FPIF publishes timely commentaries on U.S. foreign policy, sharp analyses of global issues, and on-the-ground dispatches from around the world. We also are interested in pieces that explore the intersection of foreign policy and culture, dispatches from civic movements involved in foreign policy, and “postcards” including notes and photos from the travels of contributors.
We’re happy to consider unsolicited contributions, including op-eds of 600-800 words and longer commentaries up to 2,000 words. But please be advised that it’s preferable to send a pitch first. If you talk through the piece with us before writing it, it’s more likely to be of interest.
Though we prefer to receive original contributions, we’ll consider reprinting or adapting pieces that previously ran elsewhere on a case-by-case basis, provided you can supply the appropriate permissions. As a nonprofit publication that exists to serve as a resource for scholars, activists, and progressives, FPIF does not have the resources to pay contributors.
Style Guidelines
We value strong writing that avoids jargon and makes clear points in concise language. We urge our writers to open with a compelling hook that may include vivid anecdotes to attract readers’ interest, to use the active voice whenever possible, and to close with concluding remarks.
We attempt to market our work to a general audience, so we discourage contributions designed for academic readers or any other specialized audience.
Your article should be a clean copy without visible track changes. Ideally, quotations should be incorporated into paragraphs rather than set aside as block quotes. Please do not include lengthy bulleted lists, either. Long blocks of text should be broken up into subsections for easier web reading.
FPIF does not use footnotes or endnotes. Instead, please hyperlink all relevant sources. It is especially important to include a hyperlink for specific numbers, quotations, and observations or facts that aren’t common knowledge. If you cannot use a hyperlink, for example in citing a book, then give relevant information such as the author and title in the text. Use English language sources when available; other languages are acceptable where necessary.
Although we scrutinize all submissions carefully, authors are ultimately responsible for the factual accuracy of their contributions.
Queries and Submissions
Please contact editor Peter Certo (peter@ips-dc.org) to send pitches or submissions.
If you are a new FPIF contributor, please send representative writing samples (or web links to them) and a CV along with your query. Your query should be brief and explain why your piece is suitable for FPIF.
We look forward to your participation in FPIF’s think tank without walls!