Dear Colleagues,
The Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU) of the University of
York is very pleased to announce a forthcoming book series edited by Dr. Kenneth
Bush and Professor Sultan Barakat entitled Palgrave Critical Studies in Postconflict Recovery.
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This posting will briefly outline the parameters of the series and its unique features –
which we hope will be sufficiently enticing for you to consider submitting a proposal if
it fits within your field of research. Attached to this email is the form to be used for
the submission of proposals.
Series Scope and Content
The scope and content of the series are conveyed in its title:
‘Critical’: refers to an orientation or approach to seeing, analyzing, or responding
which explores dis/connections, in/congruities, antipathies, limitations -- as well as
possibilities -- inherent in, or generated by, structures, processes, or conditions. In
the proposed series, "critical" is expected to embody both a ‘language of critique’ as
well as a ‘language of possibility.’ That is, it Is expected to contribute both to an
understanding of a problem, and to a concrete, non-hortatory, discussion of how it
might be, or is being, addressed.
‘Post-Conflict’: refers to that fluid, and still volatile, period of time following
protracted, acute, often militarized and systemic, violence in which the risks of a
return to conflict are considerable. Embedded within this term, is an understanding
that “a conflict” is typically an amalgam of multiple, simultaneously occurring, subconflicts – violent, non-violent, proto-violent – which may interact and evolve over
time. The ‘post’-conflict period is not limited to that immediate post-war moment of
humanitarian response, but typically includes a much longer, inter-generational, time
frame and diverse range of activities and processes.
‘Recovery’: refers to both a process and an end-state whereby structural and
proximate causes of a violent conflict are ‘addressed’ sufficiently to reduce the
chances of re-occurrence to manageable levels. ‘Recovery’ should be defined as
broadly as possible to include changes in the: the built environment; the security
environment; the natural environment; the economic environment; the social
environment; the political environment; and the emotional environment. This includes
structures, processes, and stakeholders from the local to national to international and
global levels.
(Genuinely) Unique Features of Palgrave Critical Studies in Post-conflict
Recovery
The series will be published in Palgrave's "Pivot" format which gives it a distinct
advantage in our efforts to connect ideas to action in this field.
(see: www.palgrave.com/pivot )
1. The length of monographs in the series will be between 25-50,000 words,
rather than the typical 100-125,000 word length of a full book manuscript. A
number of important implications follow from this format. (i) It allows for a
quicker – and more readable -- consolidation and application of ideas and
existing research to the real-time environment of post-conflict recovery. (ii) It
increases the pathways to publication. For example, research reports,
conference papers, and journal articles are more easily ‘converted’ into Pivot
monographs, thus expanding channels through which proposals may be
solicited, beyond university-based sources, to include: think tanks; non-
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university-based research centres; humanitarian organizations; NGOs;
media; and so on. (iii) In many ways, the Pivot monograph is a more natural
length for research, allowing the space to more fully develop ideas and
recommendations that is frequently missing in journal publishing, while
avoiding the tendency towards word inflation in book manuscripts.
2. Speed of publication: The Pivot format publishes within 12 weeks of
receiving the finalized manuscript. This means that ideas/ arguments/
proposals can exercise an impact now, not three years down the road when a
full book-length manuscript hits 'the market' (2 years writing + 1 year
waiting). This is a particularly important factor for research seeking to
influence thinking, policy and practice in the field.
3. Distribution network: Pivot monographs are distributed through Palgrave’s
global network and internet-based outlets such as Amazon. This means that
our monographs will be immediately accessible as e-books, as well as in
traditional paper format. Thus, anyone with an internet connection from
Washington, DC to D.R.C. can access our monographs. The ability to get
ideas into the analysis and decision making of individuals and organizations
beyond capital cities, is thus increased substantially. This is a significant
factor in extending the geographic distribution of research, broadening its
accessibility, and increasing its potential impact. It also reduces the cost of
the book, again increasing access.
4. All monographs are ‘rigorously peer reviewed’ to maintain the highest
standards of research, thus ensuring the quality and relevance of the
monographs in the field of post-conflict recovery.
It was these four features of the Pivot format that led to the launch this series on
post-conflict recovery. PRDU is honored that our series is the first to be taken up in
the Palgrave/Pivot format. Prior to this, books were published in the pivot format, but
were not organized into thematic series.
For further information, please contact the series editors at the Post-war
Reconstruction and Development Unit (Kenneth Bush or Sultan Barakat) or the
Commissioning Editor for International Relations (Eleanor Davey Corrigan) – whose
email addresses are posted above. For proposal submissions, please complete and
submit the attached form.
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