Note from the Editors

Abstract

To open this fourth issue of volume 36, we have some important announcements concerning Politics & Policy's continuing development. For the past few months, Emma Norman has been working with Wiley–Blackwell staff to make the changeover to electronic journal management. We are pleased to announce that Politics & Policy will go “live” on the Manuscript Central electronic journal management website in September 2008. At the beginning of this process, several doubts abounded as to how flexible the system would permit the journal to remain. However, after much configuration, testing, rethinking, and testing again, we feel we have tailored arrangements to preserve a “personal touch” between reviewers, editors, and authors, which is so crucial in making journal business not only smooth but an enjoyable experience for all involved. The increased efficiency that Manuscript Central provides should bring benefits to authors and reviewers almost immediately in terms of faster turnaround times, instant access to your manuscript's status, and easy-to-follow submission guidelines. It will likewise provide the editors, associate editors, and Editorial Office staff more time to devote to helping you develop your manuscripts further and to developing the journal as whole. Many of our contributors will, of course, be familiar with how to submit an article online. Those who are first-time users can access easy submission instructions, submission information, and quick links to our Manuscript Central site on the Politics & Policy website: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/pandp. To find out all you need to know about submitting online and creating and maintaining your own user account in Manuscript Central, just click on “Author Guidelines.” Should you have any problems or queries, do drop us a line at the Editorial Office and our staff will be pleased to help you begin the submission process. We are also very aware that the configuration of our online system is a true “work in progress” that will almost certainly require some tweaking here and there to ensure we are all getting the best from it. If you have any difficulties with the system, or suggestions on how it could serve you better, please do not hesitate to email us at politics.policy@ipsonet.org. Politics & Policy's Editorial Board has, for some time now, been debating whether and how to reintroduce a book review section to the journal. While there have been divergent views on this matter, if it was to happen at all, we knew that it would have to provide an additional source of useful, enjoyable, and engaging pieces of writing in a way that complements, rather than competes with, our central focus on original research articles. Finding someone with the energy, scholarship, and innovative skills to put this into practice has taken some time, but we finally settled on the perfect candidate earlier this year. The editors are delighted to welcome Amalendu Misra of Lancaster University, UK, as the Editor of Politics & Policy's new Book Review section. Since his appointment, Dr. Misra has been working tirelessly to consult many readers of Politics & Policy and other journals on just what they expect to get from a good book review and how well, or not, other journals generally measure up to expectations. Dr. Misra's superb introduction to the book review section at the end of this issue sets out the truly innovative vision he has for the future of this journal feature. We are sure you will join us in welcoming him to the Politics & Policy family and in wishing him the best of luck in developing this section of the journal. So keep sending Politics & Policy your best manuscripts and, in the meantime, enjoy the excellent articles and book reviews appearing in this August collection. We also hope you will look forward as much as we are to October's contribution, which will be the first issue of the journal compiled and guest-edited by the network of student think tanks, The Roosevelt Institution.