Policy Document

1. Aims and Scope

The Journal of Politics and International Studies (JPIS) is a peer‑reviewed academic journal dedicated to advancing scholarly research in political science, international relations, public policy, governance, diplomacy, security studies, comparative politics, political theory, and related interdisciplinary areas. JPIS aims to provide a rigorous platform for researchers, academics, policymakers, and practitioners to disseminate original research and critical analysis of national, regional, and global political phenomena.

2. Publication Frequency

JPIS is published biannually, with two issues released each year.

3. Editorial and Peer‑Review Policy

JPIS follows a double‑blind peer‑review process.

  • All submitted manuscripts are initially screened by the editorial team for relevance, originality, and compliance with journal guidelines.

  • Suitable manuscripts are sent to at least two independent reviewers with subject‑area expertise.

  • Authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.

  • Editorial decisions are based on reviewers’ reports, academic merit, originality, clarity, and contribution to the field.

The Editor‑in‑Chief holds the final authority regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts.

4. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

JPIS adheres to internationally recognized standards of publication ethics.

4.1 Authors’ Responsibilities

  • Submitted work must be original and not published or under review elsewhere.

  • All sources must be properly cited.

  • Any form of plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification is strictly prohibited.

  • Authors must disclose any conflict of interest.

4.2 Editors’ Responsibilities

  • Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit.

  • Confidentiality of submissions is maintained.

  • Editors avoid conflicts of interest in editorial decisions.

4.3 Reviewers’ Responsibilities

  • Reviewers provide objective, constructive, and timely reviews.

  • Manuscripts are treated as confidential documents.

  • Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest.

5. Plagiarism Policy

JPIS maintains a zero‑tolerance policy toward plagiarism.

  • All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software.

  • Manuscripts with significant similarity will be rejected.

  • Minor similarity may require revision and proper citation before further consideration.

6. Open Access Policy

JPIS provides open access to its published content to promote global knowledge exchange. Readers may read, download, and share articles freely, subject to the journal’s licensing terms.

7. Copyright and Licensing Policy

  • Authors retain the copyright of their work.

  • By publishing in JPIS, authors grant the journal the right of first publication.

  • Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license unless otherwise stated.

  • Proper attribution to the author(s) and the journal is required for reuse.

8. Archiving and Preservation Policy

JPIS ensures long‑term digital preservation of its content through:

  • Institutional repositories of the University of the Punjab

  • Journal website backups

  • Local and cloud‑based archival systems

9. Author Guidelines

9.1 Types of Submissions

JPIS accepts the following:

  • Original research articles

  • Review articles

  • Policy analyses

  • Book reviews

9.2 Manuscript Length

  • Research articles: 6,000–8,000 words

  • Review articles: 4,000–6,000 words

  • Book reviews: 1,000–1,500 words

9.3 Formatting Requirements

  • Language: English

  • Font: Times New Roman, 12‑point

  • Spacing: Double‑spaced

  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides

  • File format: MS Word (.doc or .docx)

9.4 Structure of Manuscript

  • Title page (title, author(s), affiliation, email)

  • Abstract (150–250 words)

  • Keywords (4–6)

  • Main text

  • References

9.5 Referencing Style

JPIS follows the APA referencing style (latest edition).

10. Submission Process

  • Manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal’s official submission system or email.

  • A cover letter confirming originality and exclusive submission is required.

  • Authors may be asked to revise manuscripts based on reviewer comments.

11. Publication Charges

JPIS does not charge any submission or publication fees unless explicitly announced by the publisher.

12. Disclaimer

The views expressed in published articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board, publisher, or the University of the Punjab.

13. Contact Information

Journal of Politics and International Studies (JPIS)
Department of Political Science
University of the Punjab, Quaid‑i‑Azam Campus
Lahore, Pakistan