《冷战研究杂志》以前共产主义世界和西方国家的档案研究为基础的同行评议文章为特色。一些文章对重要的历史事件或主题进行了重新评估，强调了解密文件和新的第一手资料所必需的解释变化。其他文章试图为当前的理论辩论带来新的证据。许多现有的国际和国内政治理论都依赖于冷战时期的概括，但直到最近，这些概括的证据充其量还是微不足道的。《冷战研究》杂志上的文章使用了解密的材料和来自前东区和西方国家的新回忆录来阐明和提出许多理论问题，包括决策理论、威慑理论、官僚政治理论、制度形成、谈判、外交、外交政策、外交政策和外交政策。以及国际关系。根据最新的证据，《华尔街日报》的文章将这些理论和其他理论进行了严格的实证分析。《华尔街日报》强调将新证据用于理论目的，绝不会排除可靠的历史重新评估，但特别鼓励在理论背景下撰写文章。该杂志的编辑委员会由32位杰出的政治科学家、历史学家和国际关系专家组成。
The Journal of Cold War Studies features peer-reviewed articles based on archival research in the former Communist world and in Western countries. Some articles offer reevaluations of important historical events or themes, emphasizing the changes of interpretation necessitated by declassified documents and new firsthand accounts. Other articles seek to bring new evidence to bear on current theoretical debates. Many existing theories of international and domestic politics have relied on generalizations from the Cold War period, but until very recently the evidence for these generalizations was tenuous at best. Articles in the Journal of Cold War Studies use declassified materials and new memoirs from the former Eastern bloc and Western countries to illuminate and raise questions about numerous theoretical concerns, including theories of decision-making, deterrence, bureaucratic politics, institutional formation, bargaining, diplomacy, foreign policy conduct, and international relations. Drawing on the latest evidence, articles in the Journal subject these theories, and others, to rigorous empirical analysis. The Journal's emphasis on the use of new evidence for theoretical purposes is in no way intended to exclude solid historical reassessments, but articles set within a theoretical context are particularly encouraged.The Journal's Editorial Board consists of 32 distinguished political scientists, historians, and specialists on international relations.