Author Policies
Welcome to the African Journal of Political Science author guidelines. Please review the following policies and requirements carefully to ensure your manuscript meets the journal’s standards.
1. Manuscript Preparation
Before submitting your manuscript, ensure that the document adheres to the following guidelines:
- Formatting: Manuscripts should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Title Page: Include the title, authors' names, institutional affiliations, and corresponding author contact information.
- Abstract: Provide a concise abstract of no more than 300 words summarizing the key points of the manuscript, including research objectives, methodology, and conclusions.
- Keywords: Include 5-7 relevant keywords that describe the subject matter of the manuscript.
- References: Cite references using the APA 7th Edition citation style. Ensure proper in-text citations and a full reference list at the end of the manuscript.
- Figures and Tables: Place tables and figures at the end of the manuscript. They should be clearly labeled and referenced within the text.
- Ethical Approval: All research involving human or animal subjects must have received ethical approval from a recognized board or institution, and evidence of approval must be provided upon submission.
- Plagiarism: Manuscripts should be original and free from plagiarism. Authors must ensure proper citation and avoid self-plagiarism.
3. Plagiarism Policy
The African Journal of Political Science has a strict plagiarism policy. All manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism using advanced plagiarism detection software. Any manuscript found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected, and the authors will be informed about the violation.
Authors must ensure that all sources, data, and ideas taken from other works are properly acknowledged and cited.
4. Complaints Policy
Authors or reviewers who wish to file a complaint regarding the peer review process, publication ethics, or editorial decisions should contact the editor-in-chief at [editor's email]. The complaint will be reviewed in accordance with the COPE Guidelines.
5. Article Processing Charge (APC)
The African Journal of Political Science charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) for all accepted articles to cover the costs associated with publication and open access. The APC fee is due once the manuscript is accepted for publication. Please refer to the APC Waiver Policy for further details on fee waivers and discounts.
6. Rights and Grants to the Author
Authors retain copyright over their work, but by submitting to the journal, they grant the journal the right to publish the manuscript under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors are free to share and reuse their work with proper attribution.
7. Data Sharing Policy
Authors are encouraged to make their raw data publicly available in repositories such as re3data or others. Data should be accessible for review, unless there are confidentiality agreements preventing public sharing.
8. Submission Check List
Please ensure the following before submitting your manuscript:
- Manuscript is formatted according to the submission guidelines.
- References are properly cited using APA 7th Edition.
- All necessary documents, including ethical approval letters and consent forms, are attached.
- All tables, figures, and appendices are clearly labeled and correctly placed.
- Manuscript is free from plagiarism and self-plagiarism.
9. Sample Paper
For guidance on manuscript formatting, please download our Sample Paper. This template will help authors structure their manuscript in accordance with the journal’s formatting requirements.
10. Copyright Policy
Authors retain copyright to their work upon publication, but they grant the journal a license to publish the article under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY). This means authors can share and adapt the work, provided appropriate credit is given.
11. Open Access Policy
The African Journal of Political Science is an open-access journal. All articles published are freely available to readers, ensuring maximum dissemination of knowledge and research findings across the globe.
12. Submission of Manuscript
Manuscripts should be submitted through our online submission system. The system will guide authors through the process of submitting their manuscript, uploading supporting documents, and tracking the status of their submission.
13. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy
The journal follows best practices in dealing with errata, retractions, and corrigenda. If errors are found after publication, authors are encouraged to work with the editorial team to correct or retract the article as necessary. Corrections will be made publicly available.
14. APC Waiver Policy
Waivers for the Article Processing Charge (APC) may be granted to authors from low-income countries or in exceptional circumstances. Please contact the editor-in-chief for more details on how to request an APC waiver.
15. Human and Animal Rights Policy
All research involving human or animal subjects must comply with ethical standards. Authors are required to provide documentation of ethical approval from a relevant institutional review board or ethics committee.
16. Digital Preservation
The African Journal of Political Science ensures the long-term digital preservation of all published articles. Articles are stored in secure, stable repositories to ensure their continued accessibility.
17. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent
Research involving human participants must adhere to ethical guidelines regarding privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent. Authors should ensure that participants are fully informed about the research and have given written consent before participation.
18. Licensing Policy
All articles published in the journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY). This allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, provided the original authors are credited.
20. English Language Editing
Authors are encouraged to ensure their manuscript is in clear, concise English. If necessary, authors may consider professional English language editing services before submission to enhance clarity and readability.
21. Withdrawal Policy
Once a manuscript has been submitted and is under review, it cannot be withdrawn unless exceptional circumstances arise. Authors who wish to withdraw their manuscript must provide a valid reason in writing to the editor-in-chief.