Contemporary Political Theory

Scope & Guideline

Illuminating the Complexities of Modern Political Dynamics

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Contemporary Political Theory with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1470-8914
PublisherPALGRAVE MACMILLAN LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2009 to 2024
AbbreviationCONTEMP POLIT THEORY / Contemp. Polit. Theory
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressBRUNEL RD BLDG, HOUNDMILLS, BASINGSTOKE RG21 6XS, HANTS, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

Contemporary Political Theory is dedicated to exploring and analyzing the dynamic intersections of political thought and contemporary issues. The journal's focus encompasses a diverse range of themes, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks, fostering a rich dialogue on critical political concepts.
  1. Interdisciplinary Engagement:
    The journal promotes interdisciplinary approaches, drawing insights from philosophy, sociology, history, and cultural studies to enrich political theory.
  2. Critical Examination of Power Structures:
    A consistent focus on analyzing various power dynamics, including state authority, neoliberalism, and socio-political injustices, is evident in the published works.
  3. Exploration of Democratic Practices:
    The journal emphasizes the study of democracy in its various forms, including participatory democracy, deliberative practices, and the challenges posed by populism and authoritarianism.
  4. Thematic Diversity:
    A wide range of themes is covered, from feminist and decolonial theories to environmental politics and the implications of digital technology on democracy.
  5. Historical and Contemporary Contextualization:
    Papers often contextualize political theories within both historical frameworks and contemporary crises, facilitating a deeper understanding of ongoing social and political challenges.
Recent publications indicate a clear evolution in the themes explored within Contemporary Political Theory. Emerging topics reveal an increasing responsiveness to contemporary global issues and societal shifts, suggesting a dynamic and evolving research landscape.
  1. Decolonial and Anti-Colonial Theories:
    There is a marked rise in works addressing decolonization, indigenous rights, and anti-colonial frameworks, reflecting a growing commitment to addressing historical injustices and contemporary implications.
  2. Intersectionality and Feminist Perspectives:
    The journal has seen an increase in feminist theories, particularly those that incorporate intersectional analyses, addressing the complexities of gender, race, and class in political contexts.
  3. Digital Democracy and Algorithmic Governance:
    Emerging discussions focus on the implications of digital technologies for democratic practices, including algorithmic governance and the challenges posed by surveillance capitalism.
  4. Environmental Political Theory:
    The urgency of climate change and environmental degradation has led to a burgeoning discourse on environmental political theories, emphasizing sustainability and ecological justice.
  5. Populism and Democratic Resilience:
    Recent publications increasingly explore the phenomenon of populism, its impact on democratic institutions, and strategies for sustaining democratic resilience in the face of populist threats.

Declining or Waning

While the journal has maintained a vibrant discourse on many political themes, certain areas are becoming less prominent. This decline may reflect shifting academic interests or the saturation of specific topics within the field.
  1. Traditional Liberalism:
    There appears to be a waning interest in classical liberalism as a standalone framework, with more focus shifting towards critiques of liberalism and explorations of alternative political ideologies.
  2. Eurocentrism in Political Theory:
    Discussions rooted in Eurocentric perspectives seem to be declining, as the journal increasingly embraces global and postcolonial viewpoints.
  3. Theoretical Abstractions without Practical Application:
    There is a noticeable decrease in papers that engage with purely theoretical abstractions that lack direct applicability to contemporary political issues, reflecting a preference for more grounded analyses.

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