Following the successful launch of the JRAI Special Issue series in 2006 (the fourth and fifth volumes in the series will appear in 2009 and 2010) the RAI Publications Committee now invites proposals for the Special Issue to appear in 2011.

Each Special Issue will be distributed by Blackwell free of charge to RAI Fellows, and as part of the subscription to libraries taking the JRAI. Selected issues will also be available for sale in book form, and offered to RAI Members and Student Associates at a 25% discount on the published price.

The Committee is ready to consider all proposals that will meet the schedule and conditions set below. The following procedures and deadlines will apply:

Proposals for the 2011 issue should be sent to the RAI office by post at 50 Fitzroy St, London W1T 5 BT and by email to the , to arrive by 31 October 2008.

Proposals should include names and contact details of at least 2 referees who have agreed in advance to give their opinions in confidence. The Publications Committee will seek views from these and other referees as may be necessary.

If, following requests, no satisfactory reports are forthcoming from referee(s) nominated by the proposer(s), the Committee reserves the right to disqualify the proposal from consideration.

Proposals should be 1000-1500 words in length, and should follow the standard form below. The form cannot be completed online, but should be used as a model for preparing the abstract. Proposals should be as precise as possible, and should meet the following criteria:

They should contain clear evidence that the resulting volume, if selected, will be authoritative; will meet the highest academic standards; and will appeal to a broad academic readership. Topical themes will be welcome.
They should be submitted in the confident expectation that, if shortlisted, a near-complete MS can be supplied by 29 May 2009.
They should not be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.
Unless a special case is made, the planned length of the published volume should be within the range of 80,000-120,000 words.
Single- or joint-authored proposals will be welcome. Proposals based on a collection of papers should indicate who will act as the editor or editors.
Assignment of copyright to the RAI is a condition of publication. Authors and editors will be responsible for ensuring that all secondary copyright permissions have been obtained.

On the basis of the proposals received, the Publications Committee will draw up a shortlist for further consideration, and will notify proposers whether or not their proposal has been shortlisted, by 15 December 2008.

Near complete manuscripts will be required by 29 May 2009. A final decision based on reader's reports will be given by 1 December 2009.

MODEL PROPOSAL FORM

To be downloaded and used as model for the submission of proposals. All sections of the proposal form should be completed. The Publications Committee may ask for further details or clarification of a proposal. Total length of proposals should be 1000-1500 words.

Name, position and contact details of proposer(s)

Title (working title if necessary) of proposed Special Issue

Name, position and contact details of author/editor if different from proposer

Brief description of the project, activity or event, with dates if pplicable, on which the Special Issue will be based

Names of (provisional) additional authors/contributors, if applicable
Description of content in as much detail as possible, giving the academic context of the proposal and demonstrating academic excellence, innovation, and appeal to a wide anthropological readership

Have all necessary copyright agreements for reproduction of material been obtained? If not, please give details

If your proposal is shortlisted, how complete a MS for the final text can you undertake to provide by 29 May 2009.

Names and contact details of two or more academic referees for the publication who have agreed to give opinions in confidence and whom the Publications Committee may approach before or after shortlisting

Please send your abstract by post and as an email attachment to the , RAI, 50 Fitzroy St, London W1T 5BT, to arrive by 31 October 2008.

PREVIOUS SPECIAL ISSUES

2006: Ethnobiology and the Science of Humankind, edited by Roy Ellen

2007: Wind, life, health: anthropological and historical perspectives, edited by Elisabeth Hsu and Chris Low

2008: The objects of evidence: anthropological approaches to the production of knowledge, edited by Matthew Engelke

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