NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science John Geer will become editor of The Journal of Politics, consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most influential political science journals, in January 2005. The scholarly journal, which is published quarterly by the Southern Political Science Association, will be housed within the Vanderbilt Department of Political Science for four years.
"Attracting The Journal of Politics to Vanderbilt is a coup for the faculty, students and staff of the Department of Political Science," said Richard McCarty, dean of the College of Arts and Science. "It is also a reflection of the fact that Professor Geer is held in very high regard by some of our country’s leading political scientists. Finally, this provides further evidence that the Department of Political Science is on a steep upward trajectory."
Geer noted that the College of Arts and Science’s significant support was an important factor in the journal’s landing at Vanderbilt and that it should be a plus for recruiting new faculty and graduate students. In addition, there will be educational opportunities for undergraduate political science majors. "The Journal of Politics is certainly one of the very top in American politics and political theory," said Geer, whose research interests include campaigns, elections, party politics and polling. "It is also quite important in comparative politics and international relations, and I would like to raise its strong reputation even further in these two areas." He expects to receive about 700 manuscripts a year and only about 10 percent of them will be accepted for publication.
A recent article published by the American Political Science Association’s PS: Political Science and Politics found that The Journal of Politics continues "to rank among the top three journals" in terms of its impact on the political science discipline. The survey of 565 political scientists took into account both their evaluation of the quality of work that was reported and the scholars’ familiarity with the journals. The article, written by political scientists James C. Garand and Micheal W. Giles, analyzed the findings of a 2001 survey concerning 115 journals of interest to political scientists.
"The successful effort to bring The Journal of Politics to Vanderbilt is a sign of real progress toward the department’s goal of a greatly improved national reputation," said Neal Tate, professor of political science and chairman of the department.
Geer plans to continue his teaching responsibilities while serving as editor of The Journal of Politics, which is moving to Vanderbilt from Michigan State University.
Media contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
Annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu