From Idea to Proposal: How to Submit a Special Issue to the European Review of History

Special issues can be one of the most exciting ways to shape scholarly conversation. They allow researchers to bring together a set of essays around a shared theme, intervene in emerging debates, and create dialogue across institutions, disciplines, and geographical boundaries. At the European Review of History, we regularly receive proposals for special issues that reflect the breadth and dynamism of historical research today.

If you are considering submitting a proposal, the process need not be intimidating. While there is no rigid template, strong proposals tend to share a number of common features. This post offers an overview of what we ask for as journal editors and how proposals move through the review process.

Why a Special Issue?

Before drafting anything, it is worth asking a simple question: why does this topic need to be a special issue rather than a single article or edited volume? The most successful proposals make a clear case for urgency and cohesion. They show that a subject is timely, underexplored, or newly significant, and that bringing multiple scholars together offers something greater than the sum of its parts.

This might mean:

• responding to a fast-developing historiographical debate

• foregrounding new methods or sources

• connecting scholars working in parallel but separate fields

• offering a transnational or comparative perspective

• reassessing a familiar topic through new lenses

  
  

In short, editors want to understand why now is the moment for this conversation.

What to Include in the Proposal

Although we do not require a fixed format, proposals should contain several core elements.

1. An Overview of the Special Issue

This is the heart of the proposal and is usually around two pages in length. It should explain:

• the central theme of the issue

• why the topic matters now

• what questions or problems the issue addresses

• why a special issue is the best format

• what readers of the journal will gain from it

  
  

Think of this section as both intellectual pitch and roadmap. It should be clear, persuasive, and accessible beyond a narrow subfield.

2. Historiographical Context

Strong proposals situate themselves within existing scholarship. Editors will want to know:

• how the proposal engages with current historiography

• what bodies of literature it speaks to

• where there are gaps, tensions, or unresolved debates

• how the issue moves discussion forward

  
  

This does not need to be exhaustive, but it should demonstrate command of the field and confidence in the contribution being made.

3. Main Argument or Research Questions

A special issue should feel intellectually coherent. That does not mean every article reaches the same conclusion, but there should be a shared set of concerns.

You may wish to articulate:

• a common argument linking the essays

• a set of overarching research questions

• methodological threads across contributions

• comparative or thematic connections

  
  

As editors of the journal, we are often looking for evidence that the collection will speak to each other rather than simply sit alongside one another.

Contributor Information

Alongside the overview, we ask for a list of contributors and abstracts for their proposed articles.

Article Abstracts

Each abstract should be at least 300 words and should clearly outline:

• the article’s argument

• sources or evidence base

• historiographical contribution

• relationship to the wider issue theme

Detailed abstracts help the editorial board assess both quality and coherence.

Contributor Bios

Please also include a brief biography or indication of each contributor’s institutional or professional affiliation. This helps us understand the expertise and range represented in the collection.

Demonstrating Momentum

We also encourage proposers to include information about any conferences, workshops, or networks that have brought contributors together. This can be valuable because it shows that:

• the conversation already has energy

• contributors have engaged with one another’s work

• the project has a collaborative foundation

• papers may already be developed beyond an early stage

  
  

Many strong special issues emerge from conference panels, symposia, research networks, or funded workshops.

Include an Indicative Timeline

A practical timeline is extremely helpful. This might include:

• date for full article submission

• period for internal editorial feedback

• expected revisions

• projected completion date

  
  

A realistic schedule reassures editors that the project is manageable and well organised.

What Happens After Submission?

Once a proposal is received, it is circulated to the wider editorial board of the European Review of History. The board discusses proposals at its monthly meeting and considers questions such as:

• Is the topic original and significant?

• Does it suit the journal’s readership and scope?

• Is the contributor list strong and balanced?

• Do the essays form a coherent collection?

• Is the timeline realistic?

  
  

Following discussion, proposers receive feedback, questions, and comments. In some cases, proposals may be invited to revise and resubmit with further development.

After the Proposal

The job of an editor continues long after the proposal is submitted. Think about how you will engage with your contributors: how often will you read their drafts? Have you allocated time to do this after each review round? Articles can change significantly after the first round of reviewer comments and it is the job of the editor to check in with authors to ensure that the articles still tie together - and that the contents of the issue's introduction still reflect the articles themselves!

Final Advice for Prospective Guest Editors

If you are preparing a proposal, our strongest recommendation is to think beyond administration and focus on intellectual purpose.Ask yourself:

• What conversation does this issue want to start?

• Why does it matter now?

• Why should historians beyond my immediate field care?

• How do these articles strengthen one another?

  
  

A successful proposal combines scholarly ambition with clear organisation.

Thinking of Submitting?

Special issues are one of the most rewarding forms of academic collaboration. They create space for new debates, forge scholarly networks, and often become landmark interventions in a field.

If you have an idea that feels timely, coherent, and genuinely collective, it may be the right moment to develop it into a proposal. Feel free to contact us to discuss your ideas further!