About JPS Aims & Scope Editorial Board Peer Review Policy Publication Ethics Open Access Policy Indexing

About The Journal

Journal of Peace Studies (ISSN: 0972-5563) is a quarterly peer-reviewed research journal published by the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS), New Delhi. Launched in 1993 by Prof. Riyaz Punjabi as a flagship publication of CPS, the journal has been published regularly for over three decades, making it one of the longest-running scholarly platforms in South Asia dedicated to peace and conflict studies.

With an interdisciplinary approach, the journal seeks to promote peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding among societies worldwide, with a particular emphasis on the South Asian region. It provides a forum for academics, researchers, students, journalists, policymakers, administrators, and diplomats to engage with critical issues of peace, security, democracy, and human rights. Journal of Peace Studies is widely recognised as a reference source of high scholarly value, especially for those engaged in research on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and human rights.

Key Details

  • Publisher: Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi
  • ISSN: 0972-5563
  • Frequency: Quarterly
  • Established: 1993
  • Founding Editor: Late Professor Riyaz Punjabi
  • Scope: Peace studies, conflict resolution, diplomacy, human rights, security studies, and interdisciplinary approaches to global and regional peace.
  • Audience: Academics, researchers, students, journalists, policymakers, administrators, and diplomats.

Aims & Scope

Editorial Board

Chief Editor

Dr. Ashok Behuria

Chairman (Hony.), Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi
Dr. Ashok Behuria is a distinguished scholar of South Asian politics and peacebuilding. His research spans inter-state relations, conflict resolution, and regional security. He has authored numerous publications on India’s foreign policy, Pakistan’s internal dynamics, and peace processes in South Asia.

Associate Editor

Dr. Mohmad Waseem Malla
Research Fellow, Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi

Editorial Director, Middle East Outlook

Dr. Mohmad Waseem Malla specializes in West Asian and South Asian geopolitics, political communication, digital authoritarianism, and strategic rivalries. His work focuses on the intersection of technology, security, and diplomacy in contemporary global politics.

Advisory Board

  • Saleem Kidwai
    Professor (Retd.), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
  • René Wadlow
    President, Association of World Citizens, Novato, California
  • G. Balachandran
    Co-Director, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, Geneva Graduate Institute in Switzerland
  • Dr. Sandra Destradi
    Chair of International Relations, University of Freiburg, Germany.
  • Dr Prafulla Kumar Prusty

Editorial Board Members

  • Noor Ahmad Baba
    Professor (Retd.), School of Politics and Governance, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
  • Ajay Darshan Behera
    Professor, MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
  • Smruti S. Pattanaik
    Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi, India.
  • P. V. Ramana
    Expert in insurgency, internal security, and conflict resolution, with published work on peacebuilding strategies in South Asia.
  • Rajesh Kharat
    Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

Peer Review Policy

Journal of Peace Studies follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the highest academic standards and integrity in its publications. All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a structured evaluation process before acceptance.

Review Process

  • Initial Screening: Submitted manuscripts are first reviewed by the editorial office to ensure compliance with submission guidelines, scope, and ethical standards.
  • Double-Blind Review: Eligible manuscripts are sent to at least two independent reviewers. Both the authors’ and reviewers’ identities are kept confidential to maintain impartiality.
  • Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers assess manuscripts based on originality, methodological rigor, relevance to peace and conflict studies, clarity of presentation, and contribution to scholarship.
  • Decision Outcomes: Reviewers may recommend acceptance, revision (major or minor), or rejection. Final decisions rest with the Chief Editor, in consultation with the Associate Editor and Editorial Board.

Timelines

  • Average review period: 6–8 weeks.
  • Authors are notified promptly of editorial decisions and provided with constructive feedback.

Ethical Standards

  • The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.
  • Reviewers are expected to disclose any conflicts of interest and maintain confidentiality.
  • Manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using recognized tools before being sent for review.

Appeals and Complaints

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a reasoned request to the Chief Editor.
  • Complaints regarding the review process are handled transparently and in accordance with COPE best practices.

