Deadline: June 15, 2025

In fall 2025, International Organization will publish a supplemental, online-only issue of the journal, focused on the Future of Global Governance and World Order. The issue will comprise several short peer-reviewed articles, each within a 4000-word limit. We view this special section as a means for scholars of international politics to offer theoretically-informed assessments of the future of international politics, given the dramatic shifts we are witnessing in United States policies and priorities, and the resulting consequences of those shifts globally.

The evolving (and perhaps dissolving) set of international institutions and the increased salience of geopolitical dynamics suggests a transitional moment in international politics, perhaps analogous in its impact to the end of the Cold War. We seek submissions that engage one or more aspects of this moment from the point of view of academic scholarship in international relations. In addition to being informed by current theories and/or empirical evidence, these submissions could be forward-looking and speculative in their conclusions about what this political realignment means for conflicts and cooperation in the coming decades. We note that purely policy-focused pieces are unlikely to fit this special section.

Submissions are due no later than June 15, 2025. 

They are limited to 4000 words, including footnotes. As always, references do not count toward IO’s word limit.

IO’s regular editorial process applies for these submissions: the editorial team will conduct an initial review of all submissions and decide which ones will be sent out for external review. Those sent for external review will be reviewed blindly. We aim for a quick turnaround, ideally providing decisions on submissions by the end of July. Authors who submit manuscripts for consideration should be prepared to make revisions and copyedits, if invited, by no later than August 31, 2025.

To submit, please use the Editorial Manager system. Select the special submission type “short essay-Future IR.” Please contact our managing editor Elana Matthews (managingeditor@iojournal.org) with any questions.