Review of International Studies

Review of International Studies
Title	Review of International Studies
Discipline	International relations
Abbreviation	Rev. Int. Stud.
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Country	United Kingdom
Frequency	Quarterly
History	1975–present

Review of International Studies

The Review of International Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering International relations and related debates since its founding in the 1970s. It publishes original research, review essays, and symposia that address major international events, institutions, and theoretical developments. The journal engages with scholarship on Cold War, United Nations, European Union, and issues arising from cases such as Suez Crisis, Vietnam War, Iraq War and contemporary crises like Crimea crisis and Syrian civil war.

History

Founded during debates following the Yom Kippur War and détente, the journal emerged alongside institutions such as the British International Studies Association and the expansion of postgraduate programs at places like the London School of Economics and University of Oxford. Early editorial boards included scholars connected to debates sparked by works such as Kenneth Waltz’s neorealism interventions and responses to the Helsinki Final Act. The journal navigated intellectual shifts prompted by events including the Fall of Saigon, the Iranian Revolution (1979), the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and post-Cold War interventions in Kosovo War, Rwandan genocide, and Bosnian War. In the 2000s it adapted to new priorities after 9/11 and the Global War on Terror, reflecting research influenced by institutions like the World Trade Organization and controversies around the Iraq War.

Scope and Aims

The journal aims to publish rigorous analyses of actors such as the United States, People's Republic of China, Russian Federation, European Union, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and regional powers like India and Brazil. It covers issues engaged with treaties and agreements including the Treaty of Maastricht, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the Kyoto Protocol, and events such as the Arab Spring, Brexit, and the Falklands War. The journal solicits work on policy-relevant institutions like the NATO, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank, and examines landmark cases including the Suez Crisis, Cuban Missile Crisis, Six-Day War, and the Korean War (1950–1953). The scope explicitly bridges empirical studies on conflicts such as Yugoslav Wars and Eritrean–Ethiopian War with theoretical debates inspired by contributors to debates around realism, liberalism, and constructivism.

Editorial Process and Peer Review

Manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review coordinated by an editorial board drawn from universities including University of Cambridge, Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Australian National University. The process mirrors standards used by journals published by Cambridge University Press and involves external referees such as scholars who have worked on topics like Nuclear proliferation, Humanitarian intervention, and the Responsibility to Protect. Special issues are often guest edited by researchers affiliated with research centers like the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Ethics and data transparency policies align with guidelines similar to those advocated by the American Political Science Association and the European Consortium for Political Research.

Publication and Indexing

Published quarterly, the journal appears in major bibliographic databases and indexes used by institutions such as Scopus, the Social Sciences Citation Index, and EBSCOhost. It is catalogued in national libraries including the British Library and the Library of Congress. Digital archives interoperate with platforms employed by publishers like Cambridge University Press and cross-referencing services such as CrossRef. Citation metrics are compared alongside titles like International Organization, European Journal of International Relations, and Journal of Conflict Resolution.

Notable Articles and Special Issues

Notable contributions have addressed topics such as nuclear strategy in the era of Mutual assured destruction, regional order in East Asia, the geopolitics of Arctic sovereignty, and normative disputes around Human rights in contexts like the Rwandan genocide and Darfur conflict. Special issues have centered on themes such as the aftermath of 9/11, the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008), cyber operations highlighted by cases like the Stuxnet attack, and methodological debates reflecting advances in quantitative methods used by scholars at institutions including Columbia University and Yale University. Symposia have featured responses to major monographs and policy reports from entities such as the Commission on the Future of the United Nations and analyses of landmark rulings by the International Court of Justice.

Reception and Impact

The journal is cited by scholars studying episodes including the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War (1990–1991), and contemporary tensions in the South China Sea dispute; it is read broadly by academics at King's College London, policy analysts at Chatham House, and practitioners in ministries including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the US Department of State. Its impact is measured against citation benchmarks shared with journals like International Security and Review of International Political Economy. Debates published have informed discussions at fora such as the United Nations General Assembly, the Munich Security Conference, and panels convened by the Council on Foreign Relations.

Category:International relations journals Category:Academic journals established in 1975