The Regional Studies Association seeks to appoint an Editor-in-Chief to the Regions and Cities Book Series. The current Editor-in-Chief is Professor Joan Fitzgerald, who is stepping down in the first quarter of 2025. The series is published by Routledge in association with the Regional Studies Association.
About the Regions and Cities Book Series
In today’s globalised, knowledge-driven and networked world, regions and cities have assumed heightened significance as the interconnected nodes of economic, social and cultural production, and as sites of new modes of economic governance and policy experimentation. This book series, established in 1990, brings together incisive and critically engaged international and interdisciplinary research on this resurgence of regions and cities, and is of interest to geographers, economists, sociologists, political scientists and cultural scholars, as well as to policy-makers involved in regional and urban development.
To date, the series has published over 160 books, averaging six titles a year. The series team comprises the Editor-in-Chief, four Series Editors and the publisher’s Commissioning Editor. Further information about the series in available here.
Key Skills and Attributes
The Editor-in-Chief will be a well-connected academic who will be able to utilise their networks to suggest potential ideas and authors to the publisher. They will directly engage with some new authors as required, and will solicit proposals for the series themselves as well as providing feedback on proposals brought in by the publisher. They will be in regular contact with the publisher regarding new ideas and to develop a wish list of potential projects. The Editor-in-Chief also provides feedback on all manuscripts ahead of publication.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Regions and Cities Book Series is expected to:
- continue to develop the series, particularly by encouraging authors to submit book proposals to the series; prospective authors will ideally be leading scholars in the field of regional and urban research to reflect the full scope of the series.
- advise the publisher on books which might be included in the series.
- comment on books proposed for inclusion in the series and approve them or suggest improvement where necessary.
- read and approve or otherwise the manuscripts submitted by contracted authors.
- advise the publisher about people who might read and comment on proposals and manuscripts.
- manage the team of Series Editors and chair editorial meetings.
- represent the series on the Regional Studies Association’s Publications Committee and Board.
- write an Editor’s Report for twice-yearly Publications Committee meetings.
- contribute to the recruitment and selection of Series Editors / Editorial Advisory Board.
Responding to the Call for Expressions of Interest
In making expressions of interest, candidates are invited to submit:
- a brief editorial manifesto (not more than 500 words) outlining their intentions for the safeguarding and further development of the academic excellence, relevance and scope of the Regions and Cities Book Series;
- an indication of host institution support; and
- a full CV – this may be in summary form but should give enough information to demonstrate embeddedness in the field, e.g., information about networks, conferences attended, relevant publications, professional memberships, etc.
Candidates are also asked to provide a list of any potential conflicts of interest. The list should include the candidate’s other commitments and roles involving books, journals and societies that produce publications (e.g. membership of publication oversight committees).
The selection of the new Editor-in-Chief will be made by the Regional Studies Association. The post is for commencement in Spring 2025 to provide full handover from the current Editor-in-Chief.
The successful candidate will be expected to join the RSA as a member throughout their term. Current non-members may apply. Further details on membership are available from the Regional Studies Association Office or from the Association website at https://www.regionalstudies.org/about/memberships/.
Interested applicants with questions about the book series are invited to contact:
Regional Studies Association Chief Executive, Alan Kinder, by email (alan.kinder@regionalstudies.org) or by telephoning + 44 (0)1273 698017.
For an informal conversation about the role, contact Professor Mark Scott, Chair of the RSA Publications Committee by email (mark.scott@ucd.ie).
Manifesto and supporting documents should be sent to: journals@regionalstudies.org (subject line: Call for Editor-in-Chief, Regions and Cities Book Series).
Closing Date: Friday 31st January 2025 at 17.00 (GMT)
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