Authors preparing manuscripts for the Politics Quarterly (PQ) must adhere closely to these instructions to ensure an efficient and quick review process.

Manuscript Types and General Preparation

PQ publishes Original and Review articles. PQ particularly welcomes theoretical articles that introduce or present new scientific theories, as well as scholarly critiques and reviews of existing theories by distinguished professors and experts.

• Length: Articles should generally be up to 20 A4 pages in length, including references and text in figures/tables. Submitted articles must be between 7,000 and 8,000 words, written through B Lotus, Size 13 font with Single (1.0) line spacing format.
• Language: The primary language is Persian, but submissions require extended English abstracts and bibliographies.
• File Format: Manuscripts should be provided in an editable source file format, preferably Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx), using a single-column layout. PDFs alone are not acceptable as primary source files.
• Language Quality: Authors are strongly advised to run spell checks and grammar checks before submission. For writing extended English abstract don't rely on AI and other technological tools; you can use them for translation, but it needs a final check by an expert.
• Anonymity: Since PQ employs a double-blind peer-review policy, the main document of the manuscript must be fully anonymized. This means author names, affiliations, and any explicit acknowledgements that could reveal identity must be removed from the main text, figures, and captions. When self-citing previous work, use phrasing like “previous research has demonstrated” rather than “our previous research”. Furthermore, you should anonymize your MS Word document (https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/remove-hidden-data-and-personal-information-by-inspecting-documents-presentations-or-workbooks-356b7b5d-77af-44fe-a07f-9aa4d085966f).

Required Files for Submission

Five essential files must be uploaded through the online submission system:

1. The Main File of the Manuscript: The complete article text, including the abstract, keywords, body sections, tables, and figures, without any author names or identifying information.
2. Title Page: A separate document containing all identifying information (see details below).
3. Declaration of Competing Interests Form: Must be signed by the Corresponding Author(s).
4. Cover Letter: A formal document addressing the Editor-in-Chief.
5. Similary Check Certificate: issued by IranDoc or Samim-e Noor.

Manuscript Structure and Formatting

1. Title Page (Separate Document)

The title page must be submitted as a separate file and contain the following identifying information:

• Article Title: Should be concise, informative, and avoid abbreviations unless widely understood.
• Author Information: Given name(s) and family name(s) of each author, listed in the exact order desired for publication.
• Affiliations: The full postal address, including city, country, and postcode, of the institution where the work was carried out.
• Corresponding Author: Clearly indicated, along with their active email address and phone number for correspondence.
• ORCID ID: Authors are strongly recommended to provide their ORCID ID (https://orcid.org).
• Funding Sources: Details of all funding sources for the work should be listed in a section titled 'Funding'.
• Acknowledgements: Recognition of individuals who provided support (e.g., proof reading, language help) should be included here, separate from the main text. Download the template of the title page at https://zenodo.org/records/17764689/files/Title_Page_Template_for_Manuscript_Submission.docx?download=1

2. Abstract

The Abstract should be factual and concise, not exceeding 200 words. It must summarize the research purpose, principal results, and major conclusions (read more about a standard abstract: https://www.niso.org/publications/ansiniso-z3914-1997-r2015-guidelines-abstracts). Furthermore, authors have to submit the extended English abstract, not exceeding 800 words.

• Structure (Structured Abstract recommended): The abstract should ideally follow mandatory sub-headings: Purpose (the 'why'), Design/Methodology/Approach (the 'how'), Findings (the 'what'—use exact figures, avoid generalization), and Originality/Value.
• Requirements: Must be able to stand alone; avoid references and undefined non-standard abbreviations.

3. Keywords and Highlights

• Keywords: Provide 3 to 5 keywords that capture the principal topics of the paper for indexing and search engine optimization (SEO) purposes (read more about how to select the keywords: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.1222).
• Highlights: (not required, encouraged) A separate editable file containing 3 to 5 bullet points, each limited to a maximum of 85 characters including spaces. Highlights capture novel results and new methods, aiding discoverability.

4. Main Text Body (Sections)

The manuscript should be divided into clearly defined and numbered sections (e.g., 1, 2, 3) and subsections (1.1, 1.1.1, etc.). Generally, journal articles have the following structure, however, it's not required for authors to structure their contribution based on this recommended sections.

• Introduction: Should introduce the aims, describe why the topic is important, provide context, and state the paper’s contribution to the body of knowledge.
• Previous Studies: Should review the state of the art in the literature. This section should be analytical and narrative, not descriptive.
• Methodology: If empirical, describe methods clearly so the experiment can be reproduced. If computational, code/analytical methods must be included. Describe equipment, materials, and their sources.
• Findings/Results: Focus on main facts and those with wider significance. Consider presenting key findings in tables or figures.
• Conclusion/Discussion: Summarize the main argument, state key conclusions, highlight the limitations of the research, and explain the implications for future research and practice.

5. Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

All visual and tabular elements must be supplied correctly and cited sequentially in the text.

