Call for Papers: American Trade Policy in the 21st Century
PS: Political Science & Politics | Cambridge University Press
Editor: Justin Esarey, Wake Forest University
PS: Political Science & Politics invites submissions for a forthcoming special issue titled “American Trade Policy in the 21st Century.” This issue will explore how American trade policy is evolving in the current geopolitical and domestic context, and what those changes mean for global economics, institutional governance, and the future of American politics. This special issue offers political scientists an opportunity to critically engage with a defining issue of our time. We encourage timely submissions and look forward to publishing innovative work that contributes to scholarly and public understanding of American trade policy in a rapidly shifting world order.
This special issue comes at a time of sweeping change in U.S. trade policy. In recent years, the United States has implemented some of the highest tariffs in a century and pivoted away from the post–World War II Washington Consensus that emphasized free trade. While the resurgence of protectionist rhetoric and policy gained attention during Donald Trump’s presidency, many of these shifts reflect deeper, long-standing trends in political attitudes, party realignment, and international power dynamics.
This issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge political science research that illuminates the causes and consequences of this transformation in U.S. trade policy. The editors’ welcome submissions from a wide range of methodological and disciplinary perspectives, including qualitative and quantitative analysis, theoretical modeling, and historical institutionalism.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Public opinion, elite preferences, and interest group activity surrounding international trade
- The influence of trade policy on domestic attitudes toward gender, race, immigration, and economic inequality
- Connections between increased tariffs and international security agreements
- The impact of changing trade norms on the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency
- Institutional dynamics in American trade policymaking, including the role of executive delegation and congressional authority
- How shifts in global trade regimes influence American foreign and domestic policy
All submissions should comprise original empirical research and/or novel theoretical modeling.
Submission Guidelines
Accepted manuscripts will be published individually on FirstView as they are completed and will later appear as part of the compiled special issue.
- Submission Deadline: August 15, 2025
- To Submit: All manuscripts must be submitted through PS’s Editorial Manager system at www.editorialmanager.com/ps
- Length: Submissions must not exceed 4,800 words, including notes and references
- Format & Style: Manuscripts must be submitted in Word format and conform to the APSA Style Manual with in-text citations, endnotes, and reference formatting. Authors are encouraged to upload online appendices for supplementary or supporting material
For further inquiries, please contact Editor Justin Esarey at justin@justinesarey.com