Since 2018, the ASR has strived to become the premier scholarly journal platform for review books in African studies. We have redesigned our book review process with a view to the decolonization of knowledge production. Since 2019 all reviews are online only. We seek to review more books published by presses on the African continent. We seek to publish innovative review essays. We seek to increase the number of Africa-based reviewers. We view the book review process as a seamless pipeline for future article reviewers and contributors.
The ASR crowd-sources its review process. All titles received will be created into stubs for reviewer solicitation. We send all titles to between 4-6 potential reviewers. Each potential reviewer has 10-15 days to accept or decline. If a reviewer agrees, they must then provide their mailing address, and we will put them in touch with the press to acquire the volume. To minimize bias and favoritism, we do not decide which titles among those submitted are deemed worthy of review. Our membership decides whether to review a book. If, after six invitations, no one has agreed to review, we delete the stub.
Our dedicated book review team actively seeks to identify as many new reviewers as possible. You can help us by creating an account here under ScholarOne and clearly identifying your areas of specialization, including subjects, regions, countries, and disciplines. We actively encourage book review essays, and our dedicated team welcome suggestions for review essay themes. We review books published in the previous four calendar years only, but may make exceptions for books published on the African continent that have less publicity.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLISHERS:
The ASR does not accept physical books. We welcome book titles and publication information ONLY.
Please send us the complete title and publication information for any new publication your press has undertaken to our Managing Editor [managingeditor @ africanstudiesreview.org].
- Update us with the name and email of a current and responsive staff member liaison.
- When we identify a potential reviewer, we will contact you with the mailing address of the reviewer.
- Directly send the book or e-book to the reviewer. Remove us from any lists that automatically send physical copies to our office.
- Keep your eye out for the published reviews; we no longer have staff to send you copies of book reviews when they appear.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS OF NEW BOOKS:
The ASR wants to review your new book. We welcome book titles and publication information.
Ensure your publisher has provided our Managing Editor with your new title and all the information.
- Feel free to suggest potential reviewers (who do not have a conflict of interest) to increase your chance of having your book reviewed.
- Keep an eye out for the published review and share it with your professional networks and on social media when it appears online.
- Please note, we do not publish responses to reviews. You are welcome to organize an “Author Meets Critics” panel at the ASA Annual Meeting, and the ASR may consider sponsoring your panel.
All books for review should be sent to:
African Studies Association
Rutgers University
Livingston Campus
54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Film reviews
The