The Journal of World History, the official journal of the World History Association, published by the University of Hawai‘i Press and sponsored by the University of Hawai‘i History Department, is seeking an editor-in-chief or a team of co-editors-in-chief. The position will begin in September 2019, allowing a several months period of transition before the current editor-in-chief, Fabio Lopez Lazaro, steps down from the position at the end of the calendar year. It will have an initial term of five years.
Founded by Jerry Bentley and now in its 29th year, the Journal of World History publishes research into historical questions across any time period requiring the investigation of evidence on a global, comparative, cross-cultural, or transnational scale. It is devoted to the study of phenomena that transcend the boundaries of single states, regions, or cultures, such as large-scale population movements, long-distance trade, cross-cultural technology transfers, and the spread of ideas. It engages with the historiographical, theoretical, and methodological approaches to world history, conceived broadly. The Journal encourages research from micro to macro scales, including big history, deep history, histoire croisée, borderlands histories, entangled history, diasporic history, and other approaches. Along with individual articles based on original research, the Journal of World History publishes state of the field pieces, thematic special issues, considerations of pedagogy, topical special forums, and book reviews. It is guided by an Editorial Board and an Advisory Board of scholars from around the world.
The responsibilities of the editor-in-chief or co-editors-in-chief will be:
– Defining editorial policy
– Overseeing and managing a rigorous review process
– Making final decisions on the acceptance and rejection of articles
– Editing articles accepted for publication
– Shaping the direction of the Journal
– Choosing and working with the Editorial and Advisory Boards
– Working with the University of Hawai‘i Press journal production staff
– Working with the journals’ two sponsors, the World History Association and the University of Hawai‘i History Department
– Attending the World History Association annual meeting
To apply, please send a cv and a letter of application to Peter Arnade, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, University of Hawai‘i: parnade[at]hawaii.edu. The deadline for applications is April 1.
In your letter, please address the following:
– Your experience publishing, researching, and teaching in world history, and the way you see these as related
– Your previous editorial and administrative experience
– Your vision for the Journal over the next five years
– Your strategy for attracting high-quality submissions, reviews of submissions, and book reviews from scholars diverse in terms of methodology, area of research, and institutional and geographic location
– Your plan for engaging with developments in scholarly communication and research practice
A small amount of funding for travel related to the Journal will be provided, but if you may be able to obtain institutional backing for the position, please indicate this in your letter as well.
