Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Studies (IACS) welcomes original, rigorous, and interdisciplinary scholarly contributions addressing corruption, anti-corruption, integrity, transparency, accountability, and governance, particularly in Indonesia and relevant comparative and international contexts.

Authors are expected to read and comply with these Author Guidelines, the journal's Focus and Scope, Submission Preparation, Peer Review Policy, Publication Ethics, Anti-Plagiarism Policy, Generative AI Policy, Copyright and Licensing Policy, and Article Processing Charge Policy before submitting a manuscript.

1. Types of Manuscripts

IACS accepts the following types of scholarly contributions:

1.1 Original Research Articles

Original Research Articles present original theoretical, doctrinal, empirical, socio-legal, comparative, or interdisciplinary research.

They should contain a clearly defined research problem or question, appropriate methodology, critical analysis, and a substantive scholarly contribution.

1.2 Review Articles

Review Articles provide a critical synthesis and evaluation of existing scholarship on significant issues in corruption and anti-corruption studies.

A review article should identify major debates, developments, gaps, methodological issues, or future research directions rather than merely summarize existing literature.

1.3 Conceptual and Theoretical Articles

Conceptual and Theoretical Articles develop, refine, or critically examine theories, concepts, models, or analytical frameworks relevant to corruption and anti-corruption studies.

1.4 Comparative Research Articles

Comparative Research Articles examine corruption-related laws, policies, institutions, governance systems, or practices across jurisdictions.

Comparative manuscripts should provide a clear analytical rationale and demonstrate substantive relevance to the journal's field.

1.5 Policy and Governance Studies

Policy and Governance Studies provide rigorous academic analysis of anti-corruption policies, institutional reforms, governance mechanisms, public accountability, transparency, public financial management, and integrity systems.

Manuscripts should contain scholarly analysis and should not be presented solely as advocacy or opinion.

1.6 Special Issue Articles

IACS may publish Special Issues addressing specific themes, emerging developments, or interdisciplinary debates.

Special Issue submissions are subject to the same editorial, peer review, originality, and publication ethics requirements as regular submissions.

2. Manuscript Originality

Submitted manuscripts must:

  • be original work;

  • not have been published previously in substantially the same form;

  • not be under consideration by another journal;

  • contain appropriate acknowledgment of all sources;

  • comply with applicable research ethics requirements; and

  • make a clear scholarly contribution.

Simultaneous submission to more than one journal is not permitted.

Authors must disclose any substantial overlap between the submitted manuscript and their previous publications.

3. Language

Manuscripts should be written in clear and academically appropriate English.

Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to have their manuscripts professionally proofread or reviewed by a competent English-language editor before submission.

Language editing does not guarantee acceptance and does not replace substantive academic review.

4. Manuscript Length

Unless otherwise agreed with the Editorial Team, manuscripts should normally contain approximately:

  • 6,000–9,000 words for Original Research Articles;

  • 5,000–8,000 words for Review Articles;

  • 5,000–8,000 words for Conceptual and Theoretical Articles; and

  • 4,000–7,000 words for Policy and Governance Studies.

The word count generally includes the main text and footnotes but excludes the reference list, unless otherwise specified by the journal.

Authors should prioritize substantive scholarly analysis over unnecessary length.

5. Manuscript Structure

Research articles should generally follow the structure below:

  1. Title

  2. Abstract

  3. Keywords

  4. Introduction

  5. Literature Review and/or Theoretical Framework

  6. Research Methodology

  7. Results, Findings, or Legal Analysis

  8. Discussion

  9. Conclusion

  10. Declarations, where applicable

  11. References

The exact structure may vary according to the research design and disciplinary approach.

Legal, doctrinal, theoretical, and conceptual manuscripts may adopt a structure more appropriate to their subject matter.

6. Title

The title should be:

  • concise;

  • informative;

  • specific;

  • academically appropriate; and

  • reflective of the central issue addressed by the manuscript.