Publication Ethics

Journal of Peace Studies is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in scholarly publishing. The following ethical principles guide our editorial practices, peer review process, and author responsibilities.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality: Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Plagiarism: All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin/iThenticate). Plagiarised content will be rejected outright.
  • AI Use Disclosure: 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, and manuscripts generated primarily by AI without substantial human intellectual contribution will not be accepted.
  • Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research and writing should be listed as authors.
  • Data Integrity: Authors must ensure data accuracy and provide access to supporting evidence upon request.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts must be disclosed at the time of submission.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fair Evaluation: Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, relevance, and originality, without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or political beliefs.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality of submissions and reviewer identities.
  • Decision Authority: The Chief Editor has final responsibility for acceptance or rejection, guided by reviewer recommendations and ethical standards.
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted impartially, with constructive feedback to improve the manuscript.
  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts under review are confidential and must not be shared or discussed outside the review process.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts and decline assignments where impartiality may be compromised.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete evaluations within the agreed timeframe.

4. Publication Integrity

  • Corrections: Errors identified post-publication will be corrected promptly through errata or corrigenda notices.
  • Retractions: Articles may be retracted in cases of proven misconduct, plagiarism, or unreliable findings. Retraction notices will be clearly marked and linked to the original article.
  • Withdrawal Policy: Authors may request withdrawal before peer review is complete; once accepted, withdrawal is permitted only under exceptional circumstances.

5. Ethical Oversight

  • The journal adheres to COPE guidelines for handling ethical issues in publishing.
  • Cases of misconduct (fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate submission) will be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate action will be taken.
  • The journal encourages transparency and accountability in research, promoting peace and human rights scholarship with integrity.

Open Access & Licensing Policy

Journal of Peace Studies is committed to the widest possible dissemination of scholarly work in the fields of peace, conflict resolution, and human rights. To achieve this, the journal follows a transparent access and licensing policy.

1. Access Policy

  • The journal is published quarterly and is made available both in print and online.
  • Online content is accessible to readers worldwide through the official website of the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS).
  • The journal supports open access principles, ensuring that research is freely available to academics, practitioners, policymakers, and the general public without subscription barriers.

2. Licensing and Copyright

  • Authors retain the copyright of their work while granting the journal the right to publish and disseminate it.
  • Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, unless otherwise specified. This permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
  • Authors are responsible for securing permission to reproduce any copyrighted material (figures, tables, or excerpts) included in their manuscript.

3. Author Rights

  • Authors may archive the final published version of their article in institutional repositories, personal websites, or academic networks, provided proper citation and a link to the journal’s website are included.
  • Authors are free to use their published work for teaching, presentations, and further research.

4. Reader Rights

  • Readers may download, share, and cite articles without restriction, provided attribution is given to the original source.
  • Commercial use of published material requires prior permission from the publisher.

5. Compliance with International Standards

  • The journal’s open access and licensing practices are aligned with COPE, DOAJ, and Scopus requirements.
  • By adopting Creative Commons licensing, the journal ensures transparency, accessibility, and ethical dissemination of knowledge.

6. Privacy Policy

  • Journal of Peace Studies respects the privacy of authors, reviewers, and readers. Personal information collected during manuscript submission, peer review, or subscription is used solely for editorial and communication purposes. The journal does not share personal data with third parties, except as required by law or indexing services. All data is stored securely in compliance with international privacy standards.

Indexing & Abstracting

Journal of Peace Studies is committed to ensuring maximum visibility and accessibility of its published research. Indexing and abstracting in reputable databases enhances the journal’s reach among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide.

1. Current Indexing

  • The journal is currently catalogued and circulated through the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) network. The DOI is procured from Zenodo Online Repository.
  • It is available online via the official CPS website, ensuring global access to current and past issues.
  • Selected articles are referenced in academic libraries, research institutions, and peace studies networks.

2. Abstracting Services

  • Each article published in the journal includes a structured abstract, keywords, and author details to facilitate discoverability.
  • Metadata is formatted to be compatible with international abstracting services and institutional repositories.

3. Future Indexing Goals

  • Inclusion in Scopus, one of the world’s leading abstract and citation databases.
  • Inclusion in Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to strengthen open access visibility.
  • Registration with CrossRef to assign DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) for all published articles.
  • Expansion into other international databases such as EBSCO, ProQuest, and JSTOR to broaden readership.

4. Citation Visibility

  • Authors are encouraged to share their published work in institutional repositories, academic networks, and conferences to enhance citation impact.
  • The journal actively promotes published articles through CPS platforms, newsletters, and academic collaborations.