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The Alexander Hamilton Society Submission Guide

The Hamiltonian Column is a project of the Alexander Hamilton Society at George Washington University. We strive to provide a platform for International Relations, National Security, and Economic Statecraft enthusiasts to share their policy research, internship experiences, and study-aboard takeaways. A rigorous peer review, and editing process is in place to ensure the articles' accuracy, ethics, and adherence to AHS values. In comparison to an academic journal, the Hamiltonian Column allows for greater creative flexibility, so think of it as a blog of sorts.

Editorial Standards

Wordcount:

600 - 900 words (approximate)

Sourcing Standards:

• Hyperlink Integration: Follow Foreign Policy/Politico model - embed links naturally within the text rather than formal citations

• Primary Sources Preferred: Government documents, official statements, data from agencies (State Dept, DOD, Treasury, etc.)

• Credible Secondary Sources: Major newspapers (WSJ, NYT, WaPo, etc.), established foreign policy publications (Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks), respected think tanks (CFR, Brookings, CSIS, Hudson)

• Avoid: Partisan blogs, social media as primary sources, opinion pieces as factual support (can be used as opinion concurrence)

Style Approach:

• Inline Attribution: "According to a recent State Department report..." or "As the Pentagon announced last week..."

• Natural Flow: "The latest GDP figures show..." (with embedded link) rather than in-text citations

• Context Over Citations: Explain why a source matters/ Introduce a source ("longtime Middle East analyst at Brookings" vs. just "expert")

• On Font, Typeface, and Spacing: All submissions must be submitted in Times New Roman, 12 pt font, and double spaced

On Abbreviations:

• You must spell out the entirety of the abbreviated word(s) upon first usage followed by the corresponding abbreviation in brackets. Example: The Global Security Initiative (GSI).

  • For country abbreviations, use dots in between letters. Example: European Union (E.U.); North Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O.).

  • In reference to the Chinese Communist Party, use CCP as the corresponding abbreviation for all subsequent mentions.Do not use CPC (Communist Party of China), as preferred in China, for simplicity for the reader.

  • Abbreviations for titles are permitted. Example: Professor = Prof.; Senator = Sen.

Spelling: 

• Use American English spelling for all words, except when referring to proper nouns in other countries.

  • Example: “Australian Defence Force,” not “Australian Defense Force”; “Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives,” not “Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives.”

Numbers & Numerals

• Use full names for major wars or conflicts: “World War II,” “World War Two,” or “the Second World War,” not “World War 2” or “WW2.”

  • For earlier conflicts: “World War I,” “World War One,” or “the Great War,” not “World War 1” or “WW1.”

  • Spell out numbers below ten; use numerals for 11 and above. Example: “The treaty was signed by seven states” but “The treaty was signed by 15 states.”

Fact-Checking Process:

• Editorial team verifies claims before publication

• Authors provide source list to editors (even if not published)

• Focus on current, verifiable information

• Challenge unsupported assertions during editing

• The process should take around one week 

Red Lines:

• No unverified claims

• No anonymous sources without editorial approval

• Must distinguish between analysis/opinion and established facts

• Corrections policy for any factual errors

Staff Contacts:

Leon Delaloye <leon.delaloye@gwmail.gwu.edu>

Please cc <martina.xing@gwu.edu> as well. 

Please allow for a 48 hour waiting time before following up.