Blog Submissions

UWJPS Blog

The UWJPS blog exists as a space for undergraduate students to share their opinions, perspectives, and advice to inform the greater UW political science community. The blog differs from the published journal in terms of content, and is governed by a separate set of standards and guidelines to the main journal editions.

GENERAL STANDARDS

• 400-1000 words

• 12 pt font

• Times New Roman

• Double Spaced

• Author-Date Chicago Citations

• Coherent and comprehensive, with little to no grammatical errors

CONTENT

Submissions must engage with a topic in the field of political science, including but not limited to political theory, international relations, political economy, and public policy, though submissions from other disciplines such as economics, sociology, philosophy, and history may be accepted if they pertain to the study of political science. Submissions to the Blog may be written in the first person perspective and contain reflections or anecdotes regarding experiences in the field. Examples of what we can include are as follows: 

• An opinion piece (with a few sources) that provides insights on a current event in the field 

• A reflection on an internship or job in the field of Political Science

• An opinion piece on a particular theory or theorist, using concrete analysis methods to argue for or against the theory

• A reflection on a research project that examines methods and provides recommendations to future researchers in the field

• A short reflection on an experience within the department, providing recommendations and advice for future students in the program

We will NOT accept any of the following content:

• Content that discusses a personal grievance with a particular professor, politician, or other individual 

• Content that includes violent, harmful, or prejudiced speech on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or similar grounds (also known as Hate Speech) 

• Content that does not relate to the field of Political Science 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

The UWJPS Editorial Team will evaluate submissions based on their originality, creativity, and relevance as part of their decision-making process. Submissions that have been previously published or are under consideration by another blog-type site are not eligible for review. However, authors of previously rejected works are welcome to revise and resubmit their pieces for future editions.

By submitting to the journal, authors certify that:

• Their work reflects original thought and clearly distinguishes their ideas from those of others.

• Their submission is not substantially similar to any work that has been previously published or is under review elsewhere.

• Their work meets the highest standards of academic rigor.

• They have fulfilled all legal requirements, including those related to copyright and sourcing.

If any of these certifications are found to be false or incomplete, the Editorial Team reserves the right to reject the submission without further explanation. The journal assumes no legal responsibility for an author’s failure to meet these obligations.

Finally, the UWJPS is committed to evaluating submissions solely on their academic relevance, clarity, scholarly contribution, and originality, without bias toward the author’s institutional affiliation, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, or political views. Each submission undergoes a thorough review process, ensuring impartiality and academic integrity. Accepted works are ones that demonstrate dedicated thought and research, creativity, originality and aulity prose.

Note On Copyright

Authors retain full copyright ownership of their work published in the journal. By submitting, authors grant the journal a perpetual, non-exclusive license to publish the official version of their article. After publication, authors are free to distribute or republish their work elsewhere, provided that the original publication in the UWJPS is properly credited.

Outline of Review and Publishing Process

Submissions reviewed by Editorial Board: Broadly, is this something worth considering? If yes, the piece is distributed to the most relevant section(s). If no, the piece is rejected outright.

Submission reviewed (name blind) by multiple student section editors of different sections. Reviewing editor provides a comprehensive referee report.

Editorial Board reviews reports and makes final decision.

In case of acceptance:

Editors make clarification and coherence edits, and conduct missing info and fact checks. Editors also make final stylistic edits.

Editor in Chief and Editorial Board collectively organizes accepted pieces into a cohesive edition of the journal.

If there are pieces that are accepted but cannot fit in the current edition, they should be postponed to the next available spot in a future edition.

Faculty review the entire issue and approve it before publishing.

Final decisions of acceptance, rejection, or request for revision are made by the Editorial Board.