Get your International Studies Quarterly paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4.6
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 17 August, 2026
Submitting to International Studies Quarterly goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the International Studies Quarterly guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to International Studies Quarterly. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the International Studies Quarterly journal page before you draft.
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the International Studies Quarterly guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the International Studies Quarterly guide for authors before you submit.
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
| Element | Int Studies Quarterly requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | - The official ISQ Guidelines and Policies page states that abstracts are excluded from word count but does not specify a word limit, structure (unstructured vs structured), or mandatory headings. No differentiation by article type is provided |
| Main text | Original Research Articles: 12,000 words maximum (including footnotes, references, figures, tables; excluding abstract and maximum 10 pages of appendices). Research Notes: 4,000-8,000 words (excluding online supplementary material). Theory Notes: 4,000-8,000 words (excluding online supplementary material). Response Notes: 2,500 words maximum |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Not specified in the official author guidelines |
| References | Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, with in-text citations (e.g., Smith 1994, 101). During initial review, any consistent citation style is acceptable as long as it allows editors and reviewers to easily identify referenced work. Chicago style required at acceptance |
| Peer review | Double-blind peer review (explicitly stated: 'ISQ employs double-blind peer review for its editorial decisions') |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/isq |
Read the International Studies Quarterly guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to International Studies Quarterly in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Int Studies Quarterly papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the International Studies Quarterly journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the International Studies Quarterly guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).