Author Guidelines

Authors are required to read and carefully follow the Author Guidelines before preparing and submitting a manuscript to Systemia: Journal of Law, Technology and Governance. All submissions must comply with the journal's manuscript structure, formatting requirements, referencing style, ethical standards, and submission procedures.

Manuscripts that do not comply with the journal's requirements, use an inappropriate format, or fail to follow the prescribed template may be returned to the authors or rejected by the editorial team prior to the peer-review process. Only manuscripts that satisfy the journal's basic editorial and formatting requirements will proceed to further editorial assessment.

Authors are strongly encouraged to use the official Manuscript Template when preparing their submissions. The template provides the required structure, formatting, heading hierarchy, citation style, and other technical specifications expected by the journal.

All manuscripts submitted to Systemia: Journal of Law, Technology and Governance must be written in English and should demonstrate clear academic writing, logical argumentation, methodological rigor, and appropriate engagement with relevant scholarly literature.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the linguistic quality of their manuscripts. Where necessary, authors should have their manuscripts professionally proofread by a qualified and reputable language-editing or proofreading service. The journal may request evidence of professional proofreading, particularly where substantial language deficiencies affect the clarity and readability of the manuscript.

1. Manuscript Format

Authors should prepare their manuscripts according to the following requirements:

The manuscript should contain approximately 6,000–10,000 words, including the abstract, main text, footnotes or in-text citations, and other textual components, but excluding the reference list.
The manuscript should generally follow the following structure: Title; Author Information; Abstract; Keywords; Introduction; Research Methodology, where applicable; Results and/or Analysis and Discussion; Conclusion; and References.
The manuscript should use a consistent academic structure appropriate to the nature and methodology of the research. Authors may adapt the internal organization of the analysis and discussion sections according to the substantive requirements of the research.
All citations and references must follow the Modern Humanities Research Association 3rd edition style. Authors are encouraged to use reference-management software such as Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, or equivalent applications.
Authors should ensure that all references cited in the manuscript are accurately documented and correspond to the sources listed in the reference section.

2. Title

The title should be concise, specific, informative, and accurately reflect the principal issue addressed by the manuscript. Authors should avoid unnecessary abbreviations, overly general expressions, and excessively long titles.

The title should be prepared according to the formatting specifications provided in the official manuscript template. Author names, institutional affiliations, and the corresponding author's email address must be provided accurately.

3. Abstract

The abstract should provide a concise and self-contained overview of the manuscript. It should clearly identify the research problem or background, research objective, methodology or analytical approach, principal findings, and the significance or implications of the research.

The abstract should generally not exceed 250 words and should be written in clear academic English. Authors should avoid citations, unexplained abbreviations, extensive methodological details, and information that does not directly contribute to understanding the study.

4. Keywords

Authors should provide 3–5 keywords that accurately represent the principal concepts, issues, or fields addressed in the manuscript.

Keywords should be arranged alphabetically and separated by semicolons (;). Authors should select terms that are sufficiently specific to facilitate indexing, discoverability, and retrieval of the article in academic databases.

5. Introduction

The introduction should establish the academic and practical context of the research. It should clearly identify the research problem, explain the significance of the issue, and demonstrate its relevance to existing scholarly debates.

The introduction should engage critically with relevant literature and identify the research gap that the manuscript seeks to address. The author should clearly formulate the research question, research objective, or principal argument of the study.

The final part of the introduction should clearly state the purpose and contribution of the research, including its theoretical, conceptual, methodological, or practical significance where appropriate.

6. Research Methodology

The methodology section should explain how the research was conducted and should be sufficiently detailed to enable readers to understand and evaluate the research process.

For doctrinal or normative legal research, authors should clearly explain the legal approach, sources of law, legal materials, analytical framework, and method of legal interpretation or analysis employed.

For empirical, socio-legal, comparative, interdisciplinary, or other forms of research, authors should appropriately describe the research design, data sources, sampling or selection procedures, data collection methods, analytical techniques, and relevant ethical considerations.

