreed that Çetinkaya's article deserved this year's Politikon Best Article Award for its innovative and novel approach to understanding national identity and discourse in Turkey. Drawing on Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony, Çetinkaya's article adds a new perspective to understand shifting political discourse through the unique lens of soap operas. An honorable mention goes to 'Spatial Realignment of German Voters and Germany’s Regional Cleavage: The Case of the Green Party in the 2019 Elections' by Ilia Viatkin (Vol. 45). This quantitative piece used data from the German General Social Survey to provide explanations for shifts in voter support for the Green Party based on an East-West cleavage. The article demonstrated methodological rigor to unpack the recently emerging puzzle of voter shifts."

The Editorial Board congratulates both authors and expresses their appreciation to the members of the Award Committee for their commitment to the evaluation of the twelve eligible articles published in the 2020 issues of IAPSS Politikon.

Here’s what the authors said in receiving the honors:

Ceren Çetinkaya (Central European University): Publishing with Politikon has been one of the most important experiences of my academic career as a junior scholar due to it was my very first publishing experience in an academic journal. After finishing my MA thesis, I had the intention to convert a part of my thesis into an article and consulted with my colleagues from my MA on publishing opportunities. I realized that Politikon has a great influence on many scholars who are in their early careers. Following the suggestions of my colleagues lead me to a very instructive publishing experience. I have received a lot of constructive comments from the valuable editors of Politikon, which helped me developed my academic writing skills and look at my work from a more professional angle.

After a thoughtful process of publishing, receiving the 2021 Best Article Award has been nothing but a great pride for me and a very significant achievement for the beginning of my academic career. I am grateful for the generous support I received from the Politikon team in an extremely challenging environment of publishing. I believe that in addition to being a professional academic journal, the supportive team behind Politikon makes it a platform that provides great opportunities for scholars, especially for those who are at the beginning of their academic careers.

Ilia Viatkin (Higher School of Economics): I first read about the IAPSS Politikon journal in a 2018 article by Cox and Kent, in which they analyze publications of political science students. IAPSS Politikon was among the three journal authors selected for their research, which in itself is clear evidence of the high quality of the journal's contributions. Back then I was completing my term paper project on the patterns of Green voting in Eastern and Western Germany and needed an external review. Indeed, at each of the three stages of the review, my work has been significantly improved with the help of anonymous referees, especially in the empirical part, where I use quantitative analysis. It was further corroborated by a decent grade I received for the paper at my home university. Lastly, I am glad to note that for this article I became a laureate of the undergraduate research papers competition of the Russian Political Science Association.

IAPSS Politikon Sponsorship Prospectus

2020-11-29T11:38:25-05:00

About IAPSS

The International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) is a democratic organization representing students and junior scholars in political science and other related disciplines. The politically independent and non-profit association, which is run by students and junior scholars, aims to have global impact in the political science sphere. IAPSS seeks to strengthen the academic profile and skills of all members by offering various opportunities for development. With twenty years behind its back, IAPSS embraces six continental associations and a comprehensive network of members around the world.

About IAPSS Politikon

As a general Political Science journal, IAPSS Politikon (ISSN [online] 2414-6633) aims to contribute to the academic debate in all major subfields and neighboring disciplines (Human Rights, Law, Public Policy). The quality of each article is ensured by a double-blind peer-review process, handled by the IAPSS Politikon Editorial Team and researchers who are part of the journal’s extensive reviewer database. Multidisciplinarity, academic integrity and state-of-the-art academic publishing are guaranteed by the diverse background and expertise of the Politikon International Advisory Committee.

Open to submissions from scholars of all levels, IAPSS Politikon uniquely endeavors to lend a strong voice to students and junior scholars while retaining close links to established senior scholars through its International Advisory Committee. In order to facilitate reflections of junior scholars on the existing academic works, it publishes book reviews and review essays besides full-fledged research papers. To support the timely publication of important partial research frameworks and new data, it offers space for research notes that prioritize the novelty of data or of the theoretical developments over complex data analysis that may follow from them in the subsequent stages of the research process.

In addition, IAPSS Politikon benefits from IAPSS’ partnerships with other established political science associations – including the International Political Science Association (IPSA) and the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR).

Thanks to IAPSS' Crossref membership, each IAPSS Politikon issue and individual published text receives a unique DOI (digital object identifier). In addition, IAPSS Politikon is currently indexed in International Political Science Abstracts, ERIH PLUS and J-Gate.

In 2020, IAPSS Politikon is publishing four more issues, reaching its fiftieth issue in 2021. In 2019, it launched its Best Article Award - all articles published in a given year are automatically considered for the award and the winner(s) is selected by an international Award Committee.

