Academic Journal
Q1American Journal of Political Science
About American Journal of Political Science
American Journal of Political Science is a scholarly journal published by Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. SCImago 2025 places it in Q1 with an SJR of 6.539 and an H-index of 229.
Its listed coverage is 1982, 1986, 1996-2026 and its research categories include Political Science and International Relations (Q1); Sociology and Political Science (Q1). The 2025 dataset reports 166 documents and 2156 citations across the latest three-year reporting window.
About the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS)
The American Journal of Political Science (AJPS) is one of the most respected and widely read scholarly journals in the field of political science. Published quarterly by the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA), AJPS serves as a leading platform for cutting-edge research, theoretical advancements, and empirical studies across the full spectrum of political science.
Founded in 1957 as the Midwest Journal of Political Science, the journal adopted its current name in 1973 to reflect its growing national and international impact. Today, AJPS is recognized globally for publishing peer-reviewed research that advances our understanding of political institutions, behavior, public policy, political theory, and international relations.
Reputation and Academic Impact
The American Journal of Political Science consistently ranks among the top journals in political science based on impact factor, citation metrics, and academic influence. Its rigorous peer-review process ensures high-quality scholarship, making it a preferred publication outlet for researchers, educators, and policy analysts.
With its broad scope, AJPS attracts submissions from scholars around the world. The journal emphasizes methodological diversity, encouraging a wide range of approaches including qualitative, quantitative, formal, and mixed-method research. This inclusive philosophy has helped AJPS remain at the forefront of political science scholarship.
Areas of Focus
AJPS publishes original research articles that cover all major subfields of political science, including:
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American Politics: Studies related to U.S. political institutions, behavior, public opinion, and electoral processes.
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Comparative Politics: Research on political systems, governance, and political dynamics in countries around the world.
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International Relations: Analyses of global politics, foreign policy, security studies, and international cooperation.
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Political Theory: Explorations of political ideas, ideologies, and normative theories.
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Public Policy and Administration: Investigations into policy-making processes, governance structures, and administrative behavior.
The journal also publishes interdisciplinary research that bridges political science with economics, sociology, psychology, and other social sciences.
Accessibility and Submission
The American Journal of Political Science is available both in print and online, offering subscription access to institutions and individuals. Researchers interested in submitting their work to AJPS must adhere to the journal’s detailed submission guidelines, which emphasize transparency, replicability, and ethical research standards.
AJPS also supports data transparency by requiring authors to share replication data, making it easier for others to verify and build on published research. This commitment to open science has contributed to its reputation as a trustworthy and forward-thinking academic journal.
Journal Metrics
Metrics can change by reporting year. Verify time-sensitive values with the publisher or indexing service.
Aims & Scope
Scope of the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS)
The American Journal of Political Science (AJPS) is a premier peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to the advancement of scholarly research in political science. Published quarterly by the Midwest Political Science Association, AJPS has earned its reputation as one of the most respected and widely cited journals in the field. Its primary mission is to promote high-quality theoretical and empirical research that significantly contributes to the understanding of political processes, institutions, behavior, and policy outcomes.
Broad Disciplinary Scope
The scope of the American Journal of Political Science is intentionally broad, reflecting the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of political science. AJPS welcomes manuscripts from all subfields of political science, including but not limited to:
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American Politics
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Comparative Politics
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International Relations
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Political Theory and Philosophy
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Public Administration and Public Policy
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Political Methodology
This inclusivity ensures that the journal serves as a platform for a wide array of perspectives and methodologies, fostering academic dialogue across different areas of political inquiry.
Emphasis on Methodological Rigor
AJPS places a strong emphasis on methodological rigor and originality. Whether employing qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method approaches, articles published in the journal must demonstrate theoretical sophistication, empirical soundness, and clear relevance to ongoing scholarly debates. The journal actively encourages the use of innovative methods and welcomes replication studies that contribute to transparency and reliability in political science research.