Authors should avoid unnecessary abbreviations, excessive wording, rhetorical expressions, and vague titles.

7. Abstract

The abstract should normally contain 150–250 words.

It should clearly communicate:

  • the research background or problem;

  • the research objective or question;

  • the methodology or analytical approach;

  • the principal findings or argument; and

  • the conclusion and/or significance of the research.

The abstract should be understandable independently of the main manuscript and should not contain unnecessary citations.

8. Keywords

Authors should provide 4–6 keywords.

Keywords should:

  • accurately reflect the main subjects of the manuscript;

  • use terms commonly recognized within the relevant academic field; and

  • support indexing and scholarly discoverability.

Authors should avoid repeating unnecessary words already contained in the title unless they are important indexing terms.

9. Introduction

The Introduction should establish the context and significance of the research.

It should generally address:

  • the research background;

  • the problem or issue being examined;

  • relevant scholarly or practical gaps;

  • the research question(s) or objective(s);

  • the significance of the research; and

  • where appropriate, the structure or contribution of the article.

The Introduction should clearly demonstrate why the research is necessary.

10. Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

The literature review should critically engage with relevant scholarship rather than merely provide a list or summary of previous studies.

Authors should:

  • identify relevant scholarly debates;

  • explain the relationship between previous research and the present study;

  • identify significant gaps or unresolved issues;

  • establish the theoretical or conceptual foundation; and

  • demonstrate how the manuscript contributes to existing scholarship.

Authors should prioritize relevant, authoritative, and sufficiently current academic sources.

11. Research Methodology

Authors must provide sufficient methodological information to enable readers to understand how the research was conducted and, where appropriate, assess or reproduce the research.

Depending on the research design, the methodology section may include:

  • research approach;

  • research design;

  • data sources;

  • sampling procedures;

  • research participants;

  • data collection methods;

  • analytical methods;

  • doctrinal or legal research methods;

  • comparative methodology;

  • limitations; and

  • ethical considerations.

Legal and doctrinal research should clearly explain the sources and analytical methods used to reach its conclusions.

12. Results, Findings, and Analysis

The results or findings should be presented clearly and systematically.

Authors should distinguish, where appropriate, between:

  • empirical findings;

  • legal or doctrinal analysis;

  • theoretical interpretation;

  • policy implications; and

  • the authors' broader arguments.

Claims should be supported by appropriate evidence, authoritative sources, or analytical reasoning.

13. Discussion

The Discussion should interpret the findings in relation to:

  • the research question;

  • existing literature;

  • theoretical or conceptual frameworks;

  • legal and institutional developments;

  • relevant policy debates; and

  • broader implications for corruption and anti-corruption studies.

The Discussion should demonstrate the manuscript's original contribution rather than simply repeat the findings.

14. Conclusion

The Conclusion should directly respond to the research question or objective.

It should summarize the principal contribution of the research without unnecessarily repeating the entire discussion.

Where appropriate, authors may include:

  • theoretical implications;

  • legal implications;

  • institutional implications;

  • policy recommendations; and

  • suggestions for future research.

Recommendations should be supported by the analysis presented in the manuscript.

15. Headings and Subheadings

Authors should use a clear and consistent hierarchy of headings and subheadings.

Headings should be concise and descriptive.

Authors should avoid excessive levels of subdivision that interfere with the readability and coherence of the manuscript.

16. Citations and References

IACS requires authors to use Chicago Notes and Bibliography style unless otherwise instructed by the Editorial Team.

Authors should ensure that:

  • every cited source is appropriately referenced;

  • every source in the reference list is cited in the manuscript where applicable;

  • bibliographic information is complete and accurate;

  • quotations are properly identified;

  • legal authorities are accurately cited;

  • DOI information is included where available; and

  • citation formatting is consistent throughout the manuscript.

Authors are encouraged to use reference management software where appropriate.

