About the Journal

A Premier Venue for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Discourse

Established in 2012 by the Faculty of Contemporary Studies (FCS), National Defence University, the Journal of Contemporary Studies (JCS) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal. We provide a rigorous platform for interrogating the complexities of the modern global order through the lenses of security, governance, and human development.

Journal Profile at a Glance

Attribute Specification
Accreditation HEC HJRS 'Y' Category
Review Protocol Double-Blind Peer Review (Domestic & International)
Publication Cycle Bi-annual 
Access Model Open Access & Permanent Archive
Core Audience Academics, Policy Analysts, Defense Practitioners

 

Mission and Editorial Vision

The Journal of Contemporary Studies is dedicated to advancing critically-oriented scholarship that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Our mission is to catalyze intellectual discourse on the volatile shifts in 21st-century geopolitics and socio-economic structures.

We prioritize manuscripts that offer:

  • Theoretical Innovation: Research that challenges existing paradigms in International Relations and Strategic Studies.

  • Empirical Rigor: Evidence-based analyses that bridge the "gap" between academic theory and actionable policy.

  • Diverse Epistemologies: Perspectives that reflect the global South’s agency within the international system.

  • Integrated Solutions: Critical examinations of the nexus between traditional security and human-centric development.

Thematic Scope: Research Clusters

JCS invites original research, conceptual papers, and policy critiques across five core pillars. We particularly welcome submissions addressing emerging trends and non-traditional security threats.

1. Global Security & Strategic Stability

  • Nuclear politics, deterrence theory, and arms control.

  • Hybrid warfare, cyber security, and the impact of disruptive technologies (AI/Quantum).

  • Counter-insurgency (COIN) and modern conflict dynamics.

2. International Relations & Diplomacy

  • Great Power competition and regional hegemonic shifts.

  • Post-structuralist and post-colonial critiques of international order.

  • Hydro-diplomacy and transboundary resource management.

3. Geo-economics & Development

  • The transition from geo-politics to geo-economics in South and Central Asia.

  • Migration, urbanisation, and the political economy of development.

  • Regional connectivity projects (e.g., CPEC and CAREC).

4. Governance & Public Policy

  • Institutional reform, democratization, and state resilience.

  • Human rights, identity politics, and social justice in the global South.

5. Climate Change & Human Security

  • The security-climate-migration nexus.

  • Environmental policy and ecological sustainability in fragile states.