MPEPIL Instructions for Authors

Please adhere to the following guidelines:

Authors are invited to write entries specifically because their previous work has been recognized for its excellent coverage of a given topic. Please note, however, that the publisher, OUP, and the editors require that the text of the manuscripts written for the MPEPIL is original.

If you used Generative AI tools in the preparation of your manuscript you must complete and submit the AI Use Declaration Form together with your manuscript. For more information on OUP’s AI Use Policy, click here. 

Invited authors are required to submit their manuscripts in Word format via the Editorial Manager online submission system. Detailed instructions are provided in the invitation email.

The content of the Encyclopedia is freely accessible to everyone across the globe according to a Subscribe to Open (S2O) model.
Download the complete "Article List" from the menu on the right side of this page.

The length of a contribution is calculated according to its number of words, excluding references sections.

Authors should respect the recommended word count indicated in the invitation.

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After submission, all manuscripts are reviewed by the editors and peer reviewed by two external peer reviewers. The peer review is double-blind. Please be aware that the review process may take several months, depending on the availability of external experts.

The MPEPIL editors routinely screen all submitted contributions for originality, using the plagiarism detection software iThenticate.

After the initial peer review process, the editors communicate requested changes to the author, who then has the opportunity to submit a revised version addressing these comments. After the revision is sent in, the manuscript will go under a second internal review.

If the editors approve the content, the text will then be sent through a formatting and final editing process. The editors will then send the edited version back to the author for approval.

Once the author returns the text, it will be sent to OUP for processing and publication. This step can take up to two months before the final version of the entry goes live on the OPIL website.

Editors, authors and reviewers are required to keep confidential all details of the editorial and peer review process on submitted entries. The peer review process is confidential and conducted anonymously; identities of reviewers are not revealed. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality of entries and reviews.

According to the Contributor’s Agreement, authors agree to update their contributions when they deem such update to be appropriate, or upon the request of the Editor with an amount of notice that the authors deem reasonable, for a period of time after they are first published electronically. We ask you to keep track of new developments in your field and to contact us at your own initiative whenever there is need for updating.

Please cite MPEPIL entries as follows:
E Bjorge and M Hébié, ‘Boundaries’ in A Peters (ed.), The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (OUP 2008–) (accessed 8 November 2024). 

Read more about the project on the MPIL website and on the OPIL website

Please contact the MPEPIL Editorial Team by email: mpepil@mpil.de. For specific requests about MPEiPro, please contact: mpeipro@mpil.de.