Have you written a book about politics and are now looking for a list of publishers of political book so you can research which are accepting manuscripts and what you need to make a submission?
Below you’ll find 19 top political book publishers.
1. ARP Books
Based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, ARP Books is an independent Canadian publishing company that was founded in 1996. They publish both fiction and nonfiction titles, and are especially interested in books that explore and discuss contemporary issues in today’s progressive political landscape. Some of their most recent releases include “Stolen City: Radical Capitalism and the Making of Winnipeg” by Owen Toews, “Unsettling the Commons” by Craig Fortier, and “Aqueduct” by Adele Perry.
They are currently accepting submissions for books about contemporary politics, culture, and social issues. For more information, you can review ARP Books’ submissions guidelines. All submissions and queries can be submitted via email. The team at ARP Books notes that due to the high volume of submissions that they receive, it can take up to several months to hear back with a response
2. Basic Books
Founded in 1952 in New York, Basic Books is an award-winning independent publishing company that specializes in nonfiction titles about history, science, sociology, psychology, politics, and current affairs. Some of their featured titles include “The Virtue of Nationalism” by Yoram Hazony, “Adam Smith: Father of Economics” by Jesse Norman, and “Advice and Dissent: Why America Suffers When Economics and Politics Collide” by Alan S. Blinder.
While they do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, you’re more than welcome to submit a query letter or book proposal through your literary agent. Authors with literary representation will be given first consideration when it comes to their submission’s selection process.
3. Clarity Press
Clarity Press is an independent publishing company based out of Atlanta, Georgia, that specializes in publishing books that delve into global issues and politics. Some of their upcoming titles include books like “The Artificial Intelligence Contagion: Can Democracy Withstand the Imminent Transformation of Work, Wealth, and the Social Order?’ by David Barnhizer and Daniel Barnhizer, “Child Rights & Remedies” by Robert C. Fellmeth and Jessica K. Heldman, and “The Case for Universal Health Care” by David Colton.
They are currently accepting query letters via email. They ask that you include a cover letter providing your contact information, a table of contents, and a brief synopsis of your book. Manuscripts sent via regular mail will not be considered. For more information, you can review their submission guidelines.
4. ECW Press
With over 1000 books in their catalogue, ECW Press is an independent publisher that publishes a wide range of fiction and nonfiction titles, including books about politics and global issues. Based out of Toronto, Ontario, ECW has published politics books like “An American Story: The Speeches of Barack Obama” by David Olive, “The Partition Principle: Remapping Quebec After Separation” by Trevor McAlpine, and “Stephen Harper: The Case for Collaborative Governance” by Lloyd Mackey.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts for nonfiction politics books via email. They ask that you include a cover letter explaining your book, why you believe your project is a good fit with the press, a brief author bio, contact information, your publication history, and a representative 15-25 pages of your manuscript for consideration. For more information, you can review their submission guidelines.
5. Edward Elgar Publishing
Edward Elgar Publishing is a UK-based independent publishing company out of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Founded by Edward Elgar, this publisher strives to produce academic nonfiction that strongly focuses on topics of social sciences and the law. Some of their upcoming politics books include titles like “Declining Democracy in East-Central Europe” by Attila Ágh, “Dependent Self-Employment” by Colin C. Williams and Ioana A. Horodnic, and “Cities and Regions in Crisis” by Martin Jones.
They are currently accepting book proposals through via email. The editorial team at Edward Elgar Publishing strongly encourages you to review their submission guidelines and download their proposal forms. For general inquiries, you can reach the team via email.
6. Fernwood Publishing
Founded in 1991 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Fernwood Publishing is an independent publisher of books that engage with politics in a critical and enlightened way. Some of their most recent titles include “Rethinking Who We Are: Critical Reflections on Human Diversity in Canada” edited by Jessica Pulis and Paul Angelini, “Civilization Critical: Energy, Food, Nature, and the Future” by Darrin Qualman, and “Dis/Consent: Perspectives on Sexual Consent and Sexual Violence” edited by KelleyAnne Malinen.
They are currently accepting book proposals via email. For more information, you can review their comprehensive submission guidelines. Be sure to include an annotated table of contents, a list of contributors (if applicable), some information about your intended audience, a brief author bio and any previous publications (if applicable), as well as a summary of your project’s over all argument and theoretical framework.
7. Fordham University Press
Fordham University Press works in conjunction with Fordham University, based out of New York City. They strive to publish books that discuss scholarly research and ideas, including issues surrounding politics and current affairs. Some of their politics titles includes “The Supermarket of the Visible” by Peter Szendy, “The Tongue-Tied Imagination” by Tobias Warner, and “Forms of a World” by Walt Hunter.
