In 1975, under the direction of an energetic group of students including Shashi Tharoor, the future undersecretary-general of the United Nations, the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts established the Fletcher Forum of World Affairs. Within two years, motivated by the success of the Fletcher Forum, students within the Tufts undergraduate program in International Relations had established their own academic journal of international affairs. In 2017, Hemispheres celebrated its 40th anniversary as the premier publication of one of the most prestigious undergraduate international relations programs in the country.

Throughout its history, Hemispheres has remained committed to publishing research-length articles, photo-essays, and editorials of the highest academic caliber. The journal has become a reflection of our changing world. In the 1970s, Hemispheres principally focused on Cold War issues, discussing the validity of neo-realist, bipolar relations and Realpolitik. In the spring 1978 issue, renowned international affairs theorist Stanley Hoffman (Harvard) argued about the merits and failures of “Eurocommunism.” In the fall 1982 edition, Kosta Tsipis (MIT) and Robert Pfaltzgraff (Tufts) debated options of “how to enhance American security and prevent a nuclear holocaust.” The 1990s witnessed a redirection in Hemispheres’ aims, shifting away from a technical focus in favor of raising awareness within the Tufts community of contemporary international issues.  In the second decade of the twenty-first century, Hemispheres shifted its role once again, this time as a premier voice in undergraduate international affairs education, research, and pre-professional development. From this broader scope, our inaugural mixed-media magazine was published in the winter of 2024. We are proud that Hemispheres is distributed both in print at major research libraries and online via EBSCO Host, a first for journals of its kind. It is an extraordinary time to be a part of this outstanding publication. 

Since its creation in 1976, Hemispheres: The Tufts University Journal of International Affairs remains the oldest publication committed to publishing distinguished research produced by undergraduates students. The journal addresses a variety of social, economic, political, and legal issues—both contemporary and historical—within the framework of international relations. Selected through a double-blind peer review process, our published articles reflect the diverse views of students from across the United States and around the world.

The views and opinions expressed in the journal are solely those of individual authors and should not be regarded as reflecting any official position of Hemispheres, Tufts University, or its faculty.

Readers may further explore the history of Hemispheres by navigating our publication archives.