On Saturday, September 2^nd 2023, Christopher Towler and Benjamin Gonzalez O’Brien hosted an online meet-the-editors session for the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics (JREP) during this year’s American Political Science Association conference. It was a rousing success, with thirteen attendees for the hour-long panel. During the session, Drs. Towler and Gonzalez O’Brien shared some tips for streamlining the publication process and answered a variety of questions from participants. Below are questions and answers that will could be useful to those considering JREP as an outlet for their research.

Does JREP accept mixed methods or qualitative work?

Absolutely! The editors are committed to expanding the number of qualitative and normative pieces that appear in the pages of JREP. To better accommodate this type of research, the journal is expanding the word count/page limits for research articles. Manuscripts can now be between 9,000 and 11,000 words (approximately 35-45 pages). Previously the limit for manuscripts was 9,000 words or 35 pages.

I have a shorter piece that I would like to submit as a research note, are those accepted?

Previously, the journal only accepted research articles or book reviews, but that is changing. Soon there will be a new class of submissions for research notes, which can be between 3,000 and 5,000 words (approximately 12-15 pages). Research notes are appropriate for papers focusing on a single finding, new research methodologies or data sets, or work that builds on existing scholarship. If you have a shorter piece, it can now find a home at JREP.

What about work that is comparative, considers race through the lens of international relations, or examines race & politics in countries outside of North America?

The editors of JREP are committed to expanding the scope of the journal beyond North America, so that its content better reflects race & politics globally. JREP is actively working to solicit single-country and comparative work on race, ethnicity, and politics within and between countries in the Global South and Europe. The editors also encourage those with work analyzing the role of race in international relations to submit their work to the journal.

I’m interested in reviewing a book for JREP or have a book I would like reviewed. Who should I contact?

The journal is always looking for book reviewers! If you’re interested in writing a review for a book you’ve read or would like to read, please contact us at jrepbooks@gmail.com. Book reviews should be for work that has come out in the last year. If you have a recently published book you would like to have reviewed in the pages of JREP, you can also email us at the same address.

How can I help to streamline the publication process?

The easiest way is first make sure your article meets the style guidelines for the journal, which can be found here. It is also very helpful when authors suggest reviewers for their work but if you suggest someone, they cannot be affiliated with you or your work in any way. This means you should not suggest people in your department, who you attended graduate school with or worked with at a previous institution, or those who have previously read or seen your work presented. Many authors suggested reviewers they are affiliated with in some way, and this increases the time it takes to find appropriate readers for the manuscript.

Will there be opportunities to present our work or get feedback on articles before we submit them to the journal?

In addition to future meet-the-editors sessions at WPSA and APSA in 2024, the journal is also planning to host an online mini-conference for junior scholars and graduate students in spring of 2024. There are also discussions about JREP-sponsored symposiums, coffee sessions, and workshops in the coming year. These will be advertised on the journal’s homepage, as well as through JREP’s X (formerly Twitter) account.