Why Submit to International Affairs?

International Affairs is one of the world's leading journals of international relations and one of the few to cover the entire discipline. Discover 10 reasons to submit your research to the journal today:

1. Leading journal in international relations

International Affairs' Journal Impact Factor™ is 3.9 (Source: Clarivate, 2024). Browse some of the most highly cited research that has contributed to our continued success here.

2. Rapid time to first decision

In 2021, the average time to first decision was 17 days. 

Michal Smetana, Research Fellow and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague:

"Publishing in [International Affairs] was a great experience – a fast and professional peer-review process, great editorial comments, swift publication. Much recommended." 

3. Committed to diversity

The journal is committed to supporting under-represented researchers within the discipline: 

• The 50:50 in 2020 Initiative
  In 2020 the editorial team worked to ensure gender parity in articles published throughout the year. Find out more about the journal's progress in the latest gender balance report.

• The Early Career Diversity Initiative
  Senior scholars from the journal's editorial board mentor participants through the article publishing process, building their capacity to produce high-quality research and, in turn, aiming to make the journal more inclusive and representative.

T.V. Paul, James McGill Professor of International Relations in the department of Political Science at McGill University:

"The editors have made a conscious effort to be inclusive by targeting women and under-represented racial minority scholars to submit and help publish more articles (without losing quality). A great lesson for other mainstream IR journals which still cater to small group of scholars in the global north!"

4. Global readership

International Affairs was read by researchers in over 150 countries in 2021. 

5. Access to policymakers

Articles published in International Affairs gain exposure among the journal's policy audience, including 106 governments and intergovernmental organizations, and the wider Chatham House network.

6. Proactive marketing 

International Affairs' authors benefit from dedicated marketing of their work from both Chatham House and Oxford University Press.  

7. Early Career Prize

The International Affairs Early Career Prize is awarded each year to the author(s) of an outstanding International Affairs article who have not have been engaged in the International Relations field for longer than 7 years. Find out more about the prize here.

8. Rigorous, double-blind peer review process

All articles are reviewed by the journal's internationally recognised editorial team. Manuscripts that meet the journal's quality standards and scope are sent for double-blind peer review, usually to a minimum of two independent reviewers.

Jeanette Money, Professor Department of Political Science, University of California, Davis:

"Dear Copy Editor: Thank you for your skills; I think this is the best copy editing I have received in my entire career. I appreciate your care and attention, as well as your way with words!"

9. Option to publish Open Access

International Affairs offers the option of publishing under either a standard licence or an open access licence. Find out more.

10. Owned by a renowned policy institute, published by an academic publisher

International Affairs was founded by and is edited at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, a respected policy institute that has shaped the IR discipline for over 100 years. The journal is published by Oxford University Press (OUP), a department of the University of Oxford. OUP furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.