Introduction to the issue and volume 42 in review

Abstract

The editorial team is pleased to release the first issue of volume 43. It embodies a special issue on national security and infectious disease based on a call for papers issued in late 2022 entitled "COVID-19, International Relations, and Security Studies: Has the Pandemic Altered the Study and Practice of International Security." The collection of articles includes theoretical arguments from Kosal (2024) and McDermott (2024) on the impacts of disease on international security. It also includes articles from Stevens et al. (2024) and Topping et al. (2024) regarding the role authoritarianism plays in response to crises of disease. As well, Walker and Cramer (2024) examine the link between disease and conflict, particularly examining civil unrest in Africa. Guest editor Craig Albert (2024) provides an insightful synthesis of the articles in his introduction to the special issue. The editors thank Professor Albert for his expert and professional development of this special issue. The remaining pages of the issue include an article by Gregg (2024) regarding authoritarian communities and bioethics as well as research by Nam and Sawyer (2024) on how genetic narratives relate to racism.In review of the journal in 2023, PLS marked its forty-second year of publication. It received original submissions from 21 countries across a wide range of regions,