Political Science Quarterly
The year 1886 marked the birth of a new academic voice in American political science. John W. Burgess, serving as the first president of the Academy of Political Science, initiated the project alongside George A. Plimpton. Plimpton operated as a publisher based in New York and provided essential resources for the launch. Burgess brought his affiliation with Columbia University to the table during these early planning stages. The journal emerged from their shared vision to create a dedicated space for scholarly debate on government and policy.
Demetrios James Caraley took control of the publication in 1973 while holding a position at Columbia University. He guided the journal through four decades of changing academic landscapes until 2020. His tenure spanned forty-three years without interruption or change in leadership style. Robert Y. Shapiro now serves as editor-in-chief following Caraley's departure. Shapiro maintains an active role at Columbia University while overseeing current editorial decisions.
Journal Citation Reports assigned the publication an impact factor of 2.675 in 2020. This score placed it at number 60 among 183 journals within the Political Science category. SCImago Journal Rank calculated a score of 1.025 for the same period. That ranking positioned the journal at 159 out of 1316 entries in Sociology and Political Science fields. These metrics reflect its standing relative to other peer-reviewed publications globally.
Each standard issue contains five or six original research articles for readers to examine. The format also accommodates up to forty book reviews alongside those primary studies. This structure allows the Academy of Political Science to cover both new scholarship and existing literature simultaneously. Government, politics, and policy remain the core subjects covered by every edition. The double blind peer review process ensures that all submissions meet rigorous academic standards before publication.
The Academy of Political Science has published this journal continuously since 1886. John W. Burgess served as the academy's first president when the organization was founded. George A. Plimpton acted as the New York publisher who helped establish the initial operations. Columbia University provided key leadership through Burgess and later editors like Caraley. The institution's long-term commitment ensured survival through over a century of academic evolution.
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Common questions
Who founded Political Science Quarterly in 1886?
John W. Burgess and George A. Plimpton founded Political Science Quarterly in 1886. Burgess served as the first president of the Academy of Political Science while Plimpton operated as a publisher based in New York.
When did Demetrios James Caraley take control of Political Science Quarterly?
Demetrios James Caraley took control of Political Science Quarterly in 1973. He guided the journal through forty-three years of leadership until his departure in 2020.
What is the impact factor of Political Science Quarterly in 2020?
Journal Citation Reports assigned an impact factor of 2.675 to Political Science Quarterly in 2020. This score placed the publication at number 60 among 183 journals within the Political Science category.
How many research articles does each issue of Political Science Quarterly contain?
Each standard issue of Political Science Quarterly contains five or six original research articles. The format also accommodates up to forty book reviews alongside those primary studies.
Who currently serves as editor-in-chief of Political Science Quarterly?
Robert Y. Shapiro now serves as editor-in-chief of Political Science Quarterly following the departure of Demetrios James Caraley. Shapiro maintains an active role at Columbia University while overseeing current editorial decisions.