Ethnic and Racial Studies

Ethnic and Racial Studies is the leading international journal for the analysis of the role of race, racism, ethnicity, migration and forms of ethno-nationalism. These social phenomena are at the heart of many of the major social and political issues in the modern world. As the leading journal in these areas we seek to provide an interdisciplinary academic forum for the presentation of original research and theoretical analysis, drawing particularly on sociology, social policy, anthropology, political science, international relations, geography, history, social psychology and cultural studies.

We welcome contributions from established scholars and early career researchers who are producing cutting edge empirical and theoretical work in our main areas of interest in all areas of the world. Our global orientation is evidenced in the wide range of articles we publish by scholars from all over the world as well as in the variety of special issues we produce. We particularly welcome contributions from scholars based in the Global South.

Articles in the journal are normally 9000 words. All are peer reviewed by two or more referees. Each volume is composed of sixteen issues, and is typically made up of a mixture of regular and special issues, and three Review issues. Proposals for special issues are considered by the editors on a regular basis and we work with the guest editors to peer review the issue and produce it to the highest standard. The ERS Review issues offer expert guidance to the latest research through the publication of book reviews, symposia on books of current interest or issues of current contention, discussion pieces and longer articles of up to 12000 words that provide an overview of particular fields of research and analysis.

Authors can choose to publish gold open access in this journal.

Read the Instructions for Authors for information on how to submit your article.

Peer Review Policy:
Ethnic and Racial Studies operates a double-anonymous peer review system whereby the authors’ and reviewers’ identities are concealed from each other.

All submissions receive an initial desk assessment by the Editor in Chief to ensure the paper makes an original contribution and is a good fit with the journal’s Aims and Scope and follows the Instructions for Authors. If an article doesn’t pass these initial checks the Editor in Chief might reject the article immediately. This is known as a ‘desk reject’, and is a decision made at the editor’s discretion based on their substantial experience and subject expertise. Having this initial screening in place facilitates a quick decision if a manuscript isn’t suitable for the journal, enabling the author to submit to another journal without delay. Desk reject decisions are normally communicated within two weeks of submission. If an article does pass the initial assessment it will move to the next stage being the Peer Review process.

All Peer Reviewers are asked to submit their feedback within one month and on average a first decision is communicated to authors within two months. Peer Reviewers complete an online form which includes a decision recommendation, optional space for confidential comments to editors and comments to authors. They can also upload an anonymised file as part of their feedback.

Ethnic and Racial Studies has an extensive database from which to select suitable reviewers as well as access to a 'Reviewer Locator' tool inbuilt within the Peer Review system.

Guest Editors of Special Issues supply names of reviewers which are used in conjunction with the journal’s own selections.

If a reviewer suggests rejecting a paper they are not typically asked to comment on a revised version of that paper.

All reviewers are granted 30-day access to Taylor & Francis content; reviewing activity can be recorded in Web of Science Reviewer Recognition Services (formerly Publons); the option for inclusion in the annual list publicly thanking reviewers.

Papers accepted for publication are published online ahead of a print issue normally within two months. In 2023 the acceptance rate for standard papers was 15%. In 2023 the average time from submission to first decision for all papers was 16 days, and submission to desk reject was 4 days.

The table below details the process for each article type published.

• Standard papers are published in Standard issues. They are up to 9,000 words. They are submitted papers and if they pass the initial process go through double anonymous peer review.
Number of peer reviews: 2
• Revised papers are those that make it through the initial peer review process, and typically receive recommendations of Revise and Resubmit or Major Revision. They are up to 9,000 words. They are submitted papers and those with an initial recommendation of Revise and Resubmit go through double anonymous peer review for a second time. Number of peer reviews: 2
• Special Issue papers are published in Special Issues. They are up to 9,000 words. Special Issues are proposed by Guest Editors, and they go through double anonymous peer review. Number of peer reviews: 3
• Themed issue papers are published in Themed Issues. These are standard papers that are selected by the Editor in Chief to be part of a Themed Issue because they coalesce around a particular theme.
Number of peer reviews: 2
• Review papers /Debates/Discussion papers are published in Review issues. They are up to 12,000 words. They are submitted, invited or proposed papers. They go through double anonymous peer review.
Number of peer reviews: 3
• Editorials are published in Standard issues. These are usually around 1000 words. Editorials are authored by the Editor in Chief and highlight developments in the journal.
Number of peer reviews: 0
• Guest Editorials are published in Review issues. They are up to 4,500 words. They are submitted, invited or proposed papers. They go through an internal review by the Journal office and the Editor in Chief.
Number of peer reviews: 0
• Special/Themed Issue Introductions/Commentary/Afterword: They are published in Special Themed Issues and are up to 4,500 words. These pieces are proposed by Guest Editors and go through internal review by the Journal office and the Editor in Chief.
Number of peer reviews: 0
• Book Reviews are published in Review issues and are up to 1,000 words. They are invited/proposed pieces and go through internal review by the Journal office and the Editor in Chief.
Number of peer reviews: 0
• Book Review Articles are published in Review issues. They are typically around 3000 words in length and cover a number of books. They are invited/proposed pieces that go through internal review by the Journal office and the Editor in Chief.
Number of peer reviews: 0
• Book Symposia items are published in Review issues and are up to 3,000 words. They are invited/proposed works that go through internal review by the Journal office and the Editor in Chief.
Number of peer reviews: 0
• Supplemental Files are online only and they vary in length. They are included by some authors. No review is required for supplemental files.

