General Guidelines for Submission

Researchers, scholars, and practitioners submitting manuscripts to the Journal of Peace Studies are requested to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure uniformity, quality, and timely processing of their submissions.

1. Formatting of Manuscripts

• Manuscripts must be typed in double-spacing, using Times New Roman, 12-point font.
• Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).
• Maintain standard margins (1 inch / 2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Headings and subheadings should be clearly marked and consistently styled.

2. Word Limit

• Research articles: 3,500–5,000 words (including footnotes and references).
• Shorter research notes, commentaries, or review essays may be considered at the discretion of the editorial team.

3. Abstract and Author Information

• Each submission must include an abstract of 150–200 words, outlining the research question, methodology, key findings, and relevance.
• Provide a biographical note (100–150 words) with name, institutional affiliation, research interests, and email address.

4. Plagiarism and Originality

• Manuscripts must be original and unpublished.
• Simultaneous submissions to other journals are not permitted.
• All submissions are screened for plagiarism using recognized software (e.g., Turnitin/iThenticate).

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

• Authors must disclose any use of AI-assisted tools (e.g., for language editing, data analysis, or drafting support) in the Acknowledgements section.
• AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Responsibility for the content rests solely with the human authors.
• Submissions generated primarily by AI without substantial human intellectual contribution will not be accepted.
• The journal reserves the right to screen manuscripts for AI-generated originality to ensure compliance with ethical and scholarly standards.

6. Referencing Style: Harvard Style

Journal of Peace Studies follows a Modified Harvard-Endnote Style, commonly used in International Relations, Strategic Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Law, and Security Studies.

Authors should:

• Use numbered endnotes rather than author-date citations.
• Number references consecutively throughout the manuscript.
• Provide complete bibliographic details at first citation.
• Use shortened references in subsequent citations.
• Use Ibid. for immediately preceding references.
• Use British English spelling.
• Italicise titles of books, journals, reports, treaties, and newspapers.
• Place article and chapter titles within double quotation marks.

In-Text Citation

References should appear as superscript numerals.

Example

Realist scholars have long argued that anarchy structures international politics.¹

Peacebuilding efforts increasingly incorporate local agency and ownership.²

Endnotes/References

References should appear at the end of the manuscript under the heading.

Footnotes

• Use sparingly, only for clarification or additional information.

Do not use footnotes for bibliographic references.

To access the style sheet: Click Here (Link to PDF STYLESHEET)

References:

a) Books

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), TitleofBook, page number(s), Publisher: Place of Publication.

Examples

Waltz, K. N. (1979), TheoryofInternationalPolitics, p. 88, Addison-Wesley: Reading.

b) Journal Articles

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), “Article Title”, JournalName, Volume (Issue), page number(s), DOI

Examples

Malla, M. W. (2022), “China’s Approach to the Iran-Saudi Arabia Rivalry”, Middle East Policy, 29(1), p. 25-40, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12613

1. Chapter in an Edited Book

AuthorSurname, Initial(s). (Year), “Chapter Title”, in Editor Initial(s). Surname (ed.), Book Title, page number(s), Publisher: Place.

Examples

Malla, M. W. (2020), “Madrasas and Extremism: South Asian Perspectives”, in R. Lukens-Bull and M. Woodward (eds.). Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives, p. 1169-1185, Springer: Cham

d) Edited Volumes

Editor Surname, Initial(s). (ed.) (Year), Title, Publisher: Place.

Example

Booth, K. (ed.) (2005), CriticalSecurityStudiesandWorldPolitics, Lynne Rienner: Boulder.

1. Policy Reports and Think Tank Publications

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), Title, Report/Occasional Paper, Institution, Date, Available at: www.abcd.com (Accessed DDMMYYYY).

Examples:

Malla, M. W. (2025), StructuralConstraintsandStrategicInertia:Rethinking Gulf Security After Israel’s Doha Attack, Issue Brief, Centre for Peace Studies, 24 October, Available at: https://www.icpsnet.org/issuebrief/Structural-Constraints-and-Strategic-Inertia (Accessed 10 January 2026)

f) Working Papers

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), Title, Working Paper No., Institution.

Example:

Nye, J. S. (2004), SoftPowerandAmericanForeignPolicy, Working Paper No. 7, Harvard University.

1. Newspaper Articles

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), “Article Title”, Newspaper, Day Month, Available at: www.abcd.com (Accessed DDMMYYYY)

Examples

Johny, S. (2026), “Iran’s President seeks ‘fair, equitable negotiations’ with U.S.”, The Hindu, 3 February, Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/irans-president-seeks-fair-equitable-negotiations-with-united-states/article70586258.ece (Accessed 5 March 2026)

h) Magazine Articles

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), “Article Title”, Magazine, Day Month/Issue, Available at: www.abcd.com (Accessed DDMMYYYY)

Example

Mead, W. R. (2024), “The Return of Geopolitics”, ForeignAffairs, May/June 2014, Available at: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2014-04-17/return-geopolitics (Accessed 10 March 2026)

i) Online Sources

Author/Organisation. (Year), “Title”, [Online], Available at: URL (Accessed Day Month Year).

Examples

United Nations Development Programme (2024), “Human Development Report”, [Online], Available at: https://hdr.undp.org (Accessed 15 January 2026).

1. Government Documents

Government Department/Agency. (Year), Title, Document Number, Place.

Example

Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2024), AnnualReport2023–24, New Delhi.

1. United Nations Documents Format

Organisation, Document Number, Date.

Examples

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV), 24 October 1970.

1. Treaties and International Agreements

Treaty Name, Date, Official Citation.

Examples

1. Charter of the United Nations, 26 June 1945, 1 UNTS
2. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 1 July 1968, 729 UNTS

1. Conference Papers

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), “Title”, Paper presented at Conference Name, Location, Date.

Example

Acharya, A. (2023), “Multipolarity and Asian Regional Order”, Paper presented at the International Studies Association Annual Convention, Montréal, 15–18 March.

1. Doctoral Theses and Dissertations

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year), Title, PhD Thesis, University.

Example

Malla, M. W. (2023), Media-Foreign Policy Discourse: Al Jazeera English’s Coverage of Iran-Saudi Relations, PhD Thesis, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

1. Subsequent Citations

Immediate Repetition

Use:

Ibid.

or

Ibid., p. 145.

Example

Waltz, TheoryofInternationalPolitics, p. 88.

Ibid., p. 91.

Later Repetition

Use shortened references.

Example

Waltz, TheoryofInternationalPolitics, p. 103.

1. Reference Section Sample:

1. Morgenthau, J. (1948), PoliticsAmongNations:TheStruggleforPowerandPeace, Alfred A. Knopf: New York.
2. Malla, W. (2022), “China’s Approach to the Iran-Saudi Arabia Rivalry”,

MiddleEastPolicy, 29(1), p. 25-40.

3. Jervis, (1978), “Cooperation Under the Security Dilemma”, WorldPolitics, 30(2), p. 167-214.
4. Booth, (ed.) (2005), CriticalSecurityStudiesandWorldPolitics, Lynne Rienner: Boulder.
5. Kaplan, D. (2024), “The Return of Geopolitics”, ForeignAffairs, March/April.

1. Note on consistency:

• Use a reference management tool (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) with Harvard style settings.
• Cross-check all citations for completeness and accuracy.
• Avoid over-reliance on a single source unless central to the argument.

Download Guidelines