Testimonials on IAPSS Politikon from the 2020 Best Article Award Recipients

Francisca Sassetti (MSc, London School of Economics and Political Science): "I had never imagined I would have the chance to publish my first paper so early in my research career, much less winning Best Article Award. I attended IAPSS' 2018 Academic Convention in Singapore, where I presented my original piece of research. With some encouragement and great feedback, I submitted a manuscript to Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science as I had learnt it was a good venue for young scholars like myself wanting to publish their work.

From submitting the paper to being published, the process was a valuable learning journey. I was able to experience the process of academic publishing through a very supportive and professional team of editors and reviewers. They provided high-quality feedback on my manuscript with the aim of improving it in every step of the way, which allowed me to improve the rigour, validity and quality of my research work. This experience gave the confidence to pursue a career in research. I believe IAPSS Politikon is a fantastic journal for all Political Science young scholars like myself, whether they are recent graduates, current Political Science students, or working in research in academia or outside."

Luigi Cino (PhD, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa): “IAPSS Politikon is one of the few international journals that allows young researchers to start publishing their research. At the same time, it is a serious journal with high selection and review standards, which selects excellent contributions and makes the journal one of the best in the political science area of study. For these reasons I decided to publish in IAPSS Politikon my paper on institutional change in Tunisia, which represents an adaptation of part of my doctoral thesis. The comments and opinions received during the review process allowed me to have constructive feedback, contributing to the development of the research, and to disclose part of the results of my research. Given the importance of the members of the selection commission, receiving this honorable mention was a source of great professional satisfaction and an unexpected recognition of my scientific production.“

Benefits from Advertising in IAPSS Politikon

IAPSS Politikon advertising partners will be able to:

showcase their mission and educational programs, promote current initiatives and disseminate project results
develop and utilize new channels of communication with potential students, colleagues, peers and partners
benefit from various networking opportunities
reach a new and truly international audience
familiarize themselves with the research interests and the work of promising junior scholars

Partnership Levels and Corresponding Rates

Contact Information

IAPSS Politikon Editor-in-Chief: politikonjournal@iapss.org

Website: http://politikon.iapss.org/index.php/politikon

^[1] The “Partner’s Message” will be published in IAPSS Politikon upon approval by the journal’s Editorial Board. The latter reserves the right to refuse publication when the contents of the “Partner’s Message” are not in compliance with the journal’s mission, standards, practices and values. For example, the “Partner’s Message” might provide information on study programs, publications, projects and products promoted by the Sponsor. Events (conferences, summer schools, workshops, etc.) might be announced too if they are not taking place simultaneously with the IAPSS World Congress.

Professor Leonardo Morlino the honoree of the 2020 IAPSS Politikon Best Article Award

2020-04-13T16:46:29-04:00

In 2020, the IAPSS Politikon Best Article Award Committee consisted of Honorary Chair Professor Leonardo Morlino (LUISS University, IPSA Past President), Senior Members Professor Sabine Saurugger (Sciences Po Grenoble, ECPR EC Training Subcommittee Member and 2021 Futures Lab Host) and Professor Stephen Sawyer (American University of Paris, Associate Editor of International Political Science Abstracts), and Junior Member Dana Rice (University of Tasmania, Editor of IAPSS Politikon).

According to the Committee: "While all articles displayed a high standard, the Award Committee chose ‘Social Media and Crowdsourced Election Monitoring: Prospects for Election Transparency in Sub-Saharan Africa' by Francesca Sassetti (Vol. 42) as this year's recipient. The Committee agreed that Sassetti's article stood out for its impressive use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Writing on an important but rarely analysed topic, Sassetti's article made a significant contribution to understanding the effects of crowdsourced election monitoring on the transparency and quality of elections in Sub-Saharan states.

An honourable mention goes to ‘Tunisia's Institutional Change after the Revolution: Politics, Institutions and Change Agents' by Luigi Cino (Vol. 43). Applying Thelen and Mahoney's gradual change model to Tunisia's institutional reforms after the revolution, Cino's article displayed clear methodology and careful process tracing. His work offered contributions to Political Science both topically - by enriching knowledge of post-revolution Tunisia - and theoretically - by further developing Mahoney and Thelen's model."

We congratulate to both authors and express sincere gratitude to the members of the Award Committee for their dedication and engagement!

Here’s what the authors said in receiving the honors:

I am grateful to the team behind IAPSS Politikon, to all editors and peer reviewers, for helping me achieve the quality research I am proud to have authored, and to the IAPSS Politikon Award Committee for awarding my paper the Best Article Award 2020."

