Editors' Note

Since 2009, the International Security Studies Forum (ISSF) has presented online roundtables and reviews of books and articles in the field of international security studies. It has promoted communication and lively debate in the field among scholars and analysts. The many contributions to the forum are emailed to ISSF subscribers and are available at http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF/.

The ISSF should be of particular interest to readers of International Security. The forum has included many reviews of International Security articles, including: Stephen D. Biddle, Jeffrey A. Friedman, and Jacob N. Shapiro, "Testing the Surge: Why Did Violence Decline in Iraq in 2007?" Summer 2012; Robert A. Pape, "When Duty Calls: A Pragmatic Standard of Humanitarian Intervention," Summer 2012; David Ekbladh, "Present at the Creation: Edward Mead Earle and the Depression-Era Origins of Security Studies," Winter 2011/12, http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF/PDF/ISSF-AR14.pdf; Bruce W. Bennett and Jennifer Lind, "The Collapse of North Korea: Military Missions and Requirements," Fall 2011, http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF/PDF/ISSF-AR13.pdf; Paul K. MacDonald and Joseph M. Parent, "Graceful Decline? The Surprising Success of Great Power Retrenchment," Spring 2011, http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF/PDF/ISSF-AR11.pdf; Michael S. Gerson, "No First Use: The Next Step for U.S. Nuclear Policy," Fall 2010, http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF/PDF/ISSF-AR6.pdf; John M. Schuessler, "The Deception Dividend: FDR's Undeclared War," Spring 2010, http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF/PDF/ISSF-AR3.pdf; and Francis J. Gavin, "Same As It Ever Was: Nuclear Alarmism, Proliferation, and the Cold War," Winter 2009/10, http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF/PDF/ISSF-AR1.pdf.

The ISSF is a collaborative venture of the International Security Studies Section of the International Studies Association, Security Studies, the Journal of Strategic Studies, and International Security. The MacArthur Foundation has provided generous support. Many leading research centers have served as sponsors. For more information, visit http://www.issforum.org/.

In the following letter, ISSF founder Robert Jervis explains the purposes of the ISSF and encourages further participation. We hope that readers of International Security will take full advantage of this resource for promoting dialogue and discussion in our field.

—The Editors

In cooperation with its counterpart in diplomatic history (H-Diplo), the International Security Studies Forum engages in five kinds of activities, which can be sampled at http://www.h-net.org/~diplo/ISSF.

First, we publish roundtable reviews of recent books in security studies, featuring multiple reviews and a response from the author(s). Our objective is to have most roundtables appear within six months of a book's publication, although pressure on reviewers' time often puts this goal beyond reach.

Second, we offer shorter reviews of selected journal articles. Here we usually assign only one review, but seek multiple perspectives in cases of particular interest or contention.

Third, we organize discussions among scholars of issues that are germane to the field but are often not addressed in the print media. For example, in June 2010 we published two roundtable discussions: "Politics and Objectivity in History and Political Science" and "Biology and Politics." Both attracted much interest and the attention of a wide range of international scholars.

Fourth, scholars are invited to submit their own comments, questions, and ideas about security studies. For example, a book, article, or recent event might prompt any of us to put out a query or an idea that was too brief to merit an article, but that we think is worthy of discussion.

Fifth, and perhaps most important, we encourage you not only to read this material but to comment on it. We seek to make the ISSF the site for vigorous discussion, to help build a community, and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and the establishment of new connections. Because the list is shared with the existing H-Diplo membership (of 4,000 active subscribers), we have enormous potential for developing a global network of international historians and security studies scholars.

As is the case with H-Diplo publications, many of...