Submissions

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Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Author Guidelines

About the Journal

The Journal of Advanced Studies on Borders, Cooperation and Development (ABCD Journal) is an international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes original, high-quality research with practical implications to European policy making.

Please note that the ABCD Journal only publishes manuscripts in English.

The ABCD Journal accepts the following types of article: research articles, policy-debate articles, reports, and book review essays.

Open Access and Copyright Options

The ABCD Journal follows an 'open access' policy. This means your article will be available online immediately upon publication, free of charge, which helps enhance the visibility, readership and research impact.

The ABCD Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Peer Review and Ethics

The ABCD Journal is dedicated to maintain the integrity of the peer-review process and ensure the highest standards in scholarly evaluation. If the editor assesses your paper for suitability, then it will be peer-reviewed by an independent and anonymous expert in the field.

Research Article

We invite submissions of original research articles that critically engage with themes related to borders and border studies. Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, border regions, cross-border cooperation, border governance, borderlands identities, and the social, political, economic, or cultural dynamics of borderlines.

Manuscripts should present clear research questions, a solid methodological framework, and a well-structured analysis grounded in relevant literature. Interdisciplinary approaches are particularly welcome, as are comparative and case study-based works. Articles should contribute new knowledge or perspectives to the field and demonstrate scholarly rigor.

Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Authors are expected to follow standard academic conventions, including proper citation and referencing. All manuscripts will undergo peer review.

The manuscript should be between 40,000 and 60,000 characters in length, including spaces.

Policy-debate article

Policy-debate articles should address contemporary issues related to borders, cross-border cooperation and border governance. Submissions are expected to present a clear, well-argued position that contributes to ongoing policy discussions and offers practical relevance. Articles should be analytical rather than descriptive, grounded in evidence and accessible to a broad policy audience. Authors are encouraged to highlight implications for policymakers and stakeholders, and where appropriate, provide concrete recommendations. Contributions must be original, unpublished, and focused on timely challenges or emerging developments in border regions and cross-border interactions.

In the case of policy-debate articles, the journal imposes no strict word limit.

Report article

Report articles should provide a clear, evidence-based overview of developments related to borders, cross-border cooperation and border regions. Submissions are expected to present factual information, supported by data, case studies, or policy documents. The focus should be on describing recent trends, projects or institutional practices in a structured manner. Report articles must be original, accurate and timely, offering valuable insights into current cross-border dynamics and practical experiences.

In the case of policy-debate articles, the journal imposes no strict word limit.

Book Review Essay

The ABCD Journal publishes 2 - 3 essay-style book reviews per issue. These reviews assess the current state of the field, present new perspectives, stimulate discussion and identify directions for future research. We also encourage authors to review books published outside the English language. There is no fixed word limit for book review essays, although around 3,000 words is a recommended guideline. Proposals for book review essays should be sent by email to Editorial Assistant Teodor Gyelník at teodor.gyelnik@cesci-net.eu

Preparing Your Paper

Structure

In the case of a research article, the journal prescribes a standardized structure: title page; abstract; keywords; main text: introduction, methods, results, conclusion; declaration of interest statement; funding (if there was); ORCID; references; appendices (as appropriate).

In the case of policy-debate and report articles, the journal does not prescribe a standardized structure. Authors are encouraged to adopt a format that best suits their argument and intended contribution.

Style Guidelines and References

When drafting your manuscript and preparing your references, use these concise style guidelines for guidance, rather than any published articles or a sample copy.

Please use British spelling style consistently throughout your manuscript.  

Formatting

The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.

Publication Charges

There are no submission fees, publication fees or page charges for the ABCD journal.

Queries

If you have any queries, please contact us here.

 

Book Review Essay

The ABCD Journal publishes 2 - 3 essay-style book reviews per issue. These reviews assess the current state of the field, present new perspectives, stimulate discussion and identify directions for future research. We also encourage authors to review books published outside the English language. There is no fixed word limit for book review essays, although around 3,000 words is a recommended guideline. Proposals for book review essays should be sent by email to Editorial Assistant Teodor Gyelník at teodor.gyelnik@cesci-net.eu

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