Luigi Cino (PhD, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa): “IAPSS Politikon is one of the few international journals that allows young researchers to start publishing their researches. At the same time, it is a serious journal with high selection and review standards, which permit to select excellent contributions and make the journal one of the best in the political science area of study. For these reasons I decided to publish in IAPSS Politikon my paper on institutional change in Tunisia, which represents an adaptation of part of my doctoral thesis. The comments and opinions received during the review process allowed me to have constructive feedbacks, contributing to the development of the research, and to disclose part of the results of my research. Given the importance of the members of the selection commission, receiving this honorable mention was a source of great professional satisfaction and an unexpected recognition of my scientific production.“

IAPSS Politikon Reviewer Guidelines

2020-01-19T09:46:23-05:00

IAPSS Politikon is committed to the principle of double-blind peer review as it ensures anonymity for the authors and prevents biases in the reviewing of the manuscript, therefore allowing for the highest quality and objectivity possible in the manuscripts’ evaluation process. (In fact, in most cases, unless the authors’ identity can be revealed because, for instance, the manuscript with the same title was presented at a conference and there is an online record for it in the conference program, IAPSS Politikon satisfies the standards for triple-blind review, since the manuscripts are anonymized before the substantive Editorial Review and the selection of external peer reviewers.)

Being a reviewer for IAPSS Politikon is a substantial service to the academic community because it participates in guaranteeing the high standards of the publications in political science, as well as the integrity of the journal by surveying the quality and probity of the work published. By taking part in this process, the reviewers are also able to read some of the latest research in their domain whilst providing professional service that is recognized by the academic community.

After having been accepted to the reviewer database, you will be contacted by the Editorial Board members on review requests of manuscripts that fall into your area of specialization. As it depends on the topics of the submitted manuscripts, there is no typical time frame between your addition to the database and your first request.

After having successfully reviewed a couple of manuscripts, meeting quality standards for the thoroughness of the review, you are eligible to receive a certificate for reviewing. Although you are free to decline review requests, as they are based on your specializations, declining several review requests in a row without strong reasons may lead to removal from the reviewer database.

Should you, at any point, be no longer interested to be in the reviewer database for Politikon, please send a short indication of that to politikonjournal@iapss.org.

You are expected to fill in the review form that you receive together with the review request. One part of it is multiple-choice questions where you need to select one answer for each question. The second part is devoted to your comments to the review -- here you are expected to elaborate on the reasons for your answers in the first section as well as share any general and specific observations and comments about each aspect of the manuscript and analyze whether it complies or not with the necessary elements as outlined in the submission guidelines.

The role of a reviewer is to judge if a manuscript is good enough to publish. A good review is expected to highlight the weaknesses, but should also offer solutions as to how to overcome them. If the manuscript has potential but does not seem ready to publish, the reviewer should elaborate on all the weaknesses and help the authors make it publishable.

Please try to be precise and detailed with your review, so that from the review it is clear for the authors what are the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript from the reviewer’s perspective and (unless it is an outright rejection) how the authors should proceed with improving the manuscript.

If you prefer, you may insert specific comments into the text file with the manuscript that you receive (through the ‘comments’ or ‘revisions’ functions in standard text editors) and send it back alongside the review sheet. In any case, however, you are expected to send back the review form with your general comments in the open section.

When sending your review, you have the right to indicate your interest in receiving the other (anonymized) reviews once the review process is complete so that you might compare your evaluation with that of other reviewers. Your review might be consulted by other reviewers in this form as well, whilst preserving anonymization.

Please clearly indicate your decision on the review form, choosing from the following options:

Reject: If you reject the manuscript, it means that the manuscript does not meet the standards or requirements for publication in the current form. Rejection could result from significant flaws in methodology, insufficient novelty or relevance, poor presentation, or other critical issues.
Revise & Resubmit: This response means that you see potential in the manuscript, but you believe significant improvements are required before it can be accepted for publication. The author will need to make substantial changes to their manuscript. After revising, the author will resubmit the revised version for further evaluation.
Major Revisions: When you recommend major revisions, it indicates that you see potential in the manuscript but require major changes to ensure its quality and accuracy. Once the author will address all the major concerns raised by the reviewers, the revised manuscript will then undergo another round of review.
Minor Revisions: If you ask for minor revisions, it means that the manuscript is generally in good shape but requires some relatively small changes. These changes might include clarifications, addressing minor errors, or making adjustments to figures or tables. Once the author made the requested revisions, the manuscript will be reevaluated, but it will undergo an extensive review process again.
Accept Without Revisions: This response signifies that we should accept the manuscript for publication without any further changes required. It indicates that you are satisfied with the quality, content, and presentation of the study as it stands.

