Submissions

Author Guidelines

Thank you for choosing to submit your paper to us. These instructions will ensure we have everything required so your paper can move through peer review, production and publication smoothly. The journal follows a set of guidelines to ensure the quality and consistency of published articles. Authors are encouraged to carefully review and adhere to these guidelines when preparing and submitting manuscripts, as doing so will ensure your paper matches the journal’s requirements.

1. Submission Overview
2. Language Policy
3. Types of Publications
4. Manuscript Preparation, Formatting and Style
5. General Considerations
6. Manuscript Template
7. Submission Preparation Checklist
   
8. Copyright Notice
9. Privacy Statement

Download Author Guidelines

1. Submission Overview

Articles submitted to the journal are assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

2. Language Policy

Our journal primarily publishes articles in English. We recommend that authors translate their submissions into English for wider accessibility. To assist with this, we offer a free proofreading service. In cases where the article is of particular interest, the journal may provide translation services within budget constraints. Additionally, we can publish articles written in French, Spanish, or Arabic along with an English translation if it is deemed important for the article’s contribution, impact and dissemination.

3. Types of Publications

The journal invites submissions of various types of research manuscripts that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of international relations and prospective analysis. Manuscripts submitted to the Journal of International and Prospective Studies should neither be published previously nor be under consideration for publication in another journal. The main article types are listed below:

Original Research Articles: Original research articles should generally not exceed 8,000-10,000 words on first submission and 12,000 as the final version—including all tables, figures, footnotes, and references, but excluding abstract and maximum 10 pages of appendices. These submissions address important global issues relevant to a general international-studies audience. They should have an original theoretical argument supported, when appropriate, by substantive analysis appropriate to the methodological approach of the manuscript. Only original submissions, not published or under review elsewhere, will be considered for review.

Research notes: Research Notes are submissions that are shorter, more focused, demonstrate a novel perspective on existing research, and encourage scholarly debate (maximum length 4,000 words). Typically, a note does not need to include a full literature review and has a much briefer introduction, argument, analysis, and conclusion. Research notes often include, but are not limited to, a new theoretical perspective, methodological progress, alternative empirical findings, as well as comments on and extensions of existing work. Research notes communicate new insights and the main ideas succinctly, in accessible prose.

Policy Briefs & Practitioner Commentaries: Policy briefs and practitioner commentaries should be no more than 1,500 words in length. The purpose of these contributions is to provide policy makers’ perspectives on practical aspects of global policy change and international relations.

Book Reviews: The journal publishes book reviews that offer insightful critiques and evaluations of recently published books relevant to the field of international studies. Authors interested in submitting book reviews should follow the journal’s guidelines for book review submissions.

Special Issues: The editors will occasionally accept a small number of special issues in which a number of research articles are linked together under a common theme, overseen by guest editors. Proposals for a special issue should be sent directly to the Editor-in-Chief. Proposals should be no more than 3,000 words and clearly explain the proposed content of the special issue, the contributors, a justification of the importance and quality of the special issue, and abstracts for 6 to 8 manuscripts. If the proposal is accepted, each manuscript will be reviewed separately. In situations where only some of the papers survive the review process, we may still offer authors the ability to publish their manuscripts as stand-alone articles. Articles that form the special issue will all undergo regular, independent peer review.

4. Manuscript Preparation, Formatting and Style

Manuscripts should comprise:

1. Front matter: Title, Author Identification, Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords.
2. Research manuscript sections: Introduction, Body, Conclusions.
3. Back matter: References, Supplementary Materials, Statements and Declarations.

Front Matter

• Title: The title of a research article serves as the first point of contact between the research and potential readers. It is a concise yet descriptive statement that encapsulates the core topic or findings of the study. A well-crafted title not only provides an accurate indication of the article's content but also captures the reader's interest. It often includes key variables, the study's focus, and may hint at the research design or significant outcomes.
• Author identification: The full name of the author(s) should be provided without abbreviations; the affiliation(s) of the author(s), i.e. Department/Faculty, University/Institute, City, Country/Region; a clear indication and an active email address of the corresponding author; if available, the 16-digit ORCID of the author(s). 
• Abstract: The abstract is a brief summary of the entire research article, typically comprising about 150-250 words. It provides a snapshot of the study, including the research purpose, methodology, key results, and major conclusions. 
• Keywords: Three to 8 pertinent keywords need to be added after the abstract. We recommend that the keywords are specific to the article, yet reasonably common within the subject discipline.

Research Manuscript Sections

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for the research article by providing context and background information on the research topic. It begins by presenting the broader field of study and gradually narrows down to the specific problem or research question being addressed. This section discusses the significance of the topic, highlighting gaps in the existing literature and justifying the need for the current study. It indicates the logic of presenting your research material, e.g., define which section contains what information or research findings (theoretical and/or empirical). The introduction helps readers understand the rationale behind the study and its potential contributions to the field. Therefore, authors must indicate the purpose, present a clearly defined thesis statement/research problem, and describe their approach. 
  
