Why should I submit a paper?

Exceptional work by undergraduate students, done for class or for independent research, often goes unnoticed. By encouraging students to pursue their passions, the Duke Journal of Public Affairs provides an incentive for students to write papers, empowering them to share their knowledge with others. A published paper is an honor that will be unambiguously beneficial for professional and academic careers, especially for those who want to attend graduate/professional schools.

What type of papers are requested?

The Duke Journal of Public Affairs seeks to publish papers relating to public affairs, broadly defined. This means that papers written in relation to politics, ethics, economics, social policy, philosophy and government. We do seek papers that are research-oriented–your paper should have something new, in terms of content or in terms of analysis, to offer to the academic world. We also encourage students to use an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing a topic, which often yields interesting and novel papers.

What is the maximum length?

We do not strictly enforce a page limit, though we strongly suggest authors to use space wisely. We believe that 50 pages, double spaced, would be the maximum length, yet we do not encourage authors to shrink their papers at the risk of undermining the value of their work.

Will the Journal be available electronically or by hard-copy?

The journal will be available both electronically and as a hard-copy. All authors whose papers are selected may elect to receive a complementary copy of the Journal. Hard-copies of the journal will be distributed on campus.

When will authors hear the final decision on their papers?

We expect to notify authors by the end of January, and expect to have a print out by February 2009.

What if I cannot meet the October 24th submission deadline?

The Duke Journal publishes bi-annually, meaning that you may always submit a paper to the journal. We strongly encourage authors to submit early (i.e. before the deadline) to ensure that your paper gets all the attention it deserves during the review process.

How can I join the Editorial Board?

You must be an undergraduate student enrolled at Duke to become a board member. Email dukejournal@duke.edu to inquire.