Call for Submissions – Issue 18: “Ghost in the Machine”

About the Call

The Oxford Political Review invites submissions for its 18th issue titled “Ghost in the Machine.” This issue explores the political, ethical, and governance implications of the accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution, with particular focus on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The issue seeks to critically examine the tension between techno-optimism and the deeper social, political, and philosophical questions arising from increasingly mechanised governance.

Theme Overview

Rapid advancements in AI and emerging technologies promise to transform politics, governance, and public administration. While these tools hold potential for efficiency, abundance, and improved governance, they also raise questions about agency, ethics, and human values.

This issue aims not to reject technology, but to interrogate its role, asking what lies beneath the surface of a mechanised political order—the “ghost in the machine.”