We are looking for an editorial team to take over the running of our Gold Open Access journal, Political Research Exchange (PRX), from late 2023.
The closing date for applications is 17 April 2023.
On this page
About the journal
About the current editorial team
About the new team
How to apply
What happens next
Launched in 2018 in partnership with Taylor & Francis, Political Research Exchange (PRX) is our first Open Access journal. It offers a dynamic platform to advance research, innovation and debate across the breadth of political science.
PRX received its first Citescore from Scopus of 1.7 (184/608 Political Science and International Relations) in 2021; in 2023 it will receive its first Clarivate ESCI Impact Factor, which is currently estimated to be over 2.
Published online with Gold Open Access and swift publication times, PRX leverages the digital format to deepen and enrich scholarly communication. With significant subsidies on normal upfront OA costs (including APC waivers for authors from ECPR member institutions), PRX signals a commitment of the ECPR as a scholarly association to forging a cogent path for the research community at this crucial juncture when academic publishing is becoming fundamentally transformed.
The journal welcomes significant theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions from all fields, including comparative politics, international politics/international relations, political communication, political sociology, political thought, public administration, and interdisciplinary work with a predominantly political dimension.
PRX builds on four pillars: quality, depth, accessibility and exchange.
The present editorial team comprises of Simona Guerra (University of Surrey) and Alexandra Segerberg (Uppsala University), who are supported by a team of 20 Associate Editors representing the ECPR community and drawn from its Standing Groups and Research Networks.
Simona and Alex’s term is due to complete on 30 September 2023; the Associate Editors' terms run separately and as such the new Editors will be invited to set out how they intend to work with and develop the wider editorial team to increase submission and expand impact.
The editorial team benefits from significant practical and institutional support from ECPR. The journal has a dedicated Editorial Coordinator, who is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the editorial and production process, as well as coordinating social media content and marketing activities undertaken by both ECPR and the publisher.
The Editors receive an annual fee and a travel fund to support attendance at international conferences for the purpose of promoting and furthering the success of the journal.
We wish to build on the foundations laid by the inaugural editorial team, continuing to adhere to high academic standards built on rigorous peer review and ongoing creative innovation.
The key priorities for the journal over the next term include:
- growth in submissions from across the discipline;
- enhancement of the Impact Factor;
- adaptation to publishing landscape changes;
- commitment to equality and diversity.
We are looking for an editorial team with the strength and institutional support to build on the excellent work and trajectory set by the current team and fully establish PRX as a world-leading journal.
The successful team will consist of at least two excellent scholars with an internationally recognised track record and editorial experience. They will have the energy and dynamism, and broad international networks needed to build on the early success of the journal and take it to the next stage in its development as a key publication in ECPR’s portfolio. The team will also be balanced in terms of gender and sensitive to diversity.
At least one Editor should be based in a European institution, and all Editors must be affiliated with an ECPR Member institution or have a commitment from their institution to become a Member.
The Editors will work collaboratively with ECPR, the wider editorial team and the publisher on the overall editorial strategy and are expected to attend regular meetings, both in person and online in order to report on the journal’s development.
Commencing October 2023, the tenure is six years, to be reviewed at the mid-point.
Applications should be submitted before
17 April 2023 by email to the Chair of the Search Committee, Giliberto Capano care of the Editorial Office (
prx@ecpr.eu).
Proposals should not exceed 5,000 words (excluding the CVs) and should include the components outlined below.
1. Statement of strategic editorial vision for the journal, including, for example:
- Review of status of the journal and work achieved to date;
- Opportunities for development and growth;
- Plans for new initiatives and innovations;
- Plans for outreach and promotion, including social media strategy, etc.
2. Statement of editorial management
- Plans for working with the Associate Editors to meet objectives set in editorial mission;
- Role of the editorial board in meeting mission;
- Peer-review strategy;
- Handling of complaints;
- Statement of commitment to equality and diversity both with regard to the composition of the editorial team and the editorial board, as well as the content of the journal itself.
3. Description of the editorial team
- Key roles and responsibilities of each member;
- CVs (max 5 pages) of all members.
Editorial and administrative support is provided for the journal by ECPR, along with an annual travel fund for the Editors. Please also indicate if the host departments or universities can provide any additional resources or support to the editorial team in the running of the journal.
ECPR’s Publications Subcommittee (of its Executive Committee) will act as the search committee, chaired by Giliberto Capano, and supported by PRX Editorial Coordinator.
Queries about the editorial responsibilities and the application procedure should be addressed to the Editorial Coordinator in the first instance (prx@ecpr.eu).
Shortlisted teams will be interviewed by Zoom in June 2023, and the decision will be communicated by the end of July 2023.
A handover will take place in September ahead of the official appointment on 1 October 2023.
For further information about the role, please contact
prx@ecpr.eu.
