Journal's History

Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science was launched in July 2001 by the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) as what its first editorial called "the first international political science students' journal." It began as a small publication produced by IAPSS volunteers. Over the years, it introduced peer review, moved online, and built an international editorial team of students and early-career scholars. A 2018 study in PS: Political Science & Politics found that, among three peer-reviewed student journals of political science, IAPSS Politikon published the most articles between 2005 and 2015 and drew authors from almost every continent.

Today, it is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal for authors at every stage of their careers. Two former Editors-in-Chief, Rafael Plancarte Escobar and Max Steuer, have described IAPSS Politikon as a "junior journal", occupying the space between student-run and established academic journals.  

Key Dates

2001 First issue published, introduced by IAPSS Chairman Alessio Sanguinetti
2005 Peer review introduced
2007 Abstracts included in the International Political Science Association’s International Political Science Abstracts
2012 Publication resumes after a two-year pause, as an online journal
2019 First Best Article Award introduced; journal moves to its own Open Journal Systems (OJS) website and adopts unrestricted open access
2021 Twentieth anniversary; first Best Reviewer Award
2026 First bilingual issue, in English and Spanish

Editors-in-Chief

  • 2001–2002: edited by an IAPSS editorial board
  • 2003: Matija Kovač
  • 2004: Doina Tănase
  • 2005–2006: edited by an IAPSS editorial board
  • 2007: Iana Stantieru and Klavdija Pojbic
  • 2008: Klavdija Pojbic
  • 2008–2009: Amra Hasić
  • 2009: Petar Ranguelov
  • 2010: Benoit Monange
  • 2012–2014: Rodrigo Vaz
  • 2014–2015: Vit Simral
  • 2015: Caitlin Bagby
  • 2016–2018: Jaroslava Barbieri
  • 2017: Lorand Bodo (Acting Editor-in-Chief)
  • 2018–2021: Max Steuer
  • 2021: Rafael Plancarte Escobar and Jesslene Lee (Co-Editors-in-Chief)
  • 2021–2022: Jesslene Lee
  • 2023–present: Anya Kuteleva