17. Legal Materials

For manuscripts involving legal analysis, authors should provide accurate references to relevant legal authorities, including where applicable:

  • legislation;

  • regulations;

  • court decisions;

  • constitutional provisions;

  • government policies;

  • official reports;

  • international treaties and conventions; and

  • other primary legal materials.

Authors should use authoritative sources for legal materials wherever possible.

18. Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should be used only where they contribute meaningfully to the presentation of the research.

Each table or figure should:

  • have a clear and descriptive title;

  • be numbered consecutively;

  • be referred to in the main text;

  • identify the source where applicable; and

  • be of sufficient quality for publication.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission for third-party copyrighted material where required.

19. Quotations

Direct quotations must accurately reproduce the original source and must be appropriately cited.

Long quotations should be formatted consistently with the journal's manuscript style.

Authors should avoid excessive quotation and should prioritize critical analysis and synthesis.

Any alteration to a quotation must be clearly indicated in accordance with the applicable citation style.

20. Footnotes

Footnotes may be used for citations and explanatory information where appropriate.

Authors should avoid excessive or unnecessarily lengthy footnotes.

Footnotes should be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript and formatted consistently.

21. Research Ethics

Where research involves human participants, personal data, confidential information, vulnerable populations, or other ethically sensitive materials, authors must comply with applicable ethical standards and legal requirements.

Where required, authors must obtain appropriate ethics approval and informed consent.

Manuscripts involving whistleblowers, corruption victims, informants, public officials, or other sensitive participants should provide appropriate protection for privacy, confidentiality, and safety.

22. Data Availability

Authors should provide a Data Availability Statement where applicable.

Authors are encouraged to make supporting data and research materials available through appropriate repositories when ethically and legally possible.

Where data cannot be publicly shared because of confidentiality, privacy, legal, ethical, or security restrictions, the authors should explain the applicable limitations.

23. Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest.

Where no conflict exists, authors may state:

“The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.”

Conflicts may include financial, professional, institutional, personal, or other relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation.

24. Funding Statement

Authors must disclose all sources of financial support relevant to the research.

The statement should identify the funding organization and, where appropriate, the grant or project information and the role of the funder.

Where no external funding was received, authors may state:

“This research received no external funding.”

25. Acknowledgments

Individuals or organizations that contributed to the research but do not meet the requirements for authorship may be acknowledged.

Authors should obtain permission from individuals before including their names in an acknowledgment where appropriate.

Acknowledgments should not be used to conceal individuals who meet the journal's authorship requirements.

26. Authorship

All listed authors must have made a substantive scholarly contribution to the research and manuscript.

All authors must:

  • approve the final version;

  • agree to the submission;

  • accept responsibility for the integrity of the work; and

  • disclose relevant conflicts of interest.

Guest, honorary, gift, and ghost authorship are not permitted.

Changes to authorship after submission require appropriate justification and agreement from all affected authors and the Editorial Team.

27. Generative AI and AI-Assisted Tools

IACS permits responsible use of AI-assisted technologies in accordance with its Generative AI Policy.

AI tools may assist with limited activities such as language editing, proofreading, translation, or brainstorming.

However:

  • AI systems cannot be listed as authors;

  • authors remain fully responsible for the submitted manuscript;

  • AI-generated factual claims, references, quotations, legal authorities, and data interpretations must be independently verified;

  • material AI use must be appropriately disclosed;

  • AI must not be used to fabricate data, evidence, citations, or research findings; and

  • confidential or unpublished manuscript material must not be submitted to AI systems in ways that compromise confidentiality or intellectual property.

The use of AI does not relieve authors of their responsibility for originality and proper attribution.

28. Plagiarism and Similarity Screening

IACS may conduct similarity screening on submitted manuscripts.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that manuscripts do not contain plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, duplicate publication, or other forms of research misconduct.

A similarity percentage is not, by itself, considered proof of plagiarism. The Editorial Team will assess the nature, context, extent, and attribution of identified similarities.

