Reflecting on editorial and publishing challenges:: Government and Policy;: the first 25 years

The process of journal publishing is under unprecedented pressure and external scrutiny in Britain. This is in part the result of research assessment exercises for academics, but also the rapid development of e-publishing, and perhaps erosion of the traditional moral suasion that has underpinned peer review. A recent assessment of peer review in the social services and humanities by the British Academy has evidenced some need for improved transparency, timeliness, verifiability, and checks on scholarly malpractice. This paper assesses how the twenty-five year publication history of Government and Policy has responded to these challenges in terms of editorial policy, theme issues, and maintaining its strong focus on internationally resonant and interdisciplinary policy research.