  
• The body of the text: The body of the text should be organized in meaningful sections with individual headings to disclose the essence of this section. Each section of the article must be relevant to the author's thesis and/or research problem. Each paragraph should start with a central idea (topic sentence) followed by properly cited supporting evidence. Authors should also consider including and addressing counter-arguments. Use headings and subheadings to indicate new topics and break down the text to improve organization and readability. The journal seeks articles that are not only descriptive but also analytical, exploratory, and/or prescriptive – revealing significant insights and developing innovative strategies for the future.
  
  Do not use long headings – a preferable heading should contain 1-7 words. The text may contain tables and figures, which should have separate numbering (one numbering system for tables; another for figures – see below for more details). Never use or re-cite tables and figures of original authors, unless you receive a written permission from original authors/publishing house to include such tables and figures in your paper. A copy of such permission should be scanned and e-mailed to the Editorial Office in a PDF format.

• Conclusion: The conclusion provides a succinct summary of the main findings and conclusions and their importance. It reiterates the research problem and how the study addressed it, emphasizing the key contributions to the field. This section highlights the broader implications of the research, suggesting how they might influence future research, policy, or practice. The conclusion also underscores the study’s strengths and its relevance to the broader academic or professional community. In Policy Briefs & Practitioner Commentaries, authors should opt for a section of Recommendations; this practice is also welcome in our journal. The conclusion, however, should not introduce new ideas. It primarily aims to reinforce the significance of the study and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Back Matter

References: The references section lists all the sources cited throughout the article. It should follow the APA 7^th Edition citation style to ensure consistency and accuracy. Each entry should provide full bibliographic information, including the author's name, publication year, title of the work, and source. For example, a book citation should look like this:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.

For journal articles, the format is:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number), pages. DOI (if available).

Proper citation of sources not only gives credit to the original authors but also strengthens the credibility of the research by demonstrating a thorough engagement with existing literature. The references section is essential for academic integrity and scholarly communication. Utilizing a reference management software package, such as EndNote, Mendeley or Zotero, is recommended to prevent errors and duplicated references.

Statements and Declarations

• Funding: Please indicate if the research received external funding with one of the following statements: “This research received no external funding”; “This research was funded by [name of funder], grant number XXX.”
• Conflicts of Interest: Declare any conflicts of interest with the statement: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
• Acknowledgments: Acknowledge individuals, grants, funds, etc., Ensure that the names of funding organizations are written in full.

Appendices (optional): Appendices provide supplementary material that is too detailed or lengthy to include in the main text of the article. This might include raw data, detailed descriptions of complex procedures, additional figures and tables, or questionnaires and survey instruments. When referring to appendices in the text, use the format “see Appendix A” or “see Appendix B for more details”, ensuring clarity and easy navigation for the reader.

5. General Considerations

• Use a clear and concise writing style, adhering to the language requirements specified by the journal.
• Font: 12-point Times New Roman
• Paragraph: Single-spaced
• Margin: Normal (Top :2.54 cm, Bottom: 2.54 cm; Left: 3.18cm; Right: 3.18cm)
• Page numbers: Bottom-centered
• Layout: One-column Portrait
• Manuscript Format and Document Type: MS Word-compatible file
• Follow the citation style guidelines recommended by the journal (APA 7^th Edition).
• Please submit academic articles using the third-person voice.
• Ensure that all paragraphs contain at least three sentences: a beginning, a middle, and an end.
• Refrain from using long sentences. Separate sentences longer than 40 words.
• When referring to your manuscript, use the word article, not paper.
• Long quotations (more than 40 words) should be set off from the surrounding text by additional space above and below.
• Eliminate as much passive voice as possible. Writing in active voice results in a livelier manuscript.
• Avoid superfluous adjectives and literature or journalistic style.

Section Headings

Research articles follow a defined structure with specific headings. For other types of submissions, authors can flexibly determine the headings. Up to three levels of numbered headings/subheadings can be employed, with the first-level, second-level, and third-level headings presented as 1., 1.1., and 1.1.1. respectively. Headings without numbers may be used for specific cases. When incorporating more than three levels, consider reassessing the section arrangement to ensure clarity and logic.

Figures

• Please use a serif font like Times New Roman for lettering. The font size should remain consistent throughout the figure, ideally about 2–3 mm (8–12 pt). Also, do not include titles or captions within the figures.
• Figures must be numbered using Arabic numerals and should be cited in the text in consecutive numerical order. Lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.) should be used to denote different parts of a figure. (i.e. Figure 1, Figure 2 etc.)
• Each figure must include a concise caption that explains its content. The caption should start with the term "Figure" in bold, followed by the figure number, also in bold. Previously published material should be cited at the end of the figure caption.
• Figures should be embedded within the text body. The size of the figures should be compatible with the column width. For large figures causing file size issues, they should be submitted separately.
• If you include figures that have already been published elsewhere, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner(s). Additionally, make sure to clearly indicate the source of the figure and any relevant attribution details.
• For accessibility, please include descriptive captions for text-to-speech/Braille. Use patterns instead of colors for colorblind users. Please ensure figure lettering has 4.5:1 contrast ratio for readability. 

