Bates College Journal of Political Studies
Policies
Editorial Policies of the Bates College Journal of Political Studies
Mission
The mission of the Journal of Political Studies (hereafter “JOPS” or “the Journal”) is to provide a forum for undergraduate students to publish their original scholarship. It is meant to be a forum for mature, rigorous, and meaningful discussion of the political forces shaping our world. The Journal is an institution of Bates College’s academic life, and seeks to increase students’ engagement with the study of politics at Bates. It is also intended to reflect the mission and goals of its sponsoring organization, the Bates Initiative for Government Studies (hereafter “BIGS” or “the Sponsoring Organization”) as well as those of Bates College.Eligibility
Anyone can submit to the Journal: Current Bates students/alumni, students from other institutions, academics, professionals, etc. Work must represent the author's own original scholarship. Faculty mentors may advise students during the research and writing process but should not be listed as co-authors unless explicitly permitted by the Journal.
Originality
All submissions must be original work. Authors certify that: the submission has not been previously published, is not under review by another publication, that any sources, quotations, data, images, or figures have been properly cited, and that any required permissions have been obtained prior to submission.
Exclusive Submission Policy
Authors may submit a manuscript to only one Bates College publication at a time. For instance, a manuscript submitted to JOPS may not be submitted to the Undergraduate Law Review or the Journal of Philosophy and Social Problems as well.
Submissions may not be simultaneously considered by multiple Bates College publications. Authors must choose the publication that is the best fit for their work.
Academic Integrity
The Journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding academic dishonesty. This includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism; self-plagiarism without disclosure; fabrication or falsification of data; improper citation practices; unauthorized collaboration; and undisclosed use of Generative Artificial Intelligence to write, substantially compose, or generate any portion of a submission.
Submissions determined to contain plagiarism, undisclosed AI-generated writing, fabricated research, or other forms of academic misconduct will be rejected. If misconduct is discovered after acceptance, publication may be withdrawn in accordance with the Journal's publication policies.
Editorial Independence
The Journal is committed to publishing agenda-free scholarship. Editorial decisions are based solely on quality of research; strength of evidence; originality; clarity of writing; and scholarly contribution.
The Journal does not endorse political, ideological, or partisan viewpoints. Editorial staff will not favor or disfavor submissions because of their perspectives. Well-supported arguments from any viewpoint are evaluated according to standards of academic rigor.
Peer Review
Submissions undergo editorial review and, when appropriate, anonymous peer review. Editors evaluate manuscripts for: originality; methodological soundness; quality of argumentation; organization; writing style; and contribution to undergraduate scholarship. Editorial decisions are final.
Editorial Revisions
Acceptance are contingent upon revisions. Editors may request substantive or stylistic revisions before publication. Authors are expected to respond promptly and work collaboratively with editors throughout the editing process. The Journal reserves the right to make minor edits for grammar, formatting, style, and consistency while preserving the author's voice and meaning.
Research Ethics
Authors conducting research involving human participants, animals, archival materials, or sensitive data are responsible for complying with applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements. Editors may request documentation regarding research ethics or approvals where appropriate.
Publication Permanence
Publication in the Journal constitutes inclusion in the permanent scholarly record. Once an article has been published in a volume, it will not be removed except under extraordinary circumstances, including but not limited to: Serious factual errors that materially affect the work; credible evidence of research misconduct; and significant ethical concerns regarding the research or publication. The Editorial Board will review such matters and make the final determination regarding correction, retraction, or removal.
Copyright
Authors retain copyright to their work under Creative Commons unless otherwise specified. By accepting publication, authors grant the Journal a non-exclusive license to publish, archive, and distribute the work in print and digital formats.
Conflicts of Interest
Editors and reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect impartial evaluation of a submission. Editors with a conflict shall recuse themselves from the review and decision-making process.
Nondiscrimination
The Journal welcomes submissions from all eligible students and evaluates manuscripts solely on scholarly merit. Editorial decisions are made without regard to an author's identity, background, or personal beliefs.
Amendments to Policies
These policies may be revised periodically by the Editorial Board to reflect evolving standards in scholarly publishing, research ethics, and undergraduate academic practice. The version in effect at the time of submission governs the review of that submission.