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New editorial team for Review of International Studies: Call for expressions of interest

BISA is the leading UK professional association for International Studies scholars and postgraduate research students. We develop and promote International Studies through our publications, research, academic networks and funding opportunities. We’re known for our progressive, vibrant community, our annual conference, our lively and strong research networks, and our influential and high-quality publications. We publish two field-leading journals, in partnership with Cambridge University Press: Review of International Studies; and European Journal of International Security.

We are seeking to appoint a new editorial team for Review of International Studies. This is an exciting opportunity to edit one of the discipline’s leading journals, which has a global reputation for its pluralist and inclusive approach to International Studies.

About Review of International Studies

Review of International Studies (RIS) is our flagship journal, and enjoyed its 50th anniversary in 2024. It aims to publish cutting-edge articles that initiate or lead contemporary debates in International Relations research regardless of theoretical, methodological or empirical focus. RIS currently publishes six issues per year.

The current editorial team, led by Andy Hom (University of Edinburgh), Somita Basu (South Asian University), and Cian O’Driscoll (Australian National University), will complete their term at the end of December 2027.

Expressions of interest are now invited for the next editorial team contract. The next editorial team will be appointed for an initial term of four years. This can be extended for up to a further four years by mutual agreement, subject to review.

Expressions of interest – Guidance

Expressions of interest are limited to three pages, and should provide:

1. Details of the proposed editorial team

One of the lead editors should hold an open-ended academic position in a relevant university department based in the UK. The expression of interest should provide evidence that a bid for the editorship has the full support of the host department, including any workload relief allocated to editors. Editorial teams should be comprised of academics from more than one university and, ideally, from more than one country. The last three editorial teams have been global, and have sought to expand the journal’s global reputation, and we are keen for this to continue. All members of the team should be members of BISA. Teams can include members at all career stages, but evidence should be provided that some members of the team have prior experience of journal editing. Where more junior colleagues are proposed members of the team, expressions of interest should outline how they will be supported in their editorial team by more experienced members. Clear thought should be given to the diversity of the team, in line with BISA’s EDI commitments. CVs of all proposed team members should accompany the expression of interest. We take very seriously the promotion of published authors’ work, so expressions of interest should provide clear plans for the continuation of digital and social media promotion plans. RIS currently offers all authors the opportunity to provide either a video abstract embedded within their article, or a written summary of the article to be published on the BISA website. The journal also has a strong presence on multiple social media platforms and participates in the BISA and sister association conferences/events.

2. A clear strategy to:

  • Continue attracting and publishing scholarship of the highest quality from across the discipline of International Studies
  • Play an active role in realising our commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, building on the work of previous editorial teams to increase the volume of work published where women are authors, and to publish work from diverse voices across the discipline and the globe
  • Further strengthen the journal’s international reputation in terms of author and readership base
  • Raise the profile of the journal through social media and other marketing strategies
  • Promote published authors’ work through digital media, including continuation of video abstracts
  • Maximise engagement of BISA members with the journal through the annual conference, working groups, sister associations, and virtual/in-person events
  • Strategy for convening high-quality special issues (usually one per volume/calendar year) and forums
  • Manage the day-to-day business of the journal (~500 submissions per year), including the management of the review process, the division of labour across the team, and the promotion of the journal.

3. Host department support:

Cambridge University Press (CUP) provides appropriate financial and other support which reflects the international standing of the journal. The financial support is currently in the form of a stipend, which covers administrative support for submission management, social media activity, and funds to support travel by editors to promote the journal. 

It would be helpful to include in the expression of interest any support proposed by the team’s host department(s), in terms of staff time and/or additional resources.

Duties of editors

As well as having strategic oversight of the journal, and being responsible for the day-to-day management, the editorial team will be contracted to periodically attend the BISA Executive Committee meetings, to attend the annual BISA conference and to organise at least one panel session each year, as well as engage with ‘Meet the Editor’ events aimed at early-career researchers where the opportunity arises. Regular participation in global conferences such as ISA and EISA to promote the journal is also expected, while being considerate of BISA’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Editors are required to submit annual reports to the BISA Executive Committee and to participate in any training required by CUP and BISA. They are also expected to maintain regular communications with BISA and CUP. The arrangement is formalised in an Agreement for Editorial Services between BISA and the host UK university of the lead editor, and this includes undertaking to abide by and uphold BISA’s various policies and codes of conduct.

Timeline and contacts

  • 27 September 2026: Deadline for expressions of interest
  • 16 October 2026: BISA feedback on expressions of interest
  • 29 November 2026: Deadline for full proposals
  • January 2027: Interviews with prospective editorial teams

Expressions of interest should be sent to Freya Jones (office@bisa.ac.uk), and should include: three-page expression of interest and the CVs of proposed editorial team members. The closing date for expressions of interest is: 27 September 2026.

Feedback will be provided to teams by 16 October 2026, including a determination on whether teams are invited to submit a full proposal. The deadline for full proposals is 29 November 2026. We anticipate conducting interviews with shortlisted teams in January 2027.

The current editors are happy to be contacted by email: RISeditors@bisa.ac.uk. BISA Chair, Professor Juanita Elias, will be chairing the selection process and also welcomes any questions by email: juanita.elias@warwick.ac.uk