All submissions must fulfill the following criteria:

• Ensure you have submitted both a regular version of the manuscript and an anonymised version without author details. Failure to comply will result in your manuscript being returned.
• The submission must not have been previously published or under consideration elsewhere unless explained in comments to the Editor.
• The submission file must be in Microsoft Word format.
• Word count should range between 6000 to 8000 words.
• The text should be typed with 1.5-line spacing, Times New Roman font, size 12, with italics used instead of underlining (except for URL addresses). Illustrations, figures, and tables should be integrated into the text at relevant points.
• The text must adhere to stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
• All consulted works must be referenced using the Harvard referencing style.

The BRICS Journal of International Relations and Development follows a double-blind peer-review process. Initially, manuscripts are evaluated by the editors-in-chief to assess their suitability for publication based on subject matter, quality, content, and adherence to plagiarism and referencing standards. If no issues are identified, the manuscript is forwarded to two double-blind reviewers for detailed assessment. Reviewers provide feedback on writing quality and research significance within four to six weeks, guiding the publication decision. Manuscripts may be accepted, rejected, or accepted with minor changes. In cases of conflicting reviewer recommendations, a third reviewer is appointed by the editor for arbitration. Ultimately, editorial decisions rest with the Editor. Accepted manuscripts undergo further processing for publication according to a predetermined schedule.

Upon acceptance, the editorial office prepares the manuscript for online publication, beginning with language editing. The corresponding author is given an opportunity to review and make final text changes before the manuscript proceeds to the final stage. Here, the author receives galley proofs for error identification, with two working days allotted for corrections. Once finalised, the manuscript is sent for publication.

Waiver for APC:
As part of our commitment to supporting the academic community and encouraging high-quality submissions, we are pleased to offer a full waiver for Article Processing Charges (APC) during the journal’s first year of publication. This waiver applies to all articles submitted and accepted between 01 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.

APC Starting in January 2026:
From 01 January 2026, an APC will be applicable to all accepted articles.

Important Notes:

• The waiver does not influence the peer review or editorial decision-making process, which remains based solely on the quality and academic merit of submissions.
• Authors will be notified of any updates to the APC policy well in advance.

The BRICS Journal of International Relations and Development welcomes proposals for special issues comprising approximately 12-20 articles. When proposing a special issue, the following information is required:

• Special issues should have a thematic or focus area.
• Provide the title of the issue.
• Offer a summary of the issue’s coverage.
• Describe a target audience
• Explain how the issue contributes to ongoing academic discussions within the journal’s scope.
• Describe the relevance of the issue to interested parties such as scholars and policymakers.
• Include a list of agreed authors, article titles, and abstracts.

Prospective guest editors may solicit submissions by issuing calls for papers or directly inviting suitable authors. Guest editors should commit to submitting all draft manuscripts at least three months before publication and ensure adherence to the journal’s author guidelines. Interested parties must submit proposals via email to editor@bricsrijournal.co.za , with a copy sent to paballontobaki@bricsrijournal.co.za.