From the New Editors: Contemporary Security Policy at the Nexus of Theory and Policy

摘要

These are ironic times to be taking responsibility for a journal like Contemporary Security Policy. The number of academic journals devoted to any topic is proliferating at a breathtaking pace, but their influence is increasingly dubious. Political science journals are flourishing as never before, but lag events more and more, playing a frustrating game of catch-up. More analysts and scholars are writing than ever, with better insight than ever. But even the best combination of quantity and quality does not guarantee influence. Whether it is setting goals, shaping debate or framing the agenda, the salience of academic journals is in danger of being overshadowed. The most important debates in international security tend to occur elsewhere. Not even traditional rivals, policy journals like Foreign Affairs or The National Interest, can keep up; their contributions are increasingly intermittent too.