Journal of Democracy
The Journal of Democracy opened its doors in 1990 as a quarterly academic publication. It emerged from the National Endowment for Democracy's International Forum for Democratic Studies. This organization sought to study democratic regimes and pro-democracy movements across the globe. The journal covers scholarly research alongside reports from activists working on the ground. It also provides updates on elections and reviews recent literature in the field. A core question remains about how such an institution shapes global understanding of democracy.
Editors at the Johns Hopkins University Press commission most articles before they appear. They do consider unsolicited submissions from outside researchers. The journal does not perform formal peer review on every single submission. Some manuscripts are sent to outside scholars or specialists for comments and evaluation. This selective system allows flexibility while maintaining academic standards. The process balances commissioned work with open calls for new ideas.
Writers published in the journal have included Václav Havel, the Dalai Lama, and Zbigniew Brzezinski. These figures represent diverse perspectives on democratic governance and human rights. Their contributions bring weight to the pages of this quarterly publication. The presence of such names signals the journal's reach into high-level political discourse. Readers encounter voices that span continents and ideological divides within its issues.
Robinson further criticized the Journal of Democracy's sponsor, the National Endowment for Democracy. He claimed the organization funded independent Polish labor unions during the 1980s. Robinson wrote that Poland was targeted for destabilization by these efforts. NED-aided Polish unions were encouraged to mount explicitly political actions against governments. Critics argue these actions undermined existing state structures rather than supporting business management. The debate continues over whether such funding promotes democracy or creates conflict.
According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal has a 4.663 impact factor as of 2021. This metric reflects how often articles are cited by other academic works. It places the publication among respected journals in political science and international relations. The Johns Hopkins University Press manages distribution through Project MUSE and their own website. Scholars rely on these metrics when evaluating sources for research papers and policy briefs.
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Common questions
When did the Journal of Democracy open its doors?
The Journal of Democracy opened its doors in 1990 as a quarterly academic publication. It emerged from the National Endowment for Democracy's International Forum for Democratic Studies to study democratic regimes and pro-democracy movements across the globe.
Who publishes articles in the Journal of Democracy?
Writers published in the journal have included Václav Havel, the Dalai Lama, and Zbigniew Brzezinski. These figures represent diverse perspectives on democratic governance and human rights within its issues.
Does the Journal of Democracy perform formal peer review on every submission?
The journal does not perform formal peer review on every single submission. Some manuscripts are sent to outside scholars or specialists for comments and evaluation while editors at the Johns Hopkins University Press commission most articles before they appear.
What criticism did Robinson make about the Journal of Democracy sponsor?
Robinson further criticized the Journal of Democracy's sponsor, the National Endowment for Democracy, claiming the organization funded independent Polish labor unions during the 1980s. He wrote that Poland was targeted for destabilization by these efforts which encouraged unions to mount explicitly political actions against governments.
What is the impact factor of the Journal of Democracy as of 2021?
According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal has a 4.663 impact factor as of 2021. This metric reflects how often articles are cited by other academic works and places the publication among respected journals in political science and international relations.