Author Guidelines

GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS

1. Language and Length

• Manuscripts must be written in English.
• Full-length research articles should typically range between 6,000 and 8,000 words.
• Book reviews should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words.

2. Originality and Ethical Standards

• All submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by any other journal.
• Manuscripts must be entirely free of plagiarism. Authors must conduct plagiarism screening using only UGC-approved software, and the certified plagiarism report should be submitted along with the manuscript.
• Submitted manuscripts must adhere to ethical standards in research, authorship, data integrity, and citation.

FORMAT AND STRUCTURE OF MANUSCRIPTS

1. Cover Letter

Every submission must be accompanied by a cover letter that includes:

• A brief description of the manuscript’s theme and significance.
• Full contact details of the corresponding author (s): name, Designation, phone number, and mailing address.
• An explicit declaration that the manuscript is original, not published elsewhere, and not under simultaneous review.

2. Title Page

• Provide the full title of the manuscript, which must be concise, descriptive, precise, and reflective of the study’s content.
• Include author(s) details only on the title page to ensure anonymous review:
• Name(s)
• Affiliation(s)
• Email(s)
• Corresponding author details

3. Anonymized Main Manuscript

The manuscript file submitted for review must not contain any identifying information.

4. Abstract

• A structured and concise abstract of up to 300 words is required.
• The abstract should clearly articulate:
• Purpose and rationale of the study
• Research questions/objectives
• Theoretical or analytical framework
• Methods (if applicable)
• Core argument (s)
• Key findings
• Conclusions

5. Keywords

Include 5–7 specific, relevant keywords that accurately capture the central themes of the paper.

STRUCTURE OF THE MANUSCRIPT

1. Introduction

The introduction should:

• Present the background and context of the study.
• Summarize key debates and prior research.
• Clearly state the research problem, objectives, and significance.

2. Body / Main Text

The main text should be logically organized and may include:

• Theoretical or conceptual framework
• Methodology (for empirical papers)
• Analytical sections
• The text, tables and figures should be included in a single Microsoft Word fileDiscussion and interpretation of findings

3. Conclusion

The conclusion should:

• Summarize the analytical insights and major findings.
• Highlight theoretical, methodological, or policy contributions.
• Identify limitations (if any).
• Suggest directions for future research.

4. Acknowledgements

If included, acknowledgements appear at the end of the manuscript. Authors may acknowledge funding bodies, institutional support, or individuals who contributed substantively to the work.

5. References

• All citations and references must follow the latest edition of APA style.
• Ensure that every in-text citation corresponds to a reference entry and vice versa.
• Authors are responsible for accuracy, completeness, and consistency of references.

Peer Review Policies

The Journal of Polity and Society is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, scholarly rigor, and ethical publication practices. To ensure the quality and credibility of all published work, the journal follows a structured, multi-layered peer review process combining internal screening, internal blind review, and external blind expert evaluation.

1. Initial Editorial Screening

Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes a preliminary assessment by the Editorial Team. This evaluation determines whether the manuscript:

·        aligns with the aims and scope of the journal;

·        adheres to the technical and formatting guidelines;

·        demonstrates minimum scholarly merit and academic relevance.

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be returned to authors for revision prior to review, or desk rejected if they are unsuitable for the journal.

2. Internal Blind Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening proceed to internal blind peer review. In this process:

·        reviewers' identities remain undisclosed to authors;

·        authors’ identities are also anonymized when feasible to preserve impartiality;

·        reviewers provide comments on originality, conceptual clarity, methodological rigor, coherence of argument, and contribution to the field.

Authors may track the status of their submission through the journal’s online system. Notifications are sent once a decision has been reached.

3. External Blind Expert Review

Manuscripts recommended after internal review are forwarded to an external expert reviewer for an additional layer of assessment. This blind review evaluates:

·        relevance and significance of the topic;

·        depth of analysis and use of scholarly sources;

·        originality and contribution to existing knowledge;

·        clarity of language, structure, and presentation.

The external reviewer submits a formal report, which is shared with the author for necessary revisions.

Based on the external review, the Editorial Team may issue one of the following decisions:

·        Acceptance – manuscript proceeds to final editorial processing.

·        Revision Required – authors must incorporate reviewer comments and resubmit within the stipulated time. Failure to submit a revised version will be treated as withdrawal.

·        Rejection – authors are informed of the decision along with reviewer comments when appropriate.

4. Final Editorial Board Review

Revised and approved manuscripts undergo a final evaluation by the Same external expert and the Editorial Board. The Board ensures that:

·        all reviewer recommendations have been satisfactorily addressed;

·        the manuscript meets the journal’s academic and ethical standards;

·        the content contributes meaningfully to contemporary political and social scholarship.

The decision of the Editorial Board regarding publication is final.

5. Proofreading and Publication

Manuscripts selected for publication are forwarded for:

·        proofreading,

·        copyediting,

·        Publication