The University of British Columbia Journal of International Affairs (JIA) is a student-run, internationally-distributed undergraduate publication that showcases original papers selected through a blind peer and faculty review process. Established in 1985, the JIA is the longest-running undergraduate journal at UBC, and among the most highly respected student-run publications.

For the past forty years, we have selected editorial boards from diverse cultural, political, and academic backgrounds; and solicited thousands of undergraduate research papers on wide-ranging topics. Our publications revolve around the discipline of international relations, which has in the past highlighted issues including international trade and development, global security, and interactions between multinational corporations and states, among other subjects.

Creating the Journal

Each year, the JIA solicits submissions from undergraduate students at UBC. Submissions are anonymized and distributed to small working groups of editors, who receive training in copyediting and assessment expectations. Editors are assigned submissions based on their existing subject knowledge. In round one, Editors are looking for basic required elements: does the paper discuss an issue in international relations? Is there a substantive argument made? Is it well-supported? Editors meet in their working groups to discuss each paper and make decisions on which papers will continue to round two by applying the JIA criteria. In our larger editorial meeting, each working group will present the papers they reviewed, and explain why they’ve decided to keep or cut each paper.

Papers which continue to round two are redistributed to different working groups. In round two, Editors are now looking more critically for unique arguments, well-structured and logical organization, evidence of strong research and understanding of the relevant literature on the topic, and a depth of critical analysis rather than a presentation of a topic. Editors repeat the process of meeting with their working groups and then with the larger group to present their decisions. At this point, with more than one working group having read each paper, the discussion often turns to lively debate as Editors may disagree on if papers should or should not continue. In some years, a third round may be conducted in order to form the final shortlist.

Once the final shortlist of papers is developed, they are sent for faculty review. Faculty, who are selected on basis of expertise in the subject of the paper, send comments to the Editor in Chief. At this point, the authors of the papers are revealed, and Editors work on a one-on-one basis with the author to make modifications for publication, based on feedback from JIA editorial rounds as well as faculty comments. Edits at this stage can range from minor copy-edits such as citation formatting, or could include asking the author to provide an additional background paragraph in their introduction. Authors have the final say on any and all changes made to their paper and can withdraw their paper from consideration at any time.

Finally, the JIA is ready for publication. Letters from the UBC Department of International Relations and from the desk of the Editor in Chief are written, and the final issue goes to print.

The JIA is grateful for the support of the UBC International Relations Student Association (IRSA), the UBC Faculty of Arts and the Department of International Relations.