The Drouth (Scots for "thirst" or "drought") is an independently published quarterly magazine, founded in 2001 as an open forum for an urbane but rigorous approach to literature, culture and the arts, offering new and established writers extended creative space in which to present their work. Each issue is themed, and can include articles, criticism and analyses of literature, film, theatre, politics, architecture, music and visual arts. The Drouth also publishes prose fiction, satire, plays, photography, artwork and occasional poetry. As well as encouraging the submission of short novels and in-depth criticism, it endeavours to publish full-length plays or significant extracts from new dramatic productions. The editorial board encompasses a wide range of opinion, interests and experience, with representations from both sexes, and several ethnic communities, nationalities and generations. Most material is commissioned, but unsolicited work is not discouraged: good writing, to a demonstrably literary standard, is the basic requirement for publication. Its editors describe The Drouth's political and philosophical stance as "geared towards questioning the institutional, whether in literature, art, politics or civic life", positioning the magazine somewhere "between the everyday angle of the newspapers and the specialist corner of the existing periodicals".

For The Drouth, "being ‘Scottish’ derives its value from being able to participate in a global arena of art, politics and ideas", and it has a strong track record in working with international writers, having published work from England, Ireland, USA, France, Italy, Finland, Austria, United Arab Emirates, and Germany, including translations. High-profile contributors and guest editors have included Edwin Morgan, George Monbiot, Murray Grigor, Juana Ponce de Leon and Frank Kuppner; featured subjects have ranged from Edward Said to Hugh MacDiarmid. This diversity of approach is aimed at encouraging interaction across forms, disciplines, generations and cultures. The Drouth is run on a not-for-profit basis, with funding from the Scottish Arts Council.