- Focus and Scope
- Section Policies
- Peer Review Process
- Open Access Policy
- Privacy Statement
- Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
Focus and Scope
JPLA, first published in 2009 by the GIGA Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) in Hamburg, is a refereed journal focused on comparative politics on Latin America. The journal is dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of the political process and political institutions in the region. JPLA began publication in 2009 as a leading international journal devoted to providing cutting-edge research by and for the political science community in Latin American studies as well as for comparativists focusing on Latin America. An international editorial board of renowned scholars ensures high-caliber and relevant content. The pages of JPLA are open to all research approaches consistent with the canons of scholarship. The journal does not charge its authors any fee. JPLA publishes rigorous and original research findings and also includes research-oriented matters (e.g., debates in the discipline, research notes, political science information sources, funding opportunities) and information for politicians, policy makers, the media, and the public. JPLA seeks to provide a prime forum for the exchange of ideas between scholars and students of comparative politics in Latin America. The journal is committed to the highest standards of peer review, to developing the most promising new work available and to facilitating professional communication in political science on Latin America. In this vein, JPLA, with its clear focus on scholarly work on political institutions, political behavior, and public policy, is well set to become the natural first choice venue for the political science community working on Latin America, as represented for instance by the LASA Section on Political Institutions or the ECPR Standing Group on Latin American Politics.
Section Policies
Research Articles
 Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Review Articles
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
 Peer Reviewed |
Research Notes
| Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Peer Review Process
It is the responsibility of the editorial team to maintain high editorial standards and to ensure that the journal fulfils its stated mission. When a paper is submitted, the editor first decides if it is suitable for inclusion and falls within the journal's remit. If the article is peripheral to the journal's area of interest, either it will be rejected immediately or the editor will ask the author to resubmit it after it has been revised. After this first step, the evaluation of each article submitted is done through a double-blind peer review. The editorial team selects two (sometimes three) independent reviewers who research or work in the same area as the author and are subject specialists. In the double-blind process, all information in the paper which identifies the author is removed and the paper is transformed into a secure PDF file and sent to the reviewers. The reviewers then judge the paper and return it to the editors, who pass the reviewers' anonymous comments back to the author. Anonymity is strictly maintained, particularly when rejection or revision is advised. Neither the author nor the reviewers know each other's identity. If the reviewers request that an article should be revised, the author has the opportunity to amend the article and resubmit it for review. At this second review stage, the editorial team decides if the alterations the author has made have taken into account all the points raised in the initial reviews. Accordingly, the paper will be accepted or will receive a final rejection.
Open Access Policy
This journal provides immediate Open Access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
Privacy Statement
The names and e-mail addresses entered in this journal's site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.
Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
The journal adheres strongly to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All instances of publishing misconduct, including, but not limited to, plagiarism, data fabrication, image/data manipulation to falsify/enhance findings, etc., will result in rejection/retraction of the manuscript in question.