They are currently accepting book proposals and queries via regular mail. For more information about their requirements, you can review their submission guidelines. They ask that you include a cover letter that provides a brief summary of your book’s argument, why you believe your project is a good fit with the press, your CV, a prospectus detailing your intended audience, comparative works, and anticipated date of completion, along with a sample chapter.
8. Haymarket Books
Established in 2001 out of Chicago, Illinois, Haymarket Books, this independent publishing company has produced over 500 titles and seeks both established and new authors with insightful new perspectives to explore the political world. They’ve published titles like “Things That Make White People Uncomfortable” by Michael Bennett, “This Is Not A Test” by José Luis Vilson, and “On My Way to Liberation” by H. Melt.
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions for books geared toward academic audiences via email. You’re strongly encouraged to browse through their existing catalogue of books to make sure your project would be a good fit with their press. You should include a cover letter, a brief book outline and summary, an annotated table of contents, and 1-2 sample chapters for consideration. For more information, you can review Haymarket Books’ submission guidelines.
9. Johns Hopkins University Press
Johns Hopkins University Press is one of the largest publishing companies in the United States, publishing both scholarly journals and academic books about a wide range of topics. They have an impressive catalogue of titles about political science and political theory. Some of their titles include “Will China Democratize” by edited Andrew J. Nathan, Larry Diamond, and Marc F. Plattner, “Great Powers, Small Wars” by Larisa Deriglazova, and “America and the Politics of Insecurity” by Andrew Rojecki. They are unfortunately not actively seeking submissions at this time.
10. Lynne Rienner Publishers
Based out of Boulder, Colorado, Lynne Rienner Publishers is an independent publisher that primarily publishes scholarly books and textbooks about politics, social sciences, and the humanities. Some of their featured titles include “Comparative Politics: Exploring Concepts and Institutions Across Nations” by Gregory S. Mahler, “Terrorism and Counterterrorism: A Comprehensive Introduction to Actors and Actions” by Henry Prunckun and Troy Whitford, and “Surprising News: How the Media Affect -and Do not Affect- Politics” by Kenneth Newton.
They are currently accepting queries and book proposals via email. You can review their book proposal guidelines here. For general inquiries or more information, you can also contact the editorial team at Lynne Rienner via email.
11. Microcosm Publishing
Microcosm Publishing is an independent press based out of Portland, Oregon, that publishes a wide range of fiction and nonfiction titles aimed at younger audiences hoping to expand their horizons. They have an impressive category for politics books that they’re always seeking to expand. They’ve published books like “Notes from Underground: Zines and the Politics of Alternative Culture” by Stephen Duncombe, “Street Journalist: Understand and Report the News in Your Community” by Lisa Loving, “Teenage Rebels: Stories of Successful High School Activists From the Little Rock 9 to the Class of Tomorrow” by Dawson Barrett, “Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy” by Elly Blue and “How to Boycott: Make Your Voice Heard, Understand History, & Change the World” by Joe Biel.
They are currently accepting submission for books about politically-centric topics like race and racism, feminism, gender equality, economics, and history. You can first send a query through their website’s online contact form. If interested in your project, a member of their editorial team will reach out to your promptly to discuss your book in further detail.
12. The New Press
The New Press is an independent publishing company founded in 1992 in New York City. The specialize in publishing works that encourage open discussion and understanding about democracy and politics in our world. A few of their most recent releases include books like “Raising the Bar: Diversifying Big Law” by Debo Adegbile, Lisa Davis, Damaris Hernández, and Ted Wells, “North of Havana: The Untold Story of Dirty Politics, Secret Diplomacy, and the Trial of the Cuban Five” by Martin Garbus, and “The Democracy Fix: How to Win the Fight for Fair Rules, Fair Courts, and Fair Elections” by Caroline Fredrickson.
They are currently accepting book proposals through their website’s online submissions form. The team at The New Press asks that you include an outlined table of contents, and up to two sample chapters from your manuscript for consideration. If interested in your project, a member of their editorial team will contact you to make arrangements to review your full manuscript.
13. Nortia Press
Established in 2011, Nortia Press is an independent publishing company based out of Orange County, California, that primarily publishes works about history and prominent social issues. Some of their books about politics and conflict include titles like “Rebel Streets” by Tom Molloy, “Gods Weapons and Money: The Puzzle of Power” by Eugen O. Chirovici, and “The Terrorism Lectures: A Comprehensive Collection for Students of Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and National Security” by Dr. James J.F. Forest.
