Aims and Scope

Aims and Scope

Iranian Journal of Asian Studies (IJAS)

 

Shiraz University

 

The Iranian Journal of Asian Studies (IJAS) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Shiraz University in cooperation with the Iranian Association of Regional Studies. The Journal is dedicated to the development and promotion of regional studies with a particular emphasis on Asia as a strategic super-region in contemporary international politics and the world economy.

IJAS aims to foster rigorous, theoretically informed and empirically grounded research on Asia that deepens scholarly understanding of the region and informs debate and decision-making in the fields of foreign policy, international relations and regional studies, especially in relation to Iran’s position and interests in Asia.

Recognising Asia’s central place in global political and economic transformations, and the close interconnection between Iran’s civilisational sphere, its foreign policy and the wider Asian region, the Journal provides a forum for analytical, comparative and interdisciplinary work on the geopolitics and geoeconomics of Asia.

IJAS publishes original research articles in Persian or English that address Asian affairs in their regional and international context. Contributions are welcomed from scholars and researchers in international relations, regional studies, political science, geopolitics, international law, political economy, sociology and other related disciplines.

 

Thematic Coverage

While open to a wide range of approaches and topics, the Journal is particularly interested in manuscripts that engage with the following broad areas:

 

  1. Theory and Intellectual Developments in Asia
  • Theoretical developments in international relations and political science in and about Asia, including non-Western and indigenous approaches.
  • Capacities, challenges and possibilities of native or non-Western theorising in international relations.
  • Asian thinkers, schools of thought and political ideas relevant to regional and international order in Asia.
  • The impact of Asian regional dynamics on debates about regionalism and regional integration.
  1. International Politics and Security in Asia
  • The role and position of states and governments in Asian international politics.
  • The role of global and regional powers and other international actors in shaping political and security developments in Asia.
  • Bilateral and multilateral relations within Asia and between Asian states and other regions of the world.
  • Regional and global security architectures, security complexes and conflict dynamics with an Asian focus.
  • Foreign and security policies of Asian states and the domestic, regional and international factors influencing them.
  1. Law, Institutions and International Organisations
  • Legal and institutional dimensions of regional politics and governance in Asia.
  • The role and performance of Asian regional organisations and institutions (political, economic, security-related) in regional and global affairs.
  • Legal challenges and regimes affecting regional cooperation, conflict management and integration in Asia.
  1. Iran’s Foreign Policy in Asia
  • Iran’s bilateral and multilateral relations with Asian states and regional groupings.
  • Critical assessments of Iran’s foreign policy towards Asia and debates on “Asianism” in Iranian foreign policy.
  • Strategic, political, economic and cultural dimensions of Iran–Asia relations.
  1. International Political Economy of Asia
  • Existing and emerging patterns in the political economy of Asia, including trade, finance, production networks and connectivity.
  • The role of Asian economies in the global power hierarchy and the changing balance between established and rising economic actors.
  • The impact of regional economic initiatives (e.g. corridors, connectivity projects, regional trade arrangements) on Asian and global politics.
  1. Political Sociology and Society–State Relations
  • State–society relations in Asian countries, including questions of legitimacy, governance and social change.
  • The role of non-state actors (political parties, social movements, interest groups, civil society organisations, diasporas) in domestic and foreign policy-making.
  • The political and social role of Islam and other religions in Asia, particularly in relation to political developments within states and their external relations.

 

Geographical Focus

The Journal adopts a broad and flexible understanding of Asia, encompassing (inter alia):

  • West Asia / the Middle East
  • Central Asia and the Caucasus
  • South Asia
  • East Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • Cross-regional and inter-regional linkages involving Asia and other world regions.

The Journal particularly welcomes studies that adopt comparative, cross-border or inter-regional perspectives and that situate Asian developments within wider global structures and processes.

 

Out-of-Scope Submissions

IJAS does not normally consider manuscripts that:

  • focus exclusively on purely domestic issues without a clear connection to Asian regional or international dynamics; or
  • fall outside the broad areas of international relations, political science, regional studies, geopolitics, international law, political economy or political sociology.

Such submissions may be declined at an early stage if they do not align with the aims and scope of the Journal.