Write for Us
The Public Interest publishes informed writing from people who know their subject. We welcome proposals.
Who we publish
We are interested in work from professionals, researchers, academics, practitioners, and informed writers who can bring evidence, experience, or expertise to a public question. We look for authors who can argue clearly, support what they claim, and engage with the strongest version of the views they disagree with. Previous publication is not required.
Subjects of interest
- Governance, democracy, and public administration.
- Fiscal transparency, public finance, taxation, and economic policy.
- Public integrity, anti-corruption, and institutional accountability.
- National security, international relations, and geopolitics.
- Law, constitutionalism, human rights, and criminal justice.
- Development, education, health, and social policy.
- Leadership, ethics, and institutional reform.
- Technology and its implications for public life.
- African affairs and global developments.
Types of article
Opinion. A clear argument from a named author, typically 800 to 1,500 words, on a question of public importance.
Analysis. An examination of a policy, institution, or development that weighs the evidence and the competing arguments, typically 1,200 to 2,500 words.
Research-based commentary. A piece that presents findings from the author's own research or professional practice, with the method and sources described, typically 1,500 to 3,000 words.
Responses. Considered replies to material we have published.
What we expect
Originality. Submissions must be the author's own work and must not have been published elsewhere, in print or online, unless agreed in advance. We do not accept work that reproduces substantial passages from other sources.
Verification. Factual claims must be supported. Authors should be prepared to supply sources for figures, quotations, and assertions of fact, and to make reasonable changes requested by the editors in the course of checking.
Disclosure. Authors must disclose any interest that a reasonable reader would consider relevant to the subject of the piece, and any substantial use of artificial intelligence tools in preparing it, in accordance with the editorial policy.
Civility. We publish criticism, including sharp criticism, of institutions, policies, and public conduct. We do not publish personal abuse, unsupported allegations, or material that is discriminatory.
How to submit
Send a proposal of a few paragraphs describing the argument or subject, why it matters now, and what you bring to it, together with a brief note on your background. Completed drafts are also welcome. Please include your full name, your professional role if you wish it to appear, and a contact address.
Accepted pieces are edited for clarity, length, and house style, and authors see the edited text before publication. Submission does not guarantee acceptance, and the editors may decline work without giving detailed reasons. Terms concerning any fees for contributions, and the time within which proposals receive a response, will be published here once they have been settled by the Center.