About Compass
Global commentary.
Published by the Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA), Compass features writing about global issues, culture, society and travel, as well as reviews, photography, art and excerpts from ICWA’s archives of fellowship dispatches over the last century. We reflect on the fate of liberalism in a new era, and how different societies perceive the United States, its policies and actions.
Masthead
Editor in Chief:
Gregory Feifer
Editors:
Robert Coalson
Dmitry Kharitonov
Steven Tagle
Elizabeth Wise
The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Institute of Current World Affairs, its staff or trustees.
Write for Compass
Compass, a Substack journal from the Institute of Current World Affairs, is looking for thoughtful perspectives about global cultures and affairs.
We accept simultaneous submissions, but your work must not appear elsewhere prior to publication.
Translations are allowed. Translators require permission from the copyright holders. Please include a copy of the original work with your submission.
Please send submissions or short pitches to icwacompass@gmail.com.
We pay our contributors.
Submission Categories
Global Currents | 800-2200 words
Analyses of current news or global issues.
Examples:
Macron should call Trump’s bluff by Jean-Louis Doublet
The velvet leash by Ilya Kolmanovsky
Book Reviews | 800-2200 words
Reviews of new books about global topics.
Examples:
Review: Opposing authoritarianism by Gregory Feifer
Dreams come back to haunt us by Polina Barskova
Wide Lens | 800 – 2200
Essays about people, places and events in history with relevance to today.
Examples:
Edward R. Murrow, a journalist of a different era by Marvin Kalb
A forgotten vision for Middle East peace by Daniel Warner
Postcards | 400-500 words
Short dispatches about particular spots or moments that give readers a sense of the place and culture. Please also send at least one photo from the location.
Examples:
Back to Bangdong village by Matthew Chitwood
Signage from Suriname’s ‘Casablanca’ by Joel Millman
Restaurant or Destination Reviews | 800-1200 words
Places that are new or off the beaten path, or doing something special. Please include a quote from the owner, organizer or chef and send a few photos from the location.
Examples:
In Praise of Cantinas by Joshua Levkowitz
Fiction | 800-2200 words
We welcome submissions with global perspectives.
Poetry | 2 poems
We welcome submissions with global perspectives. Please submit up to six poems for consideration.
Photography | 1 photo
We welcome submissions with global perspectives. Please submit several photos for consideration.
Examples:
Copenhagen conversation by Anna Shmitko
Portugal by Jennifer Katzka
Why subscribe?
Subscribe to get full access to the journal and publication archives. The articles on Compass will be free to read for several months while we build our audience.
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Join the crew
Be part of a global community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, and if you like these pieces, please share them with friends and consider making a donation to help us cover payments to our contributors.
