CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE SPECIAL ISSUE TO APPEAR IN 2027

PLEASE NOTE REVISED DATES FOR SUBMISSION
PROPOSALS DUE BY 21 MARCH 2025

The Publications Committee of the RAI invites proposals for the Special Issue to appear in 2027. Each Special Issue will be distributed by Wiley-Blackwell free of charge to RAI Fellows, and as part of the subscription to libraries taking the JRAI.

Proposals for the 2027 issue should be sent to the RAI by email on publications@therai.org.uk, to arrive by 21 March 2025. They should be about 1500 words in length (to a maximum 2000 word limit) and follow a standard model below. Proposals should be as precise as possible, and should meet the following criteria:

1. They should contain clear evidence that the resulting volume, if selected, will be authoritative; will meet the highest academic standards; and will appeal to a broad academic readership. Topical themes will be welcome.
2. They should be submitted in the confident expectation that, if shortlisted, a near-complete MS can be supplied by 20 June 2025.
3. They should not be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.
4. The planned length of the published volume should be in the region of 80,000 words.
5. Single- or joint-authored proposals will be welcome. Proposals based on a collection of papers should indicate who will act as the editor or editors.
6. Assignment of copyright to the RAI is a condition of publication. Authors and editors will be responsible for ensuring that all secondary copyright permissions have been obtained.

On the basis of the proposals received, the Publications Committee will draw up a shortlist for further consideration, and will notify proposers by May 2025. Near-complete MS will be required by 20 June 2025. Each manuscript will be single-blind reviewed twice. A final decision will be given by 5 December 2025.

MODEL PROPOSAL FORM

Please address all of the following in your proposal. The Publications Committee may ask for further details or clarification of a proposal prior to initial shortlisting. Total length of proposals should be around 1500 words (with a maximum 2000 words). 

• Name, position and contact details of proposer (who will be the guest editors of the issue)
• Title (working title if necessary) of proposed Special Issue
• Name, position and contact details of the proposer
• Brief description of the project, activity or event, with dates if applicable, on which the Special Issue was based
• Names of (provisional) additional authors/contributors, if applicable
• An abstract for each article to be included in the issue
• Description of content in as much detail as possible, giving the academic context of the proposal and demonstrating academic excellence, innovation, and appeal to a wide anthropological readership
• Short bibliography of key references
• Have all necessary copyright agreements for reproduction of material been obtained? If not, please give details
• Details of any images/photographs to be included
• If your proposal is shortlisted, a near complete MS of the final text needs to be provided by 20 June 2025.

Please send your abstract by email attachment to the Publications Officer, publications@therai.org.uk, to arrive by 21 March 2025.

PREVIOUS SPECIAL ISSUES

2006: Ethnobiology and the Science of Humankind, edited by Roy Ellen (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2007: Wind, Life, Health: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives, edited by Elisabeth Hsu and Chris Low (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2008: The Objects of Evidence: Anthropological Approaches to the Production of Knowledge, edited by Matthew Engelke (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2009: Islam, Politics, Anthropology, edited by Filippo Osella and Benjamin Soares (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2010: Making Knowledge, edited by Trevor Marchand (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2011: The Aesthetics of Nations: Anthropological and Historical Approaches, edited by Nayanika Mookherjee and Christopher Pinney

2012: The Return of Hospitality: Strangers, Guests, and Ambiguous Encounters, edited by Matei Candea and Giovanni Da Col

2013: Blood Will Out: Essays on Liquid Transfers and Flows, edited by Janet Carsten (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2014: Doubt, conflict and mediation: the Anthropology of Modern Time, edited by Laura Bear (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2015: The Power of Example: Anthropological Explorations in Persuasion, Evocation, and Imitation, edited by Andreas Bandak and Lars Højer (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2016: Environmental Futures, edited by Jessica Barnes (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2017: Meetings: Ethnographies of Organizational Process, Bureaucracy, and Assembly edited by Hannah Brown, Adam Reed, and Thomas Yarrow (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2018: Dislocating Labour: Anthropological Reconfigurations edited by Penelope Harvey and Christian Krohn-Hansen (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2019: Energy and Ethics? edited by Mette M. High and Jessica M. Smith (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2020: Mind and Spirit: A Comparative Theory edited by Tanya Luhrmann (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2021: Towards and Anthropology of Data edited by Rachel Douglas-Jones, Antonia Walford, Nick Seaver (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)

2022: On Irreconciliation edited by Nayanika Mookherjee (also available as a stand alone book from Wiley here)