In development at Cambridge University Press, Public Humanities is an international open-access, cross-disciplinary, peer-reviewed journal at the intersection of humanities scholarship and public life. 

Aims and Scope

Public Humanities is an open-access forum for research from around the world and across the disciplines, engaging with a wide range of issues, authors, and readers and demonstrating the breadth, depth, and value of the humanities in its varied contributions to public life. 

The humanities study the things humans make—our art, writings, thoughts, religions, governments, histories, technologies, and societies—helping us understand who we are, what we do, how we do it, why, and with what consequences. Honouring the capacious diversity of the humanities, Public Humanities is open to all disciplines, geographies, periods, methodologies, authors, and audiences. The journal is a rendezvous for civically engaged humanities work from (though not limited to) the fields of Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture, Classics, Cultural Studies, Disability Studies, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, Government, History, Law, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Performing Arts, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Postcolonial Studies, Queer Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Visual Arts, and Women’s Studies. 

The journal ranges from historical examples of the humanities at work in the world to theoretical debates about the field today, from close readings of public humanities events to scholarly interventions in on-going social problems. Public Humanities creates space for scholars, students, activists, policy-makers, professionals, practitioners, and non-specialists to explore our habits and histories, our art and ideas, our language and beliefs, our pasts, presents, and futures. The journal invites authors and readers to share humanities knowledge, apply it to our societies’ most pressing issues as they arise, and demonstrate the value of the humanities in new and engaging ways.

Public Humanities publishes four themed issues per year curated by guest editors, plus a constant feed of rapid-response commentary. Published digitally to enable speedy delivery to readers and maximum flexibility for authors, articles range from individual of-the-moment responses to roundtable discussions and full-length papers. Through active and rigorous commissioning and peer-review processes, a diverse and committed editorial collective, and a world-leading publishing team, Public Humanities offers a platform for scholarly exchange and exciting new applications of excellent humanities research.

Calls

Contact

Please email jeffrey_wilson [at] harvard [dot] edu for more information about the journal.