• Tables: Must be submitted as editable text, not images. They should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals. Provide clear captions and place any notes below the body of the table. Avoid vertical rules and shading. Follow APA Style Table Setup (https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/tables) for creating tables.
• Figures/Artwork: Must be numbered consecutively (e.g., Fig 1, Fig 2). Provide captions in a separate file or within the main manuscript text. Ensure high resolution (e.g., 300 dpi for halftones, 1000 dpi for line drawings). Follow APA Style Figure Setup (https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures/figures) for creating figures. Avoid Redundancy: Data presented in tables should not be repeated in charts or figures. Captions: Table titles/numbers must appear above the table. Map, figure, and chart titles/numbers must appear below them. Sources: If using visuals from other sources, citing the original source is mandatory. Quality: Images and maps must be clear, legible, and scaled appropriately. If color printing is required, additional costs will be calculated. Digital Identifiers: Please include the DOI for electronic references at the end of the citation (e.g., doi:10.1000/182).
• Image Integrity: Images must accurately represent the original data. Adjustments (brightness/contrast) are acceptable only if applied uniformly and if they do not eliminate or obscure information.
• Generative AI in Figures: The use of Generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images is generally not permitted. The only exception is if AI is an explicit part of the research design (e.g., biomedical imaging), in which case its use must be described reproducibly in the methods section, including the tool name and version. Artistic renderings, cover art, and graphical abstracts created by generative AI are prohibited.

6. References and Citation Style

PQ mandates the use of the APA referencing style (see examples: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples). Authors are referred to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Seventh Edition, 2020, https://apastyle.apa.org) for specific details.

• In-Text Citation: Follow APA style (author-date format).
• Reference List: Must only include works cited in the text and vice versa. Entries should be arranged alphabetically. It's recommended to use a Reference Manager tool (including, EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero, etc.) for avoiding any mistakes in the manuscript.
• DOIs: Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) should be included as reference links wherever available, as they provide a permanent link and increase discoverability.
• Data Citation: Authors should cite any underlying or relevant datasets used, including the dataset title, repository, year, and persistent identifier (DOI), and list these data references in the reference list.

7. Supplementary Materials and Data

Supplementary material (SI) is content that enhances the research but is not essential for understanding the main conclusions (e.g., extended data sets, video, detailed methods, appendices).

• Submission: SI must be submitted at the same time as the main manuscript for peer review and will be published online-only.
• Format: SI will be published as received, without further editing or formatting, so authors must style the material ahead of submission. Standard formats (e.g., PDF, MS Excel, video formats) are accepted.
• Citations: SI files must be cited specifically in the manuscript text.
• Research Data Availability: All original research must include a Data Availability Statement (DAS) explaining how the underlying data can be accessed (e.g., deposition in a repository) or why it cannot be shared (e.g., sensitive information, participant privacy). Authors are strongly encouraged to deposit research data in a relevant public repository to promote integrity and reuse, and to cite the dataset using a persistent identifier.

Common Technical Errors and Important Notes

• File Naming and Submission
• File Name: The main Word file must not contain the authors' names or personal details. The filename should be the English title of the article.
• Current Guidelines: Authors must use the latest submission guide and the commitment form available on the website. Old formats are not acceptable.
• Duplicate Submissions: Only upload an article once. If you receive multiple tracking codes for the same paper by mistake, please withdraw the extra entries. Only one version (with a single tracking code) should be sent to the expert reviewer.
• Content and Formatting
• Tables: Tables must be clear and formatted according to the journal’s style to ensure legibility in both print and PDF versions.
• Citations: In-text citations and the reference list must strictly follow the journal’s specific citation format.
• Keywords: English keywords must be an exact translation of the Persian keywords and should be listed in order of importance below the abstract.
• Editorial Authority and Certification
• Acceptance Letters: Acceptance certificates are not issued manually or before the final approval of the Editorial Board.
• Editorial Rights: The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject, accept, or edit articles as necessary. No paper will be discussed in board meetings or receive an issuance certificate until it fully aligns with the Politics Quarterly style guide.
• Revisions: Refusal to apply corrections suggested by reviewers or the Editorial Board will be considered a withdrawal of the article.
• Liability: The full responsibility for the opinions expressed, as well as the observance of the rights of other authors and researchers, rests solely with the author(s).

 

Article Processing Charges (APC) Payment

The following fees apply to the processing and publication of articles: 1) Review Fee: 3,000,000 IRR (Payable upon submission for peer review). Note: This fee is non-refundable if the article is rejected. 2) Publication Fee: 3,000,000 IRR (Payable after final acceptance).

Payment Details:

• Account Number: 4001070103006825 (Central Bank of Iran)
• Deposit ID: 348070174140107000000002502202
• Sheba (IBAN): IR830100004001070103006825

Submission of Receipt: The corresponding author must scan the bank receipt and upload it as a supplementary file. Payments can be made via the Integrated Payment Link https://financialdep.ut.ac.ir/fa/integratedPayment/pay.