Depending on the further evaluation process of a given manuscript, you might be asked by Editorial Board members to review a revised and resubmitted version of a manuscript you had previously reviewed. You have the right to decline this resubmission review request and, unlike with declining initial review requests, it cannot negatively influence your record in the reviewer database.

2019 Best Article Award honors Professor İlter Turan

2019-08-07T12:00:55-04:00

Congratulations to IAPSS Politikon authors (both from Volume 39 of the journal) Paola Imperatore (University of Pisa) and Adil Nussipov (Central European University) who share this year’s award. We also express our sincere gratitude to all members of our evaluation committee, namely Chair and honouree of this year’s award Professor İlter Turan (Istanbul Bilgi University, IPSA Past President), senior members Professor Yuko Kasuya (Keio University, IPSA EC member and Publications Subcommittee Chair), Professor Petri Koikkalainen (University of Lapland, ECPR EC member and Training Subcommittee Chair), and junior member Rafael Plancarte-Escobar (Autonomous University of Querétaro, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of IAPSS Politikon).

The Award Committee concluded that both articles stood out equally for the innovative questions they raised as well as the methodological and theoretical coherence they displayed and decided that the Award be divided between the two authors. The Award Committee also noted that, though employing different modes of analysis, both articles stood out for the sophisticated operationalization of variables and use of data followed by penetrating analysis. The articles represent notable contributions to their respective subfields of Social Movements and International Organizations. While Imperatore’s article contributes to understanding the frames and discursive strategies present in the protest campaigns against infrastructure projects in the case of Italy, Nussipov’s paper, employing a quantitative model, helps us understand why International Organizations allow or deny access to Transnational Actors in their policymaking process.

Paola Imperatore commented upon receiving the Award: 'After the IAPSS international conference on “Diversity and Globalization” I had the opportunity to publish with Politikon, the IAPSS journal. Considering the value and the professionalism of this journal and its scientific committee, I then decided to submit my paper to Politikon. This was my first experience with such an important journal and I have learned a lot from it. During the process of review I received several feedbacks, which have been fundamental to improve my research and to reinforce my methodology. It has been at the same time stimulating and laborious, and both the work of peer reviewers and that of editorial board revealed pivotal for my academic development and allowed me to face future opportunities with more competence. Their work allowed me to publish in Politkon, one of the best journals in political science area, and, at the end, also to win the Politikon Best Article Award 2019, an important recognition which made be proud.'

Adil Nussipov praised the journal's evaluation procedures as well. In his words: 'Being graduate or PhD student, it is extremely challenging to compete with well-established researchers and get your work published in the top journals of your field. Politikon is unique in that sense, as it is aimed at graduate and PhD students and allows them to get skills and experience of going through article submission and revision process which are essential for anyone willing to join the academia. The experience of going through article submission and peer-review evaluation processes was of the highest academic standards. Not only I learned about this whole procedure, I also significantly improved my paper based on the feedback received. Politikon allowed me to share my little contribution to IR literature with a wider audience and start a dialogue with like-minded students.'

All research papers published in the 2019 issues of IAPSS Politikon will be automatically considered for the Best Article Award 2020.

The Editorial Board thanks Maheen Shafeeq, IAPSS Design Coordinator, for preparing the certificate design.

Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science: Announcements

Call for Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Position Details:

Deputy Editor Responsibilities:

Ideal Candidates:

Benifits:

Application Process:

Important Dates:

Tips for your Deputy Editor cover letter

New Call for Contributions! Migration and Mobility in Latin American and the Caribbean: A Lexicon

Methodological Seminars - 2025

Call for Artists: Cover Art for Political Science Journal Special Issue

Methodological Seminars

How to Participate

Upcoming SeminarsSeminar 1: Mixing Methods: Discourse Analysis, Case Studies, and Interviews

Seminar 2: Focus Groups: Motivations, Data Collection, and Analysis

Call for Editors

Step-by-Step Guide for Writing a Book Review or a Review Article

CALL FOR PAPERS: Workshop and special issue on the rise of anti-gender and anti-feminist discourse in international politics

The Rise of Anti-gender and Anti-feminism Discourses in International Politics and Feminist Responses

Scope:

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Crafting Your Contribution: Research Notes or Research Papers?

Mastering Manuscript Revisions: A Guide to Incorporating Reviewer Feedback

Call for Editors - 2023

Call for reviewers

Best Article Award 2021: Results

IAPSS Politikon Sponsorship Prospectus

Professor Leonardo Morlino the honoree of the 2020 IAPSS Politikon Best Article Award

IAPSS Politikon Reviewer Guidelines

2019 Best Article Award honors Professor İlter Turan

Upcoming Seminars

Seminar 1: Mixing Methods: Discourse Analysis, Case Studies, and Interviews