Serious cases may result in rejection, withdrawal, correction, expression of concern, or retraction in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Anti-Plagiarism Policies.

29. Double-Anonymous Peer Review

IACS uses a double-anonymous peer review process.

Authors must prepare the manuscript in a manner that does not unnecessarily reveal their identity.

A separate title page should contain author names, affiliations, email addresses, ORCID iDs, and other identifying information.

Authors should also remove identifying information from document properties and file metadata where reasonably possible.

30. Submission Files

Authors should normally submit:

Main Manuscript

An anonymized manuscript containing the complete article text.

Title Page

A separate file containing:

  • manuscript title;

  • author names;

  • affiliations;

  • institutional email addresses;

  • ORCID iDs, where available;

  • corresponding author information; and

  • acknowledgments, where applicable.

Supplementary Materials

Additional datasets, appendices, research instruments, figures, tables, or other supporting materials may be submitted where relevant.

31. Submission Preparation

Before submitting, authors should confirm that:

☐ The manuscript fits the Focus and Scope of IACS.

☐ The manuscript is original and is not under consideration elsewhere.

☐ All authors have approved the manuscript.

☐ The manuscript has been prepared for double-anonymous peer review.

☐ A separate title page has been prepared.

☐ The abstract and keywords are complete.

☐ Citations and references are accurate and consistent.

☐ Tables and figures are properly numbered and sourced.

☐ Ethical approval and informed consent have been obtained where required.

☐ Conflict of interest information has been disclosed.

☐ Funding information has been provided.

☐ Data availability information has been provided where applicable.

☐ AI use has been disclosed where required.

☐ The manuscript has been checked for plagiarism and inappropriate text reuse.

☐ Necessary permissions for third-party materials have been obtained.

☐ All required submission metadata are complete and accurate.

32. Manuscript Revision

When a revision is requested, authors should submit:

  1. a revised version of the manuscript; and

  2. a detailed point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments.

Authors should clearly explain how substantive reviewer comments have been addressed.

Where a reviewer recommendation is not adopted, authors should provide a clear academic justification.

The Editorial Team may request additional revisions where necessary.

33. Editorial and Publication Process

The general publication process is:

Submission → Editorial Screening → Similarity Screening → Double-Anonymous Peer Review → Revision → Editorial Decision → Copyediting → Production → Publication

The Editorial Team may return manuscripts that do not comply with essential submission requirements before external peer review.

34. Article Processing Charge

IACS does not charge a submission fee.

An Article Processing Charge (APC) of IDR 5,000,000 (five million Indonesian Rupiah) applies to accepted articles.

The APC is charged only after formal acceptance.

Payment of the APC does not influence peer review or editorial decisions and does not guarantee publication.

35. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain full copyright of their published articles without restriction.

All published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.

Authors may share, deposit, distribute, and reuse their published work in accordance with the terms of the license.

36. Open Access

IACS is a fully open access journal.

All published articles are immediately and freely accessible to readers without subscription or access fees.

Authors may deposit the published Version of Record in institutional, subject, or other appropriate repositories without an embargo.

37. Publication Ethics

Authors are expected to comply with the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

IACS follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and research integrity, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other applicable international standards.

Research or publication misconduct may result in editorial action, including rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction.

38. Corrections and Retractions

Authors are expected to notify the Editorial Team promptly if they discover a significant error in their published work.

IACS may publish corrections, corrigenda, errata, expressions of concern, or retractions where necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

39. Final Responsibility of Authors

Submission of a manuscript to IACS constitutes confirmation that the authors have:

  • read and understood the journal's policies;

  • complied with the Author Guidelines;

  • obtained necessary permissions and ethical approvals;

  • disclosed relevant conflicts of interest and funding;

  • ensured the originality and integrity of the manuscript; and

  • accepted responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the submitted work.

The Editorial Team reserves the right to return, reject, or request revision of manuscripts that do not comply with the journal's academic, ethical, technical, or editorial requirements.