Call for Application to Edit the British Journal of Politics and International Relations

The British Journal of Politics and International Relations (BJPIR) is a flagship, fully-refereed journal of the Political Studies Association (PSA). This international journal publishes innovative, cutting-edge contemporary scholarship on international relations, comparative politics, public policy, political theory and (especially) politics and policy in the United Kingdom. It is the world’s premier journal for research into British politics.

Published four times a year online and in hard copy, alongside maintaining a blog and social media presence, BJPIR seeks to reflect and drive the major currents of debate in political science and international relations, both in the UK and internationally. The journal responds to the changing real world of politics, by publishing articles that are of contemporary relevance to both the study and practice of politics. Since its inception in 1999, in response to the growing internationalisation of the political studies community in the UK and beyond, the  ransnationalisation of the political science profession, and the globalisation of politics, the journal has welcomed empirically rigorous and theoretically innovative articles on themes and issues that are of such global and scholarly significance that they matter for all states and countries irrespective of geographical location.

In the past two decades, BJPIR has become established as a top tier outlet for political science and international relations research – boasting an impact factor of 2.539 and ranking 34/181 in Political Science and 14/95 in International Relations (JCR, 2019).

The current editorial team, led by Alan Convery at the University of Edinburgh, will complete their second term at end of August 2021 and applications are now invited for the next editorial team contract. The next editorial team will be appointed for an initial term of three years. This can be extended by a further three years by mutual agreement and subject to review.

The PSA is one of the leading British learned societies within the social sciences with an international reputation for supporting its members and developing the discipline. Its strategy prioritises the themes of excellence, sustainability and diversity. 

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the discipline’s foremost journals at an exciting and challenging time for academic publishing. Applications must therefore not only demonstrate a clear grasp of this changing publishing context but must also be able to chart a clear and coherent strategy for BJPIR that aims to maintain and strengthen its impact factor and overall position in the publishing field.

Editorial teams can be comprised of academics based in more than one University. The PSA also encourages bids from teams that include academics based in more than one country, providing the team has the support of one relevant university department based in the UK. Every member of the team should have the full support of their department and the host
department should have the full support of the university. Every member of the team should be PSA members.

We are, therefore, asking applicants to present a distinctive strategic statement for the journal and a set of deliverable ambitions that will achieve those aims. The statement should be no more than four pages and accompanied by applicants’ CVs. Statements should contain some consideration of the issues listed below but the PSA selection panel will also be looking for fresh ideas and a willingness to launch new initiatives. The final hard copy of the printed journal is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the journal’s work and activities. Indeed, receiving world-class manuscripts that represent the state-of-the-art in terms of sub-disciplinary profiles rarely happens by accident but is the result of innovative marketing and several years of nurturing author-editor relationships. Editorial teams must take the lead in journal promotion, particularly in social media and impact related activities.

The statement should, therefore, contain a breakdown of your proposed operational plan and budget or resource needs for, for example, editorial assistants, attendance at conferences and other profile-raising, travel, etc, as well as any resources which will be provided by a host institution(s) (as appropriate).

Applicants are invited to consider the following issues in their applications:

• Maintaining and strengthening the journal’s impact factor;
• Further internationalising the journal and its global profile in terms of author and readership base;
• Increasing the number of high-quality article submissions and publications from around the world, particularly outside of the Euro-Atlantic corridor;
• Increasing downloads of journal articles in all geographic territories;
• Managing the day-to-day business of the journal, including the associated online and social media channels;
• Raising the profile of the journal through social media and other marketing tools and measures;
• Identifying and exploiting the synergies between the PSA’s journals and with the wider activities of the PSA;
• How the editorial team will play an active role in implementing the PSA’s commitment to Equality and Diversity – both within the composition of the editorial team and the contents of the journal itself. Applicants are encouraged to set ambitious targets for diversity and implement a plan to achieve these targets without compromising quality.

Applicants should bear in mind that the PSA is keen to take greater advantage of the potential for synergies between its journals and its wider activities, while at all times observing the editorial independence of each journals.

The journal will receive appropriate financial and other support which reflects the international standing of the journal and the ambitions that the PSA has for it. Editorial administrative support will be provided through the SAGE Peer Review Management team. It would be helpful to know what support the editorial team’s host department(s) might offer in terms of additional resources, especially considering the importance of social media and other marketing activities. The PSA recognises the effort of editorial teams and has made a commitment to paying a small stipend for editors. The editorial team will be contracted to attend PSA publications subcommittee meetings and to attend the PSA Annual Conference and to organise one panel session.

Applications should initially be sent to the PSA’s Chief Executive, Michelle Doyle Wildman, (ceo@psa.ac.uk), and should include a proposal (max. four pages) and CVs for members of the team. The closing date for applications is 23 March 2021.

We anticipate conducting interviews in late April / early May with a view to making the appointment as soon as possible thereafter. The successful applicants will begin a handover with the current editorial team on 1 July 2021 before taking the helm on 1 September 2021.

The current editorial team are very happy to answer questions by email (alan.convery@ed.ac.uk). The PSA Vice Chair and Publications Lead, Professor Claire Dunlop, will be chairing the selection panel and also welcomes any questions by email c.a.dunlop@exeter.ac.uk