(Last update: 5 July 2024)
Research (Academic) Article Requirements
- Research goal/question explicitly defined
- Relationship vis-à-vis the existing literature on a given topic clearly articulated (a separate literature review section is not necessary, but it should be clear how the paper builds on or relates to the existing literature)
- Theoretical, conceptual, or methodological framework explained (i.e. clear research design and clarification of how the paper is theoretically, conceptually, methodologically or analytically framed)
- The main argument and/or key conclusions explicitly stated
- Standard research articles should fit within the range of 6 000 to 12 000 words, including footnotes, all the references and abstract (about 100-200 words). In case of contributions to thematic sections, manuscripts should fit within the range of 4 000 to 8 000 words, including footnotes, all the references and abstract (100-200 words). If your paper exceeds the aforementioned length, please consult the editorial team. In justified cases, we allow authors to publish longer articles.
- CEJISS publishes articles that deal with international aspects of politics and security. Manuscripts that focus on purely domestic issues won't be considered. Manuscripts dealing with domestic issues shall, at the very least, demonstrate their relevance to foreign policy of a given state, the importance of their discussion going beyond the domestic level of analysis, the significant embeddedness in the international context or a clear connection to theories of international, transnational or global politics or security.
- Authors are welcome to check the CEJISS peer-review form we send to external reviewers to get a clearer idea of how reviewers evaluate submissions.
- There are no publication fees or article processing charges.
Types of Research Articles We Accept
| Type of article | Typical length | Editorial check | Peer-reviewed | |
| Research article | Standard research article |
6,000-12,000 words | ☑ | ☑ |
| Article in special issue | 6,000-12,000 words | ☑ | ☑ | |
| Article in thematic section | 4,000-8,000 words | ☑ | ☑ | |
|
Book review |
Not specified (typically 3-5 pages) |
☑ | ☐ | |
1) Standard research articles, including articles belonging to special issues
We appreciate a wide range of contributions without favouring any particular theoretical or methodological tradition.
- Analytical papers guided by a theoretical and/or methodological framework
- Purely theoretical articles that aspire to create or rethink theories and concepts (In other words, theory-centred articles even if they do not engage in extensive empirical analysis)
- Explorative papers if it is evident in which way they are innovative
- Sophisticated synthetic and overview papers with added value and a recognisable degree of novelty
- Papers aspiring to make policy contributions (However, they need to satisfy academic criteria. In other words, they need to be academic/research articles in the first place.)
- We are also open to other types of articles if they have recognisable research contribution
2) Contributions to thematic sections
Thematic section contributions should be of a scholarly character. They should engage with current debates, controversies and emerging topics relevant for International Relations and Security Studies or important trends and dynamics impacting the current state of international politics, including but not limited to politics in/of/across Central and Eastern Europe. Brief commentaries, policy papers or short reviews are not suitable.
When submitting a thematic section contribution, please make sure that you respond to a call for thematic section papers. Manuscripts that do not fit an existing open call for thematic section contributions cannot be accepted as thematic section papers.
- Standard research articles whose ambitions, research goal and framework are adjusted to the length of thematic section contributions (4,000-8,000 words, including footnotes, abstract, references). Papers with a strong narrative are particularly encouraged.
- Sophisticated academic essays (op-eds) that develop or build on the existing theoretical repertoire of International Relations (or closely related disciplines), offer a clear argument and contribute to academic debates.
- Articles that lie between the two aforementioned types of papers are also welcomed
More information on thematic sections can be found here.
Key Principles of the Peer Review Process
During the peer-review process of research articles, we stick to the following principles:
- Double-blind review managed by CEJISS editors and conducted by external experts on a given topic
- External double-blind review is preceded by the initial editorial assessment of manuscripts by CEJISS editors. A manuscript can be rejected as inappropriate at this stage.
- At least two external reviews of each manuscript
- CEJISS editors are responsible for summarising key points of reviews and discussing possible unclarities or contradictory claims that appear in reviews with the author.
- Editorial comments are an integral part of the review process (editors may request changes before or after the peer-review process)
- Depending on the initial reviews and the quality of the author's revisions after the first round of reviews, CEJISS editors may request another round of external reviews (typically by the same reviewers) or make a decision without further external assessments.
- CEJISS accepts only manuscripts that have not been published in other journals yet or are not under consideration by another journal/publishing house.
Please note that by submitting your manuscript you agree with the aforementioned principles and the general ethical guidelines.