The editors at aspeers recognize the quality and importance of work being done at the graduate level in European American Studies institutions. Advanced students all over Europe produce outstanding and innovative American Studies scholarship. However, many excellent student theses, essays, and papers are not receiving the attention they deserve.

Therefore, aspeers seeks to give emerging scholars a voice: A platform to showcase their work beyond the graduate classroom and a forum for discussion and exchange. We believe that such wider circulation of graduate scholarship has great potential to further energize the field of American Studies. At the same time, aspeers offers emerging scholars the unique opportunity to publish and get recognition for their research at an early point in their careers.

Because we believe that profound discourse on transatlantic matters is also occurring on less traditional levels and through mediums other than the scholarly essay, aspeers includes two separate sections. The first features the year’s selected academic essays, and the second is open to less traditional or less formalized modes of exchange and expression. Examples of which may include, but are not limited to, poetry, photography, and excerpts from travel journals.

In its initial issue, aspeers sought to produce a snapshot of graduate American Studies in Europe. Contributors to the first section thus had no topical limitations. We welcomed work focusing on any aspect of the study of 'America' -- with America being defined as North America. Contributors to the second section, however, were asked to reflect on the theme 'Transatlantic Encounters.' Here the editors of aspeers invited creative interpretations and direct response to this topic.

The second issue’s topic is “Migration and Mobility” for which we are still accepting papers. For more information please reference our call for papers, or visit our website at www.aspeers.com.

The Project

aspeers is a project within the American Studies MA Program at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Most members of the reviewing editorial staff are MA candidates. aspeers is currently the only peer-reviewed publication channel for graduate students in European American Studies programs. As of January 2009, the newly founded association aspeers e.V. handles all business aspects of the project. 

The first issue of aspeers has been available online and in print since April 2008.

The second issue, organized around the topic of Migration and Mobility was published in March 2009.