New Political Literature

Neue Politische Literatur (NPL) is a German-language academic review journal that has been published since 1956. It appears three times a year and focuses on reviewing current books in modern and contemporary history, the history of political ideas, and political theory. Scholars comment on research debates through individual reviews, essays, and review articles. The journal is published by Springer VS since January 2019, and its editorial office is based at the Institute of History at the Technical University of Darmstadt. The NPL is known for its in-depth review essays that provide an overview of a research field and contribute to the debate, as well as for identifying emerging fields. It also publishes essay reviews of central works. Contributions are actively solicited and supervised by the editorial team, and review articles undergo double-blind peer review. The journal's predecessor, 'Politische Literatur. Berichte über das internationale Schrifttum zur Politik' (PL), appeared from 1952 to 1954 under the direction of Helmut Röhr at the Institute of Political Science at Goethe University Frankfurt. Due to lack of subsidies, it ceased in 1955/56. The NPL took its place in July 1956, initially edited by Friedrich A. Krummacher in Frankfurt. It later moved to Darmstadt in 1965 under the leadership of Erwin Viefhaus. The journal has been published by various houses: Ring-Verlag from 1960, Europäische Verlagsanstalt from 1965, Franz Steiner Verlag from 1972 to 1990, Peter Lang from 1990 to 2018, and Springer VS since 2019. Since 2010 it has been available digitally, and since 2013 all reviews appear on recensio.net with a one-year delay. In September 2025 it was announced that from 2026 the journal will appear only digitally and in Open Access (Diamond Open Access). The NPL is a brand of a scholarly journal, not a corporate brand, but it operates as a product brand within the academic publishing market.

The predecessor of the Neue Politische Literatur (NPL) was 'Politische Literatur. Berichte über das internationale Schrifttum zur Politik' (PL), which appeared from 1952 to 1954 under the Bollwerk-Verlag. The project was led by Helmut Röhr at the Institute of Political Science at Goethe University Frankfurt. Its aim was the political education of the West German population and the inclusion of the public in shaping the young democracy. Due to a lack of subsidies, the journal had to cease publication in 1955/56. It was replaced in July 1956 by the Neue Politische Literatur (NPL). The editorial office remained in Frankfurt am Main under Friedrich A. Krummacher initially. The goals of 'Politische Literatur' were largely adopted by the NPL. The journal also received the new subtitle 'Berichte aus Geschichts- und Politikwissenschaft', indicating an opening towards history. From 1960 it was published by Ring-Verlag, and from 1965 for the first time with its current design by Europäische Verlagsanstalt. In the same year, on the initiative of co-editor Eugen Kogon and under the leadership of Erwin Viefhaus, the editorial office moved to TH Darmstadt. From then on the journal appeared quarterly. From 1972 to 1990 it was published by Franz Steiner Verlag, and from 1990 to 2018 by Peter Lang. In 1985 the publication frequency was reduced from four to three issues per year. Since the 1/2010 issue, the NPL has also been available digitally. In addition, since the 1/2013 issue, all reviews have appeared on the review platform recensio.net with a one-year delay. In September 2025 it was announced that from 2026 the journal will appear only digitally and in Open Access. The editorial office is based at the Institute of History at the Technical University of Darmstadt, and since January 2019 the journal has been published by Springer VS.

• 2025

  Announcement that from 2026 the journal will appear only digitally and in Open Access.

• 2019

  NPL is published by Springer VS starting January 2019.

• 2013

  All reviews appear on recensio.net with a one-year delay starting with issue 1/2013.

• 2010

  NPL becomes available digitally starting with issue 1/2010.

• 1990

  NPL is published by Peter Lang (until 2018).

• 1985

  Publication frequency reduced from four to three issues per year.

• 1972

  NPL is published by Franz Steiner Verlag (until 1990).

• 1965

  NPL appears with its current design by Europäische Verlagsanstalt; editorial office moves to TH Darmstadt under Erwin Viefhaus; becomes quarterly.

• 1960

  NPL is published by Ring-Verlag.

• 1956

  Neue Politische Literatur (NPL) is founded in July, continuing the goals of PL.

• 1955

  PL ceases publication due to lack of subsidies.

• 1952

  Predecessor journal 'Politische Literatur' (PL) begins publication under Bollwerk-Verlag.

A leading German-language review journal for modern history and political science, known for in-depth review essays and double-blind peer-reviewed review articles.

• Neue Politische Literatur journal

  A triannual academic review journal focusing on modern history, political theory, and political thought.

1. 1Redaktionssystem – Neue Politische Literaturneue-politische-literatur.de
2. 2Neue Politische Literatur – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3New Political Literature – Wikidatawikidata.org