Referee Decisions

We ask referees to make one of the following recommendations to the Editor in Chief:

Accept: The paper is suitable for publication in its current form.

Provisional Accept: Authors are asked to optimize their paper for publication. At this stage requested changes are mainly stylistic.

Minor Revision: The paper will be ready for publication after light revisions. In the case of this recommendation the final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief

Major Revision: The paper needs substantial changes such as expanded data analysis, widening of the literature review, or rewriting sections of the text. In the case of this recommendation the final decision about the paper is made by the Editor-in -Chief.

Revise and Resubmit: The paper requires a substantial revision to remedy weaknesses in the data analysis, the literature review or the structure of the paper. In the case of this recommendation the paper will be returned to the reviewers for a 2nd round of peer review.

Reject: The paper isn’t suitable for publication with this journal, or the revisions are too fundamental for the submission to continue.

Endorsements

“ Ethnic and Racial Studies has led the field in shaping our understanding of the changing formations and complexities of race, ethnicity, nation and migration over the past four decades. A truly interdisciplinary and global journal which brings together leading scholars in the field with new scholars, new voices and new challenges, and which continually breaks new theoretical and empirical ground. ERS sets the standard for others to follow and its presence remains as, if not more, urgent today than ever."
Claire Alexander, Professor of Sociology, The University of Manchester

" Ethnic and Racial Studies continues, after 40 years, to be the leading journal in the field. It provides essential reading for those working on all aspects of race, ethnicity and migration publishing the highest quality inter-disciplinary, global and comparative research and scholarship. Ethnic and Racial Studies sets the agendas and advances the field theoretically, empirically and methodologically."
Alice Bloch, Professor of Sociology, The University of Manchester

"For almost forty-years, ERS has served as a platform for serious work in the broad area of racial and ethnic affairs. Unlike many other journals, ERS has remained open to new thinking and currents in the field as well as to innovative theoretical and methodological approaches to the subjects. Nevertheless, what I like the most about ERS is its unwavering commitment to racial and ethnic justice showing the social scientific community that there is no contradiction between having a passion for rigorous work and analysis and a complete dedication to building an inclusive and democratic world."

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Professor of Sociology, Duke University

" Ethnic and Racial Studies has established itself over its 40 years of publication as the leading journal for understanding the increasingly complex issues of racial and ethnic identities. It has moved with the times, broadening its initial European focus to become global in scope. In the 21st century it remains invaluable to a third generation of readers and authors."
Stephen Castles, Honorary Professor of Sociology, The University of Sydney

"Besides its excellence both theoretically and empirically, ERS impresses me with its ability to drive innovative thinking and to constantly re-question the field; its courage to engage with surprising and sometimes controversial perspectives; its receptiveness to a variety of approaches; and its truly international comprehensiveness. I cannot work without this journal which has provided over the years a constant inspiration for research and teaching. To be amongst its contributors is a source of pride and motivation."
Milena Chimienti, Professor of Sociology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland

"When I open the pages of ERS, I find many a study challenging established wisdom and asking substantive questions in the field of ethnicity, race, and migration. For me this journal is an indispensable source of inspiration for sharpening my research interests. ERS has helped to build a transnational community of researchers."
Thomas Faist, Professor of Sociology, Center on Migration, Citizenship and Development (COMCAD), Bielefeld University

" Ethnic and Racial Studies is on the cutting edge of new empirical and theoretical work around ethnicity and immigration. This journal sets the agenda for scholarship around the globe."
David FitzGerald, Professor of Sociology, University of California, San Diego

"Over the last four decades, Ethnic and Racial Studies has been singular in its global reach and emphasis on rigorous and theoretically-rich scholarship. Bringing together scholars and ideas from across the world and a range of disciplines, this journal has transformed debates, dialogue, and scholarship on issues of race, racism, inequality, and ethnicity. This journal and the scholarship that covers its pages are in the vanguard of international and cross-disciplinary research and theory."
Marcus Anthony Hunter, Associate Professor, Sociology and African American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles