Migration Politics is seeking innovative and original proposals for its Open Track, a new submission pathway designed to support research developed through sustained scholarly exchange before formal peer review.
We welcome submissions from scholars at all career stages and across all relevant disciplines conducting empirical or conceptual research within the journal’s scope. The deadline for paper proposals is 15 September 2026.
About the Open Track
The Open Track is intended for scholars who wish to develop their work in line with the journal’s slow science approach, engaging in profound and meaningful exchanges with peers from our Editorial College and beyond prior to submitting a manuscript for peer review.
Slow Science Approach
The Open Track implements the journal’s slow science approach as part of the editorial process, rather than as a requirement prior to submission. To this end, Migration Politics will facilitate an in-depth scholarly exchange after the proposal stage by connecting authors with members of the Editorial College and other scholars where appropriate.
As part of their proposal, authors are therefore asked to identify up to three members of the Editorial College and optionally and in addition, up to three other scholars outside the Editorial College with whom they would like to discuss their paper. Following a positive evaluation of the proposal, the editorial team will seek to arrange a one-on-one exchange between the author(s) and one of the selected members of the Editorial College and one of the other scholars suggested by the author(s). This exchange will be moderated by one Senior Editorial Fellow and is intended to provide in-depth feedback and support the further development of the manuscript in line with slow science principles. This model aims to foster meaningful, constructive, and dialogical engagement between authors and peers.
Scope of Submissions
Submissions should offer innovative theoretical and/or empirical insights into the politics of migration, in line with the journal’s scope. For empirical papers, data collection must be completed prior to submitting a paper proposal to the Open Track. Submissions must demonstrate theoretical and methodological rigor and transparency. Where appropriate, this may include replication data, methodological appendices, and robustness checks.
Submission and Selection Process
The Open Track follows a two-stage submission process:
- Proposal Stage
Authors submit a proposal of 1,500–2,000 words by 15 September 2026 (see requirements below). Proposals are evaluated by the editorial team based on the criteria outlined below, with the aim to select 5 to 10 paper proposals. - Full Manuscript Stage
Only proposals that receive a positive evaluation will be invited to submit a full manuscript. Authors will be informed about the decision on their proposal by 15 October 2026. Full paper submission deadlines and dates for feedback sessions will be agreed with authors individually after selection of paper proposals and are tentatively planned to take place between November 3, 2026 and April 15, 2027. Authors are expected to revise and submit their papers no later than three months following the Feedback Session.
Submitted manuscripts will then proceed to rigorous peer review through the journal’s standard review process.
Full manuscripts shall be submitted through Sci-Post. All invited and submitted manuscripts undergo the journal’s standard peer review process.
Unsolicited full manuscripts (i.e. without prior acceptance of a proposal) will not be considered.
Manuscript Length
Final articles should be 8,000–9,000 words, with footnotes, figures, tables, and appendices included in the main text. The reference list is excluded from word count.
Proposal Requirements
Please submit your proposal of 1,500–2,000 words by 15 September 2026. Proposals should include:
- A brief introduction and core research question(s)
- The paper’s key contribution to ongoing scholarly debates (with references)
- A detailed methodological approach (if applicable)
- Description of empirical material (if applicable)
- Preliminary findings
- References (excluded from the word limit)
- Mention up to three scholars from our Editorial College and optionally, three other scholars with whom you wish to engage in scholarly exchange on your manuscript.
Evaluation criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Originality and innovation
- Strength of the theoretical and conceptual framework
- Methodological rigor and use of empirical material
- Clarity, coherence, and fit with the journal’s scope.
Authors of positively evaluated proposals will be invited to develop and submit full manuscripts.
Submission Details
Proposals must be submitted by 15 September 2026 through LimeSurvey. For any queries, applicants may consult the FAQ section on the journal website. Please note that a paper can only be submitted to one track.
For further questions, applicants are welcome to write an email to Mathias Czaika and Albert Kraler at migrationpolitics@donau-uni.ac.at with the subject line: “Open Track Call 2026”.