The Newsletter guidelines and deadlines for contributors 2024

Please keep our broad readership in mind. We favour articles that place research in context, contain clear argument and appeal to the intelligent layman. We also occasionally publish opinion pieces: articles not directly based on empirical research, but discussions that are relevant to current affairs, research methods, education, political developments, etc.

Contributions do not go through a process of peer review – responsibility for copyrights, facts and opinions expressed in the publication rests with the authors.

Contributions should not have been published elsewhere, or have been submitted to another publication for consideration. If a contribution has already been published in a (substantially) different structure, then please inform the editor of this so that the appropriate references can be made.

Authors interested in contributing are strongly encouraged to read previous issues first, to become familiar with our style.

Contributions must be written in grammatically correct and clear English, and have preferably already been (professionally) edited. Submissions with severe language issues will be returned for revision.

Please submit all contributions by email to thenewsletter@iias.nl with documents attached. Images should be attached separately.

Upcoming deadlines for drafts of research articles 
(please notify the editor of your intent to contribute in advance so that a number of pages can be earmarked for your submission)

  • Spring 2025 #100 (pub date April 2025) - deadline: 1 November 2024
  • Fall 2025 #101 (pub date October 2025) - deadline: 1 May 2025

General Information

  • Articles should be 1400-1700 words (for one-page articles) OR 2500-3600 words (for two-page articles). Book reviews should be 800-1200 words.
    • These word counts include endnotes.
  • Please provide a title, a lead paragraph (less than 100 words, not an abstract), and at least 2-3 section headings.
  • We encourage authors to submit images to accompany their articles. Please include at least 2-3 images with all submissions.
    • Certain images, at the editor’s discretion, may be uploaded onto the IIAS website as part of a virtual gallery. If you do not want your images considered for this forum, please communicate that early to the editors. Moreover, if your images are included on the website, please note that they may also be taken down without notice. Therefore, authors should always keep their own images backed up independently.
  • At the end of your article, include a brief biography (maximum 50 words). At minimum, the biographical note should include your name, affiliation, institution, location, and email address.
    • Example: John Doe is an Assistant Professor of History at Elm Grove College (United States). His work explores questions of nationalism, democracy, and grassroots activism in Central Asia. Email: jzdoe@elmgrove.edu
  • All submissions should be laid out in the following order:
    • Image captions (with clearly-labeled image files sent separately)
    • Title of article
    • Author Name
    • Lead Paragraph
    • Main body of article
    • Brief Author Biographical Note
    • Endnotes
  • In general, we publish articles aimed at an “educated non-specialist” readership. Please calibrate articles accordingly. For examples, please browse through our previously published issues: http://www.iias.asia/the-newsletter

Types of Submissions

  • The Study
    • These are stand-alone articles accepted in consultation with the Newsletter’s editorial team. They can deal with any issue related to Asia.
  • The Tone
    • The Tone features works of creativity and curation. While this includes traditional museums and exhibitions, we increasingly encourage contributors to think in broader terms about artistic output: film and literary festivals, street art, digital media, musical recordings, crafts, and more. To pitch an article for this section, please reach out to the editorial team (TheNewsletter@iias.nl).
      • Tone articles can be a bit shorter than Study articles, as we hope authors will submit high-quality images to complement the text 2.
      • In addition to images, we welcome all types of audio-visual material, to complement your article online.
  • The Slate
    • This section is devoted to pedagogy and educational praxis, both in and beyond the classroom. It is a space for educators and researchers to explore the debates, practices, challenges, and opportunities of 21st-century education. “The Slate” can take many forms, encompassing everything from personal reflections to practical resources for educators (e.g., syllabi, field exercises, etc.), from critical essays on traditional education to experimental teaching strategies. With this section, we seek perspectives that decolonize conventional curricula and pedagogies. Through socially and civically engaged approaches, the section aims to foster alternative models for education that are grounded in contemporary experience and which strive towards greater accessibility, innovation, and critical engagement.
      • As with The Tone, articles for this section can be a bit shorter than Study articles, as we hope authors will complement contributions with multiple images.
  • The Focus
    • This is a special section in each issue that compiles multiple articles on a particular theme. The Focus is put together by an external guest editor, so we do not accept single submissions for this section. If you would like to propose a theme for a Focus section, please contact the editorial team (TheNewsletter@iias.nl)

For more detailed instructions on preparing a manuscript, consult The Newsletter’s full style guide here.

Please note that The Newsletter never guarantees publication.

The Newsletter
Paramita Paul, Chief Editor of The Newsletter
International Institute for Asian Studies
P.O. Box 9500 / 2300 RA Leiden / the Netherlands
T +31(0)71 527 2227