Submissions

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Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Author Guidelines

Alternate Routes is dedicated to providing a dynamic and inclusive platform for critical social research and interdisciplinary inquiry. We recognize the value of diverse theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches, and actively encourage submissions from a broad spectrum of contributors, including academics, labour organizers, and community-based researchers. Our commitment is to amplify voices that critically engage with and challenge prevailing structures of power, inequality, and injustice.

As a publicly accessible academic journal, Alternate Routes prioritizes work that is both provocative and thought-provoking—work that advances or disrupts existing understandings of historical and contemporary social, political, and economic issues. We strive to foster dialogue across disciplinary and social boundaries, bridging scholarly analysis with real-world struggles and experiences.

In addition to full-length research articles, the journal publishes a variety of formats including review essays inspired by previously published material, in-depth interviews that highlight diverse perspectives, incisive commentaries on current debates, and critical book reviews. Through this diverse content, Alternate Routes seeks to create a vibrant space for intellectual exchange, activism, and collective reflection.

Articles

Alternate Routes invites submissions of original, rigorous research articles that make substantive contributions to critical social research and interdisciplinary scholarship. Manuscripts should exhibit methodological rigour, comprehensive engagement with relevant literature, and coherent, well-supported arguments. Contributions may address historical or contemporary social, political and economic phenomena, drawing upon diverse theoretical frameworks. While maintaining scholarly depth, authors are encouraged to write with clarity to ensure the work’s accessibility to a broad academic audience. Submissions should not exceed 8,000 words, including references, unless previously agreed to.

Interventions

Interventions feature concise, accessible essays that bring critical perspectives to bear on global challenges. We’re looking for sharp, jargon-free pieces that connect local struggles to international systems, and theory to practice. These essays should bridge scholarly insight and public relevance—offering critical, engaging analysis of the political, economic, and social forces shaping our world today. We welcome contributions that engage broad audiences without sacrificing analytical depth—essays that inform, challenge, and inspire conversation across sectors. Think informed opinion meets sharp analysis—with relevance at the core. Interventions submissions should not exceed 2,500 words, including references, unless previously agreed to.

*AR publishes primarily special-themed issues and therefore requests that submissions be related to the current call for papers.

Please do not submit articles through this website. Instead, articles should be submitted directly to: “editor@alternateroutes.ca.” There are no fees for submission. 

Submissions do not need to be formatted according to the journal’s style guidelines at the time of initial submission. Authors will be asked to prepare their manuscripts in the required format only after their article has been accepted for publication.

Copyright Notice

Articles are published in Alternate Routes: A Journal of Critical Social Research under the Creative Commons "Attribution/Non-Commercial/No Derivative Works" Canada licence.

The copyright for the articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles may be used, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial, not-for-profit settings. The submission of a manuscript to Alternate Routes will be taken to mean that the author understands and agrees to the following:

  • the manuscript represents original work not previously published;
  • the manuscript is not being considered elsewhere for publication in the same language (publication elsewhere in an alternate language does not preclude acceptance of submission to Alternate Routes); 
  • appropriate written copyright permissions have been secured for republication of any copyrighted material contained in the manuscript; 
  • copyright for this article is retained by the author, with first publication rights granted to Alternate Routes; 
  • by virtue of its appearance in this open access journal, it is understood that the article is freely available for use, with proper attribution, for educational and other non-commercial purposes; 
  • reuse of the article for commercial purposes by anyone other than the author requires permission of the author; 
  • the author agrees to cite Alternate Routes as a source whenever h/she later republishes or reuses the article in other platforms.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.