Full-Length Research Articles

  • Contain between 6,000 and 10,000 words, including notes and references
  • Must have a clear argument (s) and well-organized structure. This will help the reviewers/editors be thorough, helpful, fair and reasonable in their assessment.
  • Provide substantial evidence (primary data and/or secondary sources as applicable) for its claims
  • Explain the paper's contribution/relationship to existing debates or current literature. This will, among other things, help readers outside the paper's covered discipline(s) understand and appreciate the paper.
  • Discuss/explain discipline-specific terms, theories, and frameworks in ways that can be accessible even to those new or outside a particular discipline. The journal caters to readers from various disciplines. Articles must be understood and appreciated even outside a particular discipline.
  • Some common pitfalls to avoid
    • Lack of a clear, well-stated argument.
    • Unclear connection between theoretical framework/objectives on the one hand, and actual analysis on the other. In many cases, papers profess to do X but actually do Y.
    • Poor structure/flow of discussion. Use headings/subheadings.

Commentaries, Essays, Documents, Interviews, Research Notes

  • Examine current issues or events that pertain to Asia from the perspective of the social sciences, humanities, and/or culture
  • May include statements and transcripts of interviews
  • Contain between 1,000 and 4,000 words, including notes and references

Reviews

Books

  • Must pertain to Asia/Asian Studies, preferably published within the last three years.
  • Older books can be reviewed, but its relevance to contemporary concerns should highlighted.
  • Books with a general disciplinal focus (social sciences or the humanities) can be reviewed (e.g., a book on Critical Theory or political science)
  • Point out the main argument and objectives of the book
  • Cite several notable ideas in the book, event, etc.
  • Assess the quality and integrity of the data, the research, and the argumentation (Does the book achieve its aims, etc.?)
  • Point out, if any, limitations and weaknesses of the book
  • Explain how the book relates to and/or contributes to theoretical debates and to existing scholarship on the subject
  • Consist of 800 to 1000 words
  • Include bibliographic information

Novels, plays, or anthologies of poems

  • Pertain to Asian society and culture
  • Provide a brief background of the author 
  • Provide a short summary of the book/theme (This story is about....)
  • Relate the novel's theme to real-life, contemporary issues and problems in the relevant country or region
  • Cite specific episodes/examples to illustrate one's argument(s). 
  • Comprise 800 to 1,000 words, including any references.
  • Older, premodern works can be reviewed, but it is preferred that its relevance to contemporary concerns be highlighted.

Exhibits/artworks

  • Pertain to Asian society and culture
  • Provide a brief background of the artist
  • Relate the art work's theme to real-life, contemporary issues and problems in the relevant country or region

Movie/TV/stage plays

  • Describe what the movie is about: plot overview and themes
  • Relate it to real-life contemporary issues affecting Asia(ns)
  • Cite specific scenes to illustrate one's argument(s). 
  • Comprise between 800 and 1,000 words, including any references

 Travel Narratives

  • Describe road-less-traveled type of destinations or events in Asia, OR
  • Show familiar, common venues in a new light or discuss obscure features of familiar venues
  • Comment on how the venue or event relates to theoretical and practical issues in and about Asia 
  • Must not simply describe what was seen/heard/felt; it should reflect, analyze, etc.
  • Include one photograph
  • Run between 800 and 1,000 words. Longer travel narratives may be considered under the commentary section.

 Literary Section: Poems and Short Fiction

  • Must have an Asian topic or theme
  • Poems should be written in English or in any Asian language, along with English translation (Authors are solely responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the translation.)
  • Short fiction Should be no more than 4,000 words and written in English
  • All pages of literary submissions should include the name, address and email address of the author. No more than three poems or one piece of short fiction should be submitted at any one time. Authors should wait for a response before submitting future work, and must provide a glossary of non-English words whose meaning cannot be discerned by context.