Whether you’re researching a paper or dreaming of publishing one day, start here.
International Organization
One of the most prestigious journals for global governance and institutions. It’s quarterly, which means it publishes four issues every year. It’s published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International Organization Foundation. It is peer-reviewed and it covers both theoretical and empirical research. According to them, only 5% of submitted manuscripts actually get published, whilst 40% don’t make it past the initial editorial screening prior to external review. It facilitates both open-access publication as well as subscription-based publication.
Find the International Organization Journal Website here.
International Studies Quarterly
A well known comprehensive journal published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Studies Organisation (ISA). This journal is quarterly and peer-reviewed. It covers both theoretical and empirical research. It accepts submissions in the form of original research articles, research notes, and theory notes. It facilitates both open-access publication as well as subscription-based publication.
Find the International Studies Quarterly Journal Website here.
International Security
A highly acclaimed journal with a specific focus on the subfield of Security Studies under IR. It is published by MIT Press and remains a an industry gold standard for security studies, conflict, and military analysis. It is peer-reviewed and covers both: traditional topics on war and peace, and non-traditional, contemporary topics. It maintains a greater a focus on Security research relating to the United States of America. Influential theorists in International Relations, like John Mearsheimer and Kenneth Waltz, have published some of their most important works in this journal.
Find the International Security Journal Website here.
World Politics
A well-known journal focusing on international relations, comparative politics, political theory, foreign policy, and modernisation. It covers both theoretical and analytical research, and is peer-reviewed. It is also quarterly, and is published by Johns Hopkins Press.
Find the World Politics Website here.
Journal of Peace Research
A journal of interdisciplinary nature with a focus on global conflict and peace. It covers both, the conception of peace as well as the causes of violence, and conflict resolution. It is a peer-reviewed and bi-monthly journal, i.e. it publishes six issues every year. It has an acceptance rate of 9.4% i.e. 9.4% of submitted manuscripts get published.
Find the Journal of Peace Research Website here.
BONUS
Foreign Affairs
This is technically a magazine (and therefore not peer-reviewed) but it is an extremely prestigious and publishes rigorous work. It maintains focus on foreign policy relating in to the United States of America. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and is influential amongst practitioners in IR and thought leaders. A total of six issues are published annually.
Find the Foreign Affairs Magazine Website here.
Here is a link to their Instagram.
Sources
International Organization: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-organization
International Studies Quarterly: https://academic.oup.com/isq
International Security: https://direct.mit.edu/isec?searchresult=1
World Politics: https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/world-politics?srsltid=AfmBOopXZzBg5JtWJYzIwtHOQkoM8LzvVVt-bqu1lX-O_4dGGbEpm6w_
Journal of Peace Research: https://journals.sagepub.com/overview-metric/JPR?
Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com
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