The Blog
Print Submissions
2024 Issue
2023 Issue
By Paata Kaloiani
By Jack Greenspan
Feb 27, 2025
Kaloiani compares and contrasts the use of conspiracy theories by the Hungarian and Georgian governments, two of the most embattled governments in Europe.
Feb 27, 2025
Viktor Orban’s main challenger, Peter Magyar of the Tisza Party, has staked out a firmly anti-Orban stance. Observers, however, should not be fooled: Magyar is also a conservative.
Atiana Novikoff, University of California, Berkeley
Annabel Hou, University of California, Berkeley
Lora Tseytlin, Columbia University, Barnard College
About Us
Founded in 2004, The Birch is the first national undergraduate publication devoted exclusively to Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies. Any undergraduate student at any college or university is welcome to submit work to be published in our issues, featured both online and in print.
We accept creative writing (poetry, prose, creative nonfiction, short stories), literary criticism (essays and book reviews), and essays on the politics, culture, and history of the region. The Birch editorial board is composed of current undergraduate students at Columbia University.
From the Blog
Submissions
Submissions for the 2024-2025 print edition will open on October 1st
In addition to an annual printed issue, The Birch publishes articles, academic essays, and creative work online on a rolling basis.
We accept:
Academic Essays (no word limit)
Op-eds (750-1500 words)
Reviews (500-750 words)
Creative Writing (no word limit)
Translations (no word limit)
Photography + Art
Online submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Pieces will undergo an editing process within 2-3 weeks of acceptance.Articles and op-eds on current events may be subject to an expedited publication timeline.
The Birch is a forum for undergraduates to publish scholarly essays. These can be adapted from original research projects, class papers, and senior theses. Please limit your submissions to the print journal no more than two essays, each no more than 4000 words (not including footnotes). Citations should be done in MLA style (in-text citation and bibliography). When submitting your essay, please indicate what section of the journal you are submitting to:
Culture and History: essays on popular culture, history, film, the arts, etc.
Literary Criticism: essays on literature or philosophy
Politics: essays on current events, geopolitics, economics, and religion