Download the Journal Information and Guidelines for Authors

Article types

The Americas publishes the following article types:

1. Articles*
2. Research Notes*
3. In Dialogue*
4. Review Essays*
5. Forums*
6. Review Essays*
7. Vault Collections
8. Interviews
9. Obituaries
10. Book Reviews
11. Book Notes

Research Articles

Research articles of 10,000 words, not including notes, grounded in whole or in part in archival evidence about all geographical regions and historical eras of Latin America including the Caribbean, reflecting a wide variety of methodological orientations.  The journal welcomes work dealing with comparative and transnational themes within the region and new perspectives and methods.  Comparative and interdisciplinary submissions need to have a geographic primary focus on Latin America, including the Caribbean, and a primary disciplinary focus on history.  The Americas requires original articles, not previously published in other venues or languages.

We welcome submissions arising from dissertation chapters but ask that authors first transform them into a journal article format.  These include, at the minimum, revising the chapter to meet the journal’s word limit requirement; removing language referencing other sections or chapters; including a concise, introductory historiographical section of usually 2-3 pages, and establishing the argument up front.

Research Note

Shorter articles exploring historiographical debates and in‐depth analysis of select archival documents in 5,000‐7,000 words, not including notes.

In Dialogue

Concurrent publication of at least two articles that speak directly to one another, meant to foster scholarly exchange.  When articles reveal overlapping questions, complementary findings, shared bodies of archival materials, or productive points of tension, they may be published together as an In dialogue cluster.  Designed as a space between a traditional special issue and individual research articles, this format highlights conversations already emerging across historical fields, disciplines, geographies, and methodological approaches, reflecting the increasingly collaborative and interdisciplinary character of scholarship today.

Prior to publication, authors have the opportunity to read one another’s work and draw out points of connection in the article text or footnotes, but there is no expectation of a formal response, and authors may choose not to engage the other articles.  Articles selected to appear In Dialogue may arise from author proposals or from the Editorial Board’s recognition of affinities among independently submitted manuscripts.

Forums

Building from a tradition in social science journals of including opposing opinions alongside new, cutting-edge research, Forums are designed to foster a debate about contested issues in the fields we study. 

Each Forum presents a main article of 10,000 words (not including notes) offering a new take on an important issue in the literature, engaging with an important essay or scholarly publication, or exploring paradigm shifts in the field.  Two to four other scholars in the field present their critiques of the featured article in responses of 3,000 to 6,000 words, not including notes.  The author of the featured article rounds out the debate with a final rebuttal of 3,000 to 6,000 words, not including notes.  Another scholar in the field provides an introduction to the Forum with an overview of the discussion and introduction to the debate.

Special Issues

The Americas invites scholars to propose thematic Special Issues consisting of four to six research articles revolving around the issue theme.  Special issues are evaluated by the Editorial Board and then sent out to external readers.  All articles need to adhere to the standards of the journal and the Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any individual essay.  As with research articles, Special Issues dealing with comparative and interdisciplinary themes need to have, as a whole, a geographic primary focus on Latin America, including the Caribbean, and a primary disciplinary focus on history.

To propose a Special Issue, send a prospectus to the Associate Editor for Special Projects or to the Editor, outlining the theme, the envisioned articles, timeline for completion, and identifying the Guest Editors for the Special Issue who will coordinate with article authors.

Additionally, The Americas also publishes the following categories of commissioned articles:

Review Essay

Review essays allow invited scholars the space and latitude to discuss multiple recently published works on a selected topic.  Reviewers assess the collective contributions to a field, innovative perspectives, new knowledge, range of sources, and methods of interpretation in 3,000- 5,000 words.  Cambridge considers these Review Essays original research content.  Although most Review Essays are commissioned, interested authors can contact the Book Review editors with a proposal for a review essay listing at least three books they would review.

Vault Collections: Special Teaching and Research Collections for The Americas

The TAM Vault series illuminates historiographical trends in Latin American history as well as key articles in the journal’s back catalog for both a scholarly and general audience. This series was designed with instructors constructing syllabi or looking for a classroom-ready article on historiographical trends in mind, and are proposed, researched, and written by TAM Vault Associates.  Vault Associates are advanced graduate students or post-doctoral scholars within three years of completing their PhDs who are selected through a competitive process.

Interviews

The Americas publishes interviews with scholars with long records of distinguished service to the profession, usually retired or at Emeritus rank, who have significantly contributed to the field of Latin American history.  Interviews are usually 7,000 to 12,500 words and typically provide a conversational overview of their life in the discipline, the profession, and their contributions to the field.  While the Journal will usually invite a scholar to interview this colleague, we will consider proposals for potential Interviews.

Obituaries

The Journal publishes obituaries for colleagues in the field of Latin American history.  Obituaries are typically 3,000-5,000 words and the Journal will often invite a colleague to write these memorials.