JPI Submission Guidelines

Thank you for considering submitting your work to the Journal of Political Inquiry (JPI). We welcome a variety of submissions, including political analysis essays, opinion pieces, reporting stories, media reviews, multimedia content, and academic papers. Please review the following guidelines before submitting your work:

1. Political Analysis Essays:

1. • Aim to provide readers with a deeper understanding of political issues or events.
   • Focus on examining the political context, analyzing key political actors, or exploring policy consequences.
   • Minimize the use of first-person pronouns (I/Me) to maintain objectivity.
   • Essays should be evidence-based and scholarly in nature.
   • Submissions of around 1,500 words are encouraged; very brief (under 500 words) or very lengthy (over 3,000 words) pieces are rarely published.
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2. Opinion Pieces:

1. • Offer a personal perspective and viewpoints on political matters.
   • Deliberately subjective, aiming to persuade and advocate for a particular position.
   • Use personal experiences, research, or analysis to support opinions.
   • Emphasize building a compelling case and may employ rhetoric or evoke emotion.
   • Submissions of around 1,500 words are encouraged; very brief (under 500 words) or very lengthy (over 3,000 words) pieces are rarely published.

3. Reported Pieces:

• • Provide original reporting work on a recent news story or event.
  • Encompass journalism work, including interviews with one or more subjects on a local or global concern topic.
  • May cover recent news, illuminate a broader issue, or profile a person relevant to current events.
  • Recommended length is up to 1,500 words, except for some long-form pieces.
  • We encourage the submission of works that have been approved and/or edited by a professor or professional in the field. 

4. Reviews:

• • Critically evaluate the political themes and messages conveyed by cultural or artistic products.
  • Focus on books, films, documentaries, television shows, plays, art exhibitions, conferences, etc.
  • Analyze how these products reflect or engage with contemporary political issues and debates.
  • Submissions of around 1,000 words are encouraged; very brief (under 500 words) or very lengthy (over 3,000 words) pieces are rarely published.

 5. Multimedia Content:

• • JPI seeks various types of media, including videos, photos, political cartoons, podcasts, and more.
  • Multimedia pieces should tell a news story or explore political topics through visual or auditory means.
  • Contact us through jpi.submission@gmail.com if you are interested in contributing to the multimedia department.

6. Academic Pieces:

• • JPI is dedicated to showcasing scholarly research and academic discourse in the fields of politics and international relations.
  • Your work should focus on topics related to politics, international relations, and political culture/philosophy.
  • Essays: We welcome original research essays ranging from 1500 to 4000 words in length. Your work should focus on topics related to politics, international relations, and political culture/philosophy. Please ensure that your essay presents a clear and concise thesis supported by well-structured arguments. We accept papers employing quantitative, qualitative, and theoretical approaches.
  • Book Reviews: We invite book reviews ranging from 750 to 2000 words. Your review should critically analyze a non-fiction book within the realm of politics or international relations.
  • All submissions must follow the Chicago Style of citation. If you need help reformatting your piece from a different citation style, reach out to us at jpi.submission@gmail.com.

  • Review Process: The review process for submitted works typically takes four to six weeks. After an initial assessment to ensure the submission meets the stated criteria, the piece will be reviewed by the Journal’s editorial board. Anonymity is a key aspect of our review process, ensuring unbiased evaluations. Authors’ identities are concealed from the editors, and authors are not informed of the specific board members reviewing their work.

General Guidelines:

We value intellectual balance, honesty, and rigor in political dialogue. Avoid inflammatory or wantonly polarizing stances. We encourage thought-provoking, well-reasoned pieces that explore original ideas, free from sensationalist or partisan talking points.

Our contributors primarily include academics, graduate students, activists, journalists, and anyone with original ideas who argued well. We aim for engaging pieces that strike a balance between accessibility and avoiding baffling jargon.

Submission Process:

• Email your written piece to jpi.submission@gmail.com.
• Use the subject line to indicate the type of piece you are submitting (e.g., Political Analysis Essay, Opinion Piece, Political Review, etc).
• In the body of your email, provide a brief summary of your piece’s thesis.
• Attach your completed work as a Word document.
• We only accept unpublished pieces.
• We will get back to you within three days. 

Editing and Publication:

• We may edit submissions for readability, concision, and adherence to our publication style.
• Submissions go through 4 rounds of review and editing before publication, including a JPI Editor-in-Chief, Senior Managing Editor, Managing Editor, and Copy Editor.
• We aim to maintain the author’s unique voice and intention, and we seek the author’s approval for any changes made to their work.
• We appreciate your cooperation in shaping your essay to bring out its full potential.

We look forward to receiving your insightful ideas at JPI. Join us in fostering meaningful political dialogue through thoughtful and engaging contributions.