The methodology may be integrated into the introduction or analytical framework where appropriate, particularly for theoretical or doctrinal legal scholarship. Authors should nevertheless ensure that the research approach is sufficiently transparent and identifiable.

7. Analysis and Discussion

The Analysis and Discussion section constitutes the substantive core of the manuscript. Authors should present their findings, legal analysis, theoretical arguments, or research results in a systematic, coherent, and critically reasoned manner.

The discussion should go beyond merely describing legal provisions, cases, policies, data, or existing scholarship. Authors are expected to demonstrate independent analysis and explain how their findings contribute to existing academic debates.

Where appropriate, the analysis should engage with relevant theories, legal doctrines, comparative perspectives, empirical evidence, case law, statutory developments, or other authoritative sources. Arguments should be supported by reliable and relevant scholarly references.

The discussion should clearly demonstrate the original contribution of the manuscript and explain its implications for legal scholarship, policy, governance, technology, institutions, or practice, depending on the scope of the research.

8. Conclusion

The conclusion should directly respond to the research question, objective, or principal argument presented in the manuscript. It should synthesize the principal findings and explain the significance of the research without simply repeating the abstract or reproducing earlier sections.

Where appropriate, the conclusion may include recommendations, policy implications, theoretical implications, or directions for future research. Any recommendation should be logically derived from the findings and analysis presented in the manuscript.

9. References

Systemia: Journal of Law, Technology and Governance uses the Modern Humanities Research Association 3rd edition style for citations and references. Authors should cite only sources that have been actually consulted and that directly support the arguments or statements presented in the manuscript.

All sources cited in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and every source included in the reference list must be cited in the manuscript. References should be arranged alphabetically according to the surname of the first author.

Authors are strongly encouraged to use reliable and current scholarly sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, academic books, authoritative legal materials, official institutional publications, and other credible sources relevant to the research.

Where available, authors should provide a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for journal articles.

Authors are encouraged to use reference-management applications such as Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, or equivalent software to improve citation accuracy and consistency.

10. Book Review Guidelines

Systemia: Journal of Law, Technology and Governance does not impose a rigid structure for book reviews. Reviewers are encouraged to develop a critical and analytical approach appropriate to the work under review.

A book review should not merely summarize the contents of the book. Instead, it should critically assess the book's principal arguments, theoretical contributions, methodology, relevance, strengths, limitations, and contribution to contemporary legal scholarship, policy, technology, governance, or related fields.

The journal welcomes reviews of academic books, monographs, edited volumes, policy publications, and significant earlier works that remain relevant to contemporary debates.

The preferred length for a book review is approximately 1,000–1,500 words.

11. Generative AI and AI-Assisted Tools

Authors may use Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in accordance with the journal's Generative AI Policy. AI tools may assist with limited activities such as language improvement, idea exploration, literature organization, or interactive research support, provided that such use does not replace the author's substantive scholarly responsibilities.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, validity, integrity, and intellectual contribution of their manuscripts. Generative AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors. This approach is consistent with established publication-ethics guidance that AI systems cannot assume responsibility for scholarly work or enter into authorship and copyright obligations. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Where applicable, authors must disclose the use of Generative AI tools in accordance with the journal's AI Policy, including the tool used, its version where available, the purpose of its use, and the manner in which it contributed to the research or manuscript preparation.

12. Manuscript Submission

Authors are required to submit manuscripts through the journal's official Online Journal System (OJS). Authors must create an account before submitting a manuscript. All required information in the submission system must be completed accurately.

Before submission, authors should ensure that the manuscript has been prepared using the official template and that all required supporting documents have been prepared.