Tables

• Tables should be numbered using Arabic numerals and cited in the text in consecutive numerical order (i.e. Table 1, Table 2 etc.).
• Each table must have a caption that explains its components.
• Any previously published material should be acknowledged by giving the original source in the form of a reference at the end of the table caption.
• Tables should not be embedded as figures or spreadsheet files; instead, they should be created as editable entities using the 'Table object' feature in your word processing program.
• Color and shading should not be used in the tables. Elements of the table can be highlighted using superscript, numbering, lettering, or symbols, the meaning of which should be explained in a table legend. Commas should not be used to indicate numerical values.

Endnotes

• Endnotes should be used sparingly and primarily for providing additional clarification or context that does not fit naturally into the body of the text.
• Endnotes should not include bibliographic references that are already cited in the text and included in the reference list.
• Endnotes should be numbered consecutively using superscript lowercase Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.). The endnotes marker should be placed at the end of the sentence or clause where the relevant information is given.
• Endnotes should be concise and to the point. Overly long or detailed endnotes can distract from the main argument of the text.
• Endnotes should appear at the bottom of the page on which they are referenced.

Acronyms/Abbreviations/Initialisms
Acronyms/Abbreviations/Initialisms should be defined the first time they appear in each of three sections: the abstract; the main text; the first figure or table. When defined for the first time, the acronym/abbreviation/initialism should be added in parentheses after the written-out form.

Italics
Italics can be used for emphasis or when defining terms. Avoid italicization if it may cause confusion in your discipline. Foreign words and phrases do not need to be italicized. Journal and book titles should always be italicized. When using Latin names of organisms, italicize the genus and species names.

Bold Font
Bold font should generally be avoided. If you wish to add emphasis, italics are preferred. Bold font can be used in certain contexts such as figure captions and subtitles. In chemistry, bold numbers may be used to refer to molecules defined in schemes.

Quotation Marks
In APA 7th edition, quotation marks are used to indicate direct quotes from a source, to highlight certain words or phrases, and to denote the titles of short works. Here are detailed instructions for using both double and single quotation marks according to APA 7th edition guidelines:

Double Quotation Marks

1. Direct Quotations:
• Use double quotation marks to enclose a direct quote from a source. Include the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number (if available).
• Example: According to Smith (2020), “The results of the study were inconclusive” (p. 45).
2. Quotations within Quotations:
• Use double quotation marks for the primary quotation and single quotation marks for a quotation within the primary quotation.
• Example: Smith (2020) stated, “The participant said, ‘I was unsure of the instructions’, and continued with the task” (p. 47).
3. Titles of Short Works:
• Use double quotation marks for titles of short works, such as journal articles, book chapters, short stories, poems, and songs.
• Example: The article “Exploring the Mind” provides insights into cognitive processes.
4. Words or Phrases as Linguistic Examples:
• Use double quotation marks to highlight a word or phrase being discussed as a linguistic example.
• Example: The term “cognitive dissonance” is often used in psychological studies.

Single Quotation Marks

1. Quotations within Quotations:
• As mentioned, use single quotation marks for quotations within a quotation enclosed by double quotation marks.
• Example: “When she said, ‘It’s a beautiful day’, I couldn’t help but agree,” noted Brown (2019).
2. Scare Quotes:
• APA advises against using single quotation marks for scare quotes (words or phrases used in a non-standard, ironic, or special sense). Instead, use double quotation marks for this purpose.
• Example: The so-called “experts” were proven wrong.

1. Block Quotations:
• For quotations of 40 words or more, do not use quotation marks. Instead, format the quotation as a block of text indented half an inch from the left margin. Double-space the block quotation.
• Example:

Smith (2020) found the following:

The results of the study were inconclusive, as the data did not support the initial hypothesis. Further research is needed to determine the underlying causes of the observed phenomena, and to identify any potential variables that may have influenced the outcomes. Continued investigation will be crucial in providing more definitive insights and advancing our understanding of this subject. (p. 45)

Manuscript Template

Easily format your submission with our journal’s Microsoft Word manuscript template. The template includes predefined sections for the title, abstract, keywords, main text, references, tables, and figures, ensuring alignment with our journal’s style and submission guidelines. Simply replace the placeholder text with your content to streamline the submission process and maintain consistent formatting. Download the template below and follow the instructions to prepare your manuscript for review.

Download Manuscript Template