Dr Hylke Dijkstra has been appointed as the new editor-in-chief of the international peer-reviewed journal Contemporary Security Policy published by Taylor and Francis. This academic journal promotes theoretically-based research on policy problems of armed violence, peace building and conflict resolution. The aim is to bring academics and policy-makers closer together by addressing the key security challenges of the day.
One of the oldest peer-reviewed journals in international conflict and security, Contemporary Security Policy is positioned at the nexus of proof and policy. Since it first appeared in 1980, the journal has established a unique place in the international relations discipline by bridging the gap between academic and policy approaches. It offers policy analysts an outlet to pursue fundamental issues and academic writers a venue for addressing policy.
Hylke Dijkstra states that “Contemporary Security Policy is a renowned journal in international security. It is about to publish its 37th volume. Among its authors have been world-leading scholars such as Kenneth Waltz, Barry Buzan and Ernst B. Haas. Having been entrusted with the leadership of this journal is a major honour as well as responsibility. The two outgoing editors, Aaron and Regina Karp, have made a significant effort in improving the quality of the journal. I would like to thank them and I hope to continue their good work in the direction they have set out.”
Contemporary Security Policy has included articles on topics of arms control, strategic culture, NATO and EU security. Hylke Dijkstra notes that “this focus is certainly something that will be continued. However, the scope of the journal will be expanded to include contemporary security challenges worldwide. I expect the journal to also publish quality articles on, for example, the ongoing threat of ISIL, peacekeeping in Africa and the territorial disputes in the South and East China seas.”
As a result of the appointment of Hylke Dijkstra, Contemporary Security Policy will be hosted by Maastricht University. It is the second Taylor and Francis journal at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; the other being the Journal of European Integration co-edited by Prof. Thomas Christiansen. Maastricht University thus further establishes itself as a major centre for international relations research.
Hylke Dijkstra is an Assistant Professor (with tenure) at the Department of Political Science of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. He has widely published on how international organisations address contemporary security challenges. He is the author of “International Organizations and Military Affairs” (Routledge, 2016) and “Policy-Making in EU Security and Defense” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). He currently participates in a large Horizon 2020 project on the capabilities of the EU for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
