Author Instructions

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

Submission Preparation Checklist 

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines and the Author Instructions.
  • All authors have significantly contributed to the research and manuscript drafting and are aware of and agree to the submission.
  • The manuscript is original, not previously published nor submitted elsewhere, and free from plagiarism. The lead author ensures the accuracy and integrity of the data and results.
  • All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
  • All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
  • Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets and other material provided with this submission and authors accept personal liability for any copyright breach.
  • All conflicts of interest have been disclosed.
  • Ethical approvals for studies involving humans or animals are in place, and the work adheres to relevant guidelines.
  • The manuscript will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) or equivalent. This is a diamond open-access journal with no submission or publication fees.

Article Types

The Politics of the Low Countries journal features a variety of article types, each designed to advance scholarship and dialogue on political science topics within Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Below are the categories of contributions we welcome:

  • Research Article: Original peer-reviewed scholarly articles that contribute empirical or theoretical insights on political science topics related to the Benelux region. A research article has typically a maximum of 10,000 words, including references, endnotes and bibliography.
  • Research Notes: Shorter, descriptive pieces focusing on methodological contributions or specific political phenomena within Belgium, the Netherlands, or Luxembourg. A research note is preferably between 3,000 and 4,000 words and otherwise adheres to the research article instructions regarding e.g., referencing and bibliographic information.
  • Literature Review: Critical reviews of current or emerging debates, summarizing and analyzing key works in the field. A literature review has typically 6,000-8,000 words.
  • PhD Review: Summaries of recently defended doctoral dissertations from the Low Countries, accompanied by a peer review. Please contact the editorial team if you are interested in submitting.
  • State of the Profession: Articles reflecting on the political science profession and developments in the field across the Benelux region. Please contact the editorial team if you are interested in submitting.

Manuscript Formating

Authors are required to adhere to the following guidelines when preparing their manuscripts for submission:

  1. Initial Submission:

    • All manuscript files must be submitted in an anonymized format to ensure confidentiality during the review process. 
    • All manuscript files must be submitted as a PDF.
    • Ensure the PDF includes all text, figures, tables, and supplementary materials in a single, correctly formatted file.

  2. Accepted Manuscripts:

    • Upon acceptance, authors must provide the manuscript in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format for the production stage.
    • Ensure that the Word document includes any necessary revisions and retains the correct formatting of figures, tables, and references.

  3. Formatting Requirements:

    • Manuscripts must be formatted in double-spaced text with standard margins (1 inch or 2.54 cm on all sides).
    • Use a standard, readable font such as Times New Roman, size 12.
    • Include continuous page and line numbers to facilitate the review process.

  4. Organization:

    • Title Page: Include the manuscript title, author names, affiliations, and contact details for the corresponding author.
    • Abstract: Provide a concise abstract summarizing the key findings (word count as per journal guidelines).
    • Main Text: Follow the journal's structure for sections (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).
    • References: Format references according to the APA 7th edition citation style.

  5. Figures and Tables:

    • Embed all figures and tables in the PDF for the initial submission.
    • Upon acceptance, provide high-resolution figures in separate files (e.g., .jpeg, .tiff) as required.

  6. Supplementary Materials:

    • Supplementary data, if any, should be included in the PDF or uploaded as separate files clearly labeled.

By following these guidelines, authors help ensure a smooth review and production process for their manuscript.

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