The IR thinker

Today, we are hosting an episode that provides an opportunity to present a research journal together with its editor. The aim is not only to introduce the journal, but also to offer a critical assessment of suitable venues for publishing research articles. In this context, we turn our attention to the British Journal of Politics and International Relations (BJPIR).Impact Factor: 3.4 / 5-Year Impact Factor: 3.4Indexed: Scopus / Web of Science First Decision: 6 daysAcceptance Rate: 18.7%14th out of 169 journals in the field of International Relations and 36th out of 322 in Political Science(Source: https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/education-social-sciences-law/news/article/2242/bjpir-celebrates-rise-in-impact-factor-and-25th-anniversary)The journal is a leading peer-reviewed academic journal in the fields of political science and international relations. Established in 1999 and published by SAGE Publications on behalf of the Political Studies Association, it has developed a strong international reputation for high-quality scholarship.The journal has six editors, all of whom are based at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Today, we are speaking with one of them, Professor of Global Security Challenges at the University of Leeds, Jack Holland.Jack Holland also serves as Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Social Sciences. His research focuses on United States, United Kingdom, and Australian foreign and security policy. He is an expert on AUKUS, for example, he has been invited as a witness to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and he regularly provides media commentary for British and international news organisations.Content00:00 - Introduction02:24 - The Journal’s Intellectual DNA04:05 - Political Science vs International Relations: Balance in Published Research05:24 - From Political Studies Association Flagship to Global Journal: Institutional Influence08:31 - Political Studies Association09:47 - Editorial Limits: Is There a Maximum Number of Articles per Issue?11:36 - Maintaining Coherence in a Broad-Scope Journal12:48 - Editorial Board: Selection, Roles, and Responsibilities16:25 - University of Leeds: The Journal’s Institutional Connection18:08 - Methodological Pluralism: Supporting Underrepresented Scholars21:04 - Current Intellectual Trends in Submissions22:53 - Undersubmitted Topics: Areas the Journal Wants More Of24:13 - AI, Frameworks, and Consulting: Reality Behind Publishing Claims26:15 - Common Author Mistakes in Journal Submissions31:00 - Encouraging Junior Scholars to Submit33:51 - Global South Scholars and Barriers36:13 - Editorial Lessons: Decisions Seen Differently Today38:22 - Suggesting Reviewers: Should Authors Do It?39:39 - Future Vision for the Journal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode features a conversation with the historian Philip Snow on the evolution of relations between Russia and China. Drawing on archival research, the discussion traces the relationship from the early border settlements at Nerchinsk and Kyakhta to contemporary geopolitical and economic cooperation, highlighting how frontier regions such as Manchuria, Mongolia, and Xinjiang have shaped interaction between the two powers.The interview examines key turning points, including the Sino-Soviet split, as well as structural constraints (geography, distance, and technology) that have historically limited escalation along the border. It also explores post-Soviet asymmetries, energy interdependence, and projects such as Power of Siberia 2.Finally, the conversation considers the implications of contemporary Sino-Russian alignment, addressing their views on multipolar order, persistent frictions in the Russian Far East, and China’s potential capacity to lead globally without Russia.Philip SnowPhilip Snow has been travelling in Russia and China since the 1960s, and has spent nearly two decades researching what is arguably the most consequential bailateral relationship of our era.Selected Publications:Snow, P. (1989). The star raft: China’s encounter with Africa. Cornell University Press.Snow, P. (2003). The Fall of Hong Kong: Britain, China, and the Japanese occupation. Yale University Press.Snow, P. (2023). China and Russia: Four Centuries of conflict and Concord. Yale University Press.Content00:00 – Introduction01:10 – Archival Research and Interpreting Russian–Chinese Narratives06:21 – Nerchinsk and Kyakhta: Origins of Long-Term Stability10:46 – Manchuria, Mongolia, and Xinjiang as Strategic Pivot Zones14:18 – Mongolia’s Role in Sino-Russian Relations14:51 – Structural Constraints on Escalation and Major War18:51 – The Role of Distance and Technology in Military Encounters19:28 – Manchuria and the Historical Foundations of Chinese Strategic Mistrust24:17 – The Sino-Soviet Split and the Limits of Ideological Alliances27:05 – Energy Interdependence and Post-Soviet Asymmetry31:20 – Power of Siberia 2: Economic Logic and Geopolitical Stakes32:12 – Why Sino-Russian Decision-Making Is Often Slow32:40 – Surface Alignment vs Structural Frictions in the Russian Far East39:54 – Sino-Russian Alignment in Opposition to the West42:45 – Do Russia and China Share a Vision of Multipolar Order?45:44 – China’s Capacity to Lead Without Russia46:45 – Critiquing Philip Snow’s Interpretation48:21 – How to Study China and Russia More Effectively Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This interview with Professor Mark N. Katz explores one of the central debates in contemporary international relations: the transition from unipolarity to a more complex multipolar world. Drawing on historical cases and current geopolitical developments, the discussion examines whether multipolarity is truly the global norm, how great powers are defined, and what the post-Cold War “unipolar moment” tells us about today’s shifting balance of power.The conversation also addresses the rise of emerging actors such as BRICS, the strategic behaviour of smaller states, and the evolving role of alliances, norms, and regional rivalries—from the Middle East to the Global South. Ultimately, it offers a nuanced assessment of whether a multipolar world necessarily produces a stable and coherent international order, and highlights key research questions shaping the future of global politics.Mark N. KatzMark N. Katz is Professor Emeritus of Government and Politics at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, where he taught from 1988 until his retirement in 2024. A specialist in Russian foreign policy, great-power competition, and the international politics of the Middle East, his research has long focused on Soviet and Russian engagement with the developing world and revolutionary movements in international politics. Publications:Personal BlogAmerican Foreign Policy: Can the U.S. Get Out of a Difficult Situation?The Multipolar World Is Nothing New: Why the Return of Many Powers Does Not Mean the Birth of a New OrderThe Soviet Roots of Putin’s Foreign Policy Toward the Middle EastThe Third World in Soviet Military ThoughtThe USSR and Marxist Revolutions in the Third WorldContent00:00 – Introduction02:03 – Is Multipolarity the Historical Norm?04:08 – The Liberal Order During the Cold War04:53 – What Makes a Country a Great Power?09:36 – Understanding the Unipolar Moment12:19 – When Did Unipolarity End?15:41 – 9/11, Terrorism and the Limits of Polarity Theory21:51 – The Sino–Soviet Split and a Brief Tripolar World25:26 – BRICS and the Rise of Multipolarity27:25 – Multipolar World vs Multipolar Order30:27 – Global South Views on Multipolarity33:15 – How Small States Play Great Powers Against Each Other38:00 – If China Dominates...41:25 – Do Alliances Limit a Country’s Power Ambitions?43:45 – Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel in a Multipolar Middle East47:06 – What the Arab Spring Reveals About Multipolarity50:49 – Do International Norms Still Matter?53:12 – Key Research Questions on the Future of Multipolarity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.