Recent arguments from policy-makers have suggested the need for greater engagement between policy-making and academic sectors. This is being institutionalized in the UKREF process, through a measurement of 'impact'. In the USA the American Political Science Association recently had to respond to an amendment in the Senate to eliminate funding for Political Science research from the National Science Foundation (APSA, 2009; Cohen, 2009). Such pressure on the discipline is indicative of the times and there is an external imperative for the broader discipline of Politics and International Relations to demonstrate direct engagement with policy-related matters. The BJPIR editorial team consequently feel that the time is right for an occasional section, to address the interface between policy and the discipline. A brief discussion section entitled 'Policy Matters' is therefore being introduced in order to showcase work in Political Studies and International Relations, which demonstrates the types of impact that our work can have in understanding the various political and international phenomena we deal with. [The first article under the 'Policy Matters' banner is linked here.]

Policy Matters pieces should be between 3-5,000 words, they too should be submitted through manuscript central, should be clearly marked as Policy Matters pieces and can be:

  • A commentary, analysis or critique of a contemporary policy issue, or institutional change
  • Theoretical reflection or testing of the impact of particular policies
  • An assessment, or evaluation of the political dynamics shaping a particular policy area and the process of policy formulation and implementation.