Join us! CSP is looking for new members to join the Editorial Collective

Critical Social Policy is a highly ranked, peer reviewed journal that provides an international forum for advocacy, analysis and debate on social policy issues. Published quarterly, it aims to develop an understanding of welfare from socialist, feminist, anti-racist, intersectional and radical perspectives (see CSP aims and scope).

Critical Social Policy operates as an Editorial Collective and we are looking for new members who share our values to join us in our collective endeavours.

What does being a member of the Editorial Collective involve?

• Attending four meetings per year. Meetings are held on a Saturday in January, April, June/July and October. The January meeting is normally held on Zoom with the other meetings taking place in person in central London. The late June/early July meeting extends to a whole weekend and may be held in the UK or abroad. Travel, subsistence, accommodation, childcare and other reasonable costs associated with attending meetings are covered by the journal.

• Reviewing journal articles. This includes reviewing articles prior to each meeting, participating in collective decision-making about whether or not to publish, and writing to authors with the outcome of that decision.

• Volunteering for additional responsibilities. In addition to general membership of the collective, we also rely on one another to volunteer for additional responsibilities. This includes one-off activities such as refereeing additional articles for themed issues, mentoring contributors to the Living Activism section, joining sub-groups for short-term projects and longer-term commitments such as oversight of finances, liaising with the publisher, managing our Solidarity Fund, etc. These longer-term roles are normally for a 3-year term.

  
  

What attributes are we looking for?

• A broad understanding of social policy from an academic, policy-making, professional or personal perspective with expertise in one or more areas, including both UK and/or international perspectives. Because Critical Social Policy is a broad-based social policy journal, collective members are expected to be able to review papers across a range of general social policy issues as well as within their specific area of expertise.

• A commitment to our shared values. A statement of our values can be found on the journal website; these are a vital part of who we are and why we do what we do. We aim to reach beyond an academic audience to include activists, advocates, academics, practitioners, policy-makers, and users of services. We welcome expressions of interest from individuals whose work fits within these areas.

We actively encourage people from activist and / or academic backgrounds, early career academics, people from racially minoritised backgrounds and those who have protected characteristics to apply as the Editorial Collective is determined to develop and maintain a diverse and inclusive environment which draws on the widest possible range of talents and backgrounds. 

How to apply:

We do not require a traditional CV – we are interested in knowing how your skills, experiences (which may be personal, professional, voluntary or paid) and values would fit with and contribute to the work we do and the values we hold. Please send your expression of interest in joining our collective, which should be no longer than two sides of A4, to Lizzie Ward, Editorial Coordinator at articlescsp@gmail.com

Closing date: 18th January 2025

Applications will be considered by the Editorial Collective meeting at the end of January 2025.