While the team at Nortia Press is not actively seeking submissions at this time, you’re more than welcome to send a query letter to their executive editor via email. If you’re an author with literary representation, it’s highly advised that you have your literary agent submit a query letter or book proposal on your behalf.
14. Ruka Press
Ruka Press is an independent publisher of nonfiction books. Based out of Washington, DC, Ruka Press was founded in 2010 with the aim of producing books intended for general audiences to assist in their understanding of the world around them. Their books include titles like “Eat Local for Less: The Ultimate Guide to Opting Out of Our Broken Industrial Food System” by Julie Castillo, and “The Pipeline and the Paradigm: Keystone XL, Tars Sands, and the Battle to Defuse the Carbon Bomb” by Samuel Avery.
They are currently accepting submissions via email and regular post. They’re especially interested in projects that deal with the political aspects of economics, nature, climate change, and sustainability. For more information, you can review their submission guidelines.
15. The Key Publishing House Inc.
Based out of Toronto, Ontario, The Key Publishing House Inc. is an independent Canadian press that specializes in publishing high-quality academic, professional, and trade books that explore political topics to encourage discussion, tolerance, and freedom of thought and expression. They’ve published titles like “Lessons from Remand” by Mark Stobbe, “Critical Moments in the Darfur Genocide” by Eric Reeves, and “Cyberdemocracy: Change of Democratic Paradigm in the 21st Century” by Andrzej Kaczmarczyk.
While the team at The Key Publishing House isn’t actively seeking new submissions at this time, you’re more than welcome to send them a query about your project through their website’s online contact form. For general inquiries, you can also reach the team via email.
16. Tidal Press
Tidal Press is a newly established independent press based out of Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 2001, the team at Tidal Press strive to publish engaging nonfiction titles about a wide range of topics, including politics, to help their readers satiate their curiosity and expand on their critical thinking. They’ve recently published “Pick Nick: The Political Odyssey of Nick Galifianakis from Immigrant Son to Congressman” by John E. Semonche.
Since Tidal Press is a small publisher, they only release a handful of new projects every year. They are currently not accepting submissions at this time, but you’re more than welcome to check back at a later date when this status may change.
17. Vernon Press
Vernon Press is an independent publisher of academic nonfiction, with specific interest in the social sciences and humanities. Based out of Wilmington, Delaware, they’ve published politics books like “Nietzsche & Anarchism: AN Elective Affinity and a Nietzschean Reading of the December ’08 Revolt In Athens” by Christos Iliopoulos, “Metaphysics of Human Rights 1948-2018” by Luca Di Donato, and “Political Corruption in a World in Transition” edited by Jonathan Mendilow and Éric Phélippeau.
The team at Vernon Press is currently accepting book proposals via email. If you believe your manuscript would be a good fit with the press, you’re strongly encouraged to send in your proposal after reviewing their submission guidelines. For general inquiries or more information, you can also contact the team at Vernon Press by email.
18. Wolsak & Wynn
Wolsak & Wynn is an independent Canadian publishing press based out of Hamilton, Ontario. They publish fiction, poetry collections, and nonfiction titles about a wide range of topics and in a number of different genres. Some of their titles include books like “Great Power and Great Responsibility: The Philosophical Politics of Comics” by Douglas Mann, “Cowboys & Bleeding Hearts: Essays on Violence, Health, and Identity” by Ron Charach, and “From My Mother’s Back: A Journey from Kenya to Canada” by Njoki Wane.
They are currently accepting book proposal by regular mail. They ask that you include a cover letter detailing your contact information, provide a sample chapter of your manuscript, and a proposed table of contents. They will only consider submissions from Canadian authors. If you would like your material returned to you after consideration, be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). For more information, you can review their submission guidelines.
19. Zed Books
Zed Books is an independent publishing company that specializes in intelligent non-fiction geared towards an international audience. They’re well-known for their books about global current affairs and global politics, and have an impressive range of award-winning scholarly titles that explore topics about the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Some of their titles include “Poverty as Ideology: Rescuing Social Justice from Global Development Agendas” by Andrew Martin Fischer, “Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics” by Nanjala Nyabola, and “The Fire Now; Anti-Racist Scholarship in Times of Explicit Racial Violence” edited by Azeezat Johnson, Remi Joseph-Salisbury, and Beth Kamunge.
They are currently accepting book proposal submissions, but strongly encourage you to review their existing catalogue of books to make sure your project will be a good fit with the press. For more information, you can review their submission guidelines. Due to the high volume of proposals that they receive, they note that they will only contact those authors whose projects have piqued their interest.
Are there any other publishers of political books that should be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.