Guidelines for Contributors

IPSC Commentaries Series

Indo-Pacific Studies Center (IPSC)

Purpose of IPSC Commentaries

The IPSC Commentaries series offers timely, original, and analytically grounded perspectives on developments shaping the Indo-Pacific. These short-form essays provide insight into emerging trends, policy dilemmas, and strategic debates across the region, while upholding IPSC’s commitment to rigor, clarity, and regional relevance.

Submission Criteria

Topical Relevance

Submissions must engage with Indo-Pacific issues and may address topics such as:

  • Strategic competition and sovereignty
  • Minilateral frameworks (QUAD, AUKUS, IPEF)
  • Maritime security and regional defence
  • Climate diplomacy and environmental security
  • Trade, connectivity, and supply chains
  • Technology, AI governance, cyber strategy
  • Human rights, democracy, and regional institutions

Analytical Rigor

  • Clear argumentation and structure
  • Use of credible, well-sourced evidence
  • Professional tone grounded in policy relevance

Originality

  • Work must be original and unpublished elsewhere
  • No AI-generated or plagiarized content will be accepted

Style and Format

  • Length: 900–1,200 words
  • Font: Georgia or Montserrat
  • Spacing: Single-spaced with clear paragraph breaks
  • File Format: Word Document (.docx)
  • Language: British or Australian English preferred
  • References: Hyperlinked sources preferred; footnotes only if essential

Tone and Voice

  • Analytical, not polemical
  • Encourage debate, avoid partisanship
  • Futurist and strategic—neither Western-centric nor ideologically prescriptive
  • Respectful, independent, and intellectually grounded

Editorial Process

  1. Submissions are reviewed for clarity, relevance, and alignment with IPSC’s mission
  2. Authors may be asked to revise prior to publication
  3. IPSC reserves the right to edit for grammar, clarity, and consistency
  4. Final approval rests with the IPSC Editorial Board

Promotion and Visibility

  • Published on IPSC’s website under “Indo-Pacific Contours”
  • Highlighted via IPSC’s LinkedIn, newsletter, and briefings
  • Opportunities for webinar invitations or follow-up commentary

Submissions & Contact

Please send your submission or proposal to:

Email: editor@indo-pacificstudiescenter.org

Include:

  • A short biography (100 words)
  • A high-resolution headshot (optional)
  • Your current affiliation and contact details

IPSC Research Programs/

Democratisation