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Journal of Lao Studies (JLS)

The study of Laos and the Lao has grown significantly over the past decade. With the opening up of some historical and manuscript archives, the improvement of communication and transportation, and the launching of joint  Lao-foreign research projects, Laos has attracted a number of new scholars in diverse fields of expertise. The Journal of Lao Studies (JLS), published by the Center for Lao Studies, is an exciting new scholarly project which is expected to become the first and most prestigious venue in the many disciplines under the umbrella of “Lao Studies.”

We are now accepting submissions of articles, book review suggestions, review articles (extended reviews of major publications, trends in the field, or of political, social, or economic events). These submissions can cover studies on Laos (all ethnic groups), Lao residing in bordering countries (Northeast Thailand, Northeast Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Burma), ethnic groups bordering Laos with a representation in Laos (e.g. Akha, Mien, Khmu, Hmong, Tai Lue, etc.), or studies in regards to Lao disapora outside of Asia (the Americas, Australia, France, Argentina, etc.).

LANGUAGE

Lao and English are the main languages, other languages are welcomed. Please check with the editors first before submitting articles in other languages not listed here.

SUBMISSION POLICIES FOR AUTHORS

Articles for the Journal of Lao Studies should generally not exceed 12,000 words, not including all endnotes and references. Each submission should be accompanied by a cover letter with the author's name, address, phone number and e-mail address, as well as a brief biographical statement, a 200-word maximum abstract, and a word count. Submissions should be in MS Word, TimesNewRoman font, 12-point, with one-inch margins. Material for publication should be submitted in three hard copies or as an e-mail attachment, preferably in MS word. Since submissions are refereed anonymously, the author's name should appear only on the cover sheet. Notes should be endnotes not footnotes. Maps should be prepared where the topography is important for an understanding of the text. Photographs should specifically enhance the text and carry full captions and attributions. Submissions will be returned only if authors pay for postage costs.

Address all editorial correspondence and submissions to one of the editors at: mike.rattanasengchanh@msutexas.edu 

Submission deadline for upcoming issue is June 1, 2024.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Management of the journal will be a collaborative responsibility undertaken by a team of Lao Studies faculty from the various countries and universities. Dr. Mike Rattanasengchanh is the journal’s editor-in-chief. An international advisory board will oversee the process. The editorial board is in charge of guaranteeing academic quality, finding suitable reviewers and ensuring a quick and smooth reviewing process.

The focus of JLS is on presenting scholarly articles on topics relevant to Lao Studies. The journal will also include book reviews, communications with the editor, review articles, research reports, scholarly news, and occasionally also translations of important Lao language documents and texts. Each journal issue will include a Lao-language précis of article abstracts, but otherwise the journal will be produced as an English-language publication, with Lao and possibly other language articles included on rare occasions.

The co-editors-in-chief will be responsible for the management and delegation of responsibilities relating to the reviewing of submissions. This reviewing process will be organized into the following stages:

  1. Co-editors-in-chief will assess article submissions to determine relevance to the journal [Articles can be submitted either electronically or by mail].
  2. If the article is approved, it will be sent to two outside reviewers (double-blind) who will make editorial recommendations and evaluations.
  3. The article’s author(s) will be asked to respond to the reviewers’ comments.
  4. The editorial board will be informed of the submission, including the reviewers’ comments and the author(s) response, and will make the final determination about whether to proceed with publication.

An extensive list of experts in the field who may be called upon to serve as reviewers has already been compiled and organized by subject area. The co-editors will also assign book reviews and commission translations or articles by senior scholars on critical issues in the field, with input from the editorial board.

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