The online submission process generally consists of the following steps:

Step 1 – Start Submission: Select the appropriate article category and confirm compliance with the journal's submission requirements and ethical declarations.
Step 2 – Upload Submission: Upload the manuscript file in the format specified by the journal. Authors should ensure that the uploaded manuscript is the final version intended for editorial assessment.
Step 3 – Enter Metadata: Provide complete and accurate metadata, including the title, abstract, keywords, author names, institutional affiliations, email addresses, and corresponding-author information.
Step 4 – Upload Supplementary Files: Upload any required supplementary documents, such as a cover letter, declarations, research instruments, datasets, or other supporting materials where applicable.
Step 5 – Confirmation: Review all submission information and uploaded files carefully before completing the submission. Once confirmed, the manuscript will enter the journal's editorial process.

After successful submission, the corresponding author will receive an acknowledgement through the email address registered in the OJS. Authors may subsequently monitor the progress of their submission through their OJS account.

13. Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submitting a manuscript, authors must confirm that the submission satisfies all applicable requirements. Manuscripts that fail to comply with these requirements may be returned to the authors before entering peer review.

The manuscript has not been previously published and is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
The manuscript has been prepared using the official Systemia manuscript template.
The manuscript is written in clear and appropriate academic English.
All citations and references follow the MHRA 3rd Edition referencing style.
All sources cited in the manuscript appear in the reference list, and all references listed are cited in the manuscript.
DOIs or stable URLs are provided where applicable.
All tables, figures, charts, and other visual materials are appropriately numbered, titled, cited, and positioned within the manuscript.
The manuscript complies with the journal's requirements concerning originality, plagiarism, research integrity, authorship, conflicts of interest, and ethical conduct.
Any use of Generative AI has been disclosed in accordance with the journal's AI Policy.
The manuscript has been carefully proofread and is suitable for scholarly evaluation.

14. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright in their published work, subject to the publication and licensing terms adopted by Systemia: Journal of Law, Technology and Governance.

Unless otherwise stated in the journal's specific licensing terms, published articles may be distributed and reused in accordance with the applicable Creative Commons license, provided that appropriate attribution is given to the authors and the original publication in the journal is acknowledged.

Authors may also disseminate their published work through institutional repositories, personal academic webpages, or other lawful scholarly platforms, subject to the terms of the applicable publication license.

15. Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

All authors are expected to comply with generally accepted standards of publication ethics and research integrity. This includes responsibility for authorship, originality, accurate reporting, appropriate citation, avoidance of plagiarism, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and responsible handling of research data and materials.

Authors should not submit substantially similar manuscripts to multiple journals simultaneously. Any previously published material incorporated into the manuscript must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.

The journal reserves the right to take appropriate editorial action where there is evidence of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, unethical research practices, authorship disputes, or other violations of publication ethics.

16. Privacy Statement

Personal information submitted through the Systemia: Journal of Law, Technology and Governance website, including names, institutional affiliations, email addresses, and other information provided during registration or manuscript submission, will be used solely for legitimate journal-related purposes.

Such information will not be disclosed, sold, or made available to unrelated third parties except where disclosure is necessary to administer the journal, comply with applicable legal obligations, or fulfill legitimate scholarly publishing functions.

The journal is committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of personal information provided by authors, reviewers, editors, and other registered users.

17. Editorial and Peer-Review Process

All submitted manuscripts are subject to an initial editorial screening to assess their relevance to the journal's scope, compliance with submission requirements, originality, academic quality, and suitability for peer review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening may be sent for peer review in accordance with the journal's applicable review model. Authors should ensure that manuscripts contain sufficient scholarly substance and methodological transparency to facilitate meaningful academic evaluation.

Reviewers are expected to maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, provide objective and constructive assessments, and refrain from using unpublished information obtained through the review process for personal or professional advantage. These principles are consistent with established publication-ethics guidance for peer reviewers. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

18. Contact and Further Information

Authors should consult the journal website for the latest version of the Author Guidelines, manuscript template, publication ethics policies, Generative AI policy, and other submission requirements.

Authors who require clarification regarding submission procedures or manuscript requirements may contact the editorial office through the official communication channels provided on the journal website.