POLITICAL THEORY

Scope & Guideline

Illuminating Political Landscapes Since 1973

Introduction

Welcome to your portal for understanding POLITICAL THEORY, featuring guidelines for its aims and scope. Our guidelines cover trending and emerging topics, identifying the forefront of research. Additionally, we track declining topics, offering insights into areas experiencing reduced scholarly attention. Key highlights include highly cited topics and recently published papers, curated within these guidelines to assist you in navigating influential academic dialogues.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0090-5917
PublisherSAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1973 to 2024
AbbreviationPOLIT THEORY / Polit. Theory
Frequency6 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address2455 TELLER RD, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91320

Aims and Scopes

The journal "Political Theory" aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of political thought, engaging with both classical and contemporary issues in political philosophy. It seeks to contribute to the critical discourse surrounding democracy, justice, and the role of power in shaping societies.
  1. Critical Engagement with Political Ideologies:
    The journal emphasizes critical analysis of various political ideologies, including liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and populism, exploring their implications for contemporary governance and social justice.
  2. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    It incorporates methodologies from philosophy, sociology, history, and cultural studies, promoting a rich dialogue between different disciplines to address complex political issues.
  3. Historical and Contemporary Contextualization:
    The journal prioritizes both historical perspectives and current events, examining how past political theories inform present-day political challenges and movements.
  4. Focus on Marginalized Voices:
    There is a strong emphasis on including marginalized perspectives, such as feminist, postcolonial, and indigenous viewpoints, to enrich political discourse and critique dominant narratives.
  5. Democratic Theory and Practice:
    The journal explores the dynamics of democracy, including participatory practices, the challenges posed by populism, and the role of civil society in democratic governance.
  6. Ethics and Political Responsibility:
    It addresses ethical considerations in politics, examining the responsibilities of individuals and institutions in fostering justice, equality, and the common good.
The journal "Political Theory" has witnessed the emergence of several themes that reflect current political realities and intellectual shifts. This section outlines the trending topics that are gaining traction among scholars.
  1. Populism and Its Challenges:
    Recent issues have increasingly tackled the complexities of populism, exploring its implications for democracy and civil discourse, reflecting a broader societal concern about rising populist movements globally.
  2. Environmental Politics and Climate Justice:
    There is a growing trend towards examining the intersection of political theory and environmental issues, emphasizing climate justice, sustainability, and the ethical dimensions of ecological politics.
  3. Decolonization and Indigenous Rights:
    Emerging discussions around decolonization and indigenous rights are gaining prominence, focusing on the need to rethink political frameworks to include indigenous perspectives and address historical injustices.
  4. Digital Democracy and Technology:
    The impact of technology on democracy and governance is becoming a significant theme, with scholars analyzing the effects of digital platforms on political participation, representation, and civil liberties.
  5. Intersectionality and Social Justice:
    There is an increasing focus on intersectionality as a critical framework for understanding social justice issues, examining how various forms of oppression intersect and affect political agency.
  6. The Role of Emotions in Politics:
    An emerging area of interest is the exploration of emotions in political contexts, investigating how emotions shape political behavior, identity, and collective movements.

Declining or Waning

While "Political Theory" continues to evolve, certain themes have seen a decline in prominence over recent years. This section highlights those areas that appear to be waning in focus, reflecting shifts in scholarly attention and societal contexts.
  1. Classical Political Theories:
    There seems to be a reduction in the exploration of classical political theories as primary frameworks for analysis, with more emphasis placed on contemporary issues and emerging theories.
  2. Traditional Liberalism:
    Discussions centered around traditional liberalism are becoming less frequent, as the journal increasingly critiques and moves beyond this framework to address more radical and alternative political ideologies.
  3. Focus on National Politics:
    There has been a noticeable decline in papers focusing solely on national political systems, with a growing interest in transnational and global political dynamics overshadowing localized analyses.
  4. Historical Contextualization of Western Political Thought:
    While historical perspectives are still valued, there is less emphasis on Western political thought as a singular narrative, as the journal diversifies its focus to include non-Western philosophies and critiques.

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