International and Interdisciplinary Relevance
While AJPS is based in the United States, its scope is global. The journal frequently publishes studies focused on political systems, actors, and issues from around the world. It also values interdisciplinary contributions that draw from economics, sociology, psychology, and law, thereby enhancing the theoretical and analytical depth of political science research.
Ideal Audience
The American Journal of Political Science targets an academic and professional audience, including scholars, graduate students, and practitioners with a keen interest in political science research. Its articles are commonly cited by policymakers, media professionals, and educators, making it a valuable resource beyond the confines of academia.
Commitment to Academic Excellence
AJPS maintains a double-blind peer review process, ensuring that each submission is evaluated solely on its scholarly merit. The editorial board comprises leading political scientists who bring a wealth of expertise and uphold the journal’s standards of excellence. As a result, publication in AJPS is a prestigious achievement that enhances the visibility and credibility of scholarly work.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the American Journal of Political Science is an essential outlet for cutting-edge research across all areas of political science. Its wide-ranging scope, methodological rigor, and international reach make it a cornerstone of political science literature. Whether you're a researcher seeking to publish influential work or a reader looking to stay informed on the latest developments in political science, AJPS is an indispensable resource.
Recent Research Articles
Latest publications matched automatically by ISSN.
Designing multi‐site studies for external validity: Site selection via synthetic purposive sampling
Naoki Egami, Diana Da In Lee
2026-09-07 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70070The territorial rights of wild animals: Justification
Pablo P. Castello
2026-08-31 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70087Partisan bias in a sorted party system: A problem of epistemic inequality
Justin Pottle
2026-08-26 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70086A theory of political divergence and gradual institutional change
Clair Yang
2026-08-20 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70084Captured participatory institutions: Theory and evidence from Venezuela's Consejos Comunales
Jared Abbott, Jose Morales‐Arilla
2026-08-18 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70077(Non)belonging and (un)freedom
Yuna Blajer de la Garza
2026-08-13 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70081Global harms, local profits: How the uneven costs of natural disasters affect support for green political platforms
Silvia Pianta, Paula Rettl
2026-08-13 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70078Endogenous coalition formation in policy debates
Philip Leifeld, Laurence Brandenberger
2026-08-10 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70079Durable majority gerrymanders: Where partisan gerrymandering can displace democracy
Maxwell Palmer, Benjamin Schneer
2026-08-10 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70074Correcting measurement error bias in conjoint survey experiments
Katherine Clayton, Yusaku Horiuchi, Aaron R. Kaufman, Gary King et al.
2026-07-23 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70076Contesting repression in divided democracies: Can counternarratives reduce support for police violence?
Yanilda María González, Natán Skigin
2026-07-19 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70073Electoral contests over voter beliefs
Dan Alexander, Alexander Evert
2026-07-19 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70075Bureaucrat assignments as instruments of political control: Theory and evidence from land administration officials in India
Anustubh Agnihotri, Aditya Dasgupta, Devesh Kapur
2026-07-02 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70069Issue Information
2026-07 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70071State surveillance and collective dissent
Gaétan Nandong
2026-07-01 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70057Getting on the grid: A field experiment on bottom‐up political pressure and access to essential public services
Nikhar Gaikwad, Anjali Thomas
2026-06-27 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70068Is support for authoritarian rule contagious? Evidence from field and survey experiments
Sirianne Dahlum, Torbjørn Hanson, Åshild Johnsen, Andreas Kotsadam et al.
2026-06-27 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70067Rebuilding trust in national police: The case of the UN mission in Mali
Nadine Ansorg, Zorzeta Bakaki, Jessica Di Salvatore
2026-06-25 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70066The demand for elections under autocracy: Regime approval and the elimination of local elections in Russia
Quintin H. Beazer, Noah Buckley, Ora John Reuter
2026-06-03 · DOI: 10.1111/ajps.70060Reviews
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April 21, 2025 at 9:45 am
April 21, 2025