Submissions

Author Guidelines

Minimum Academic Qualification

• Single authorship: PhD.
• Co-authorship: Master's degree, provided that the co-authored paper includes a PhD holder.
• In cases involving three or more authors, only one co-author may be a non-PhD holder and must have the minimum required qualification (Master's degree).

Note to Authors

It should be noted that, in recent issues, articles that met the requirements listed below had a greater likelihood of being accepted:

1. Introduction of the Articles

• The introduction should contextualize the subject, that is, clearly explain the origins of the author's research concern.
• The introduction should clearly define the operational concepts.
• The introduction should explain the delimitation of the subject.
• The legal issue or problem must be clearly presented and properly explained and justified.
• The central idea of the article (the article's “thesis”), that is, the elements of reflection intended to address the research problem, must appear in the introduction.

2. Substantial Development of the Articles

• The Revista de Direito Internacional prioritizes articles that are more analytical and argumentative and less descriptive. Articles that merely describe the state of the art without presenting the author's own analysis are less likely to be approved.
• Authors should ensure that there is a clear line of reasoning connecting the different chapters or sections of the article. Articles containing disconnected or isolated sections are less likely to be approved.

Article Format

Articles should generally be submitted according to the following format:

• Article title: subtitle, if applicable.
• Abstract.
• Keywords: Xxxx. Xxxx. Xxxx.
• Textual elements: Introduction, development, and conclusion.
• Abstract in English: English translation of the article title.
• Keywords.
• References.

• Single line spacing.
• Typographical emphasis: italics.

Most Important General Instructions

• Do not include the author's name in the manuscript.
• Use footnote citations; do not use the author-date citation system.
• Do not use idem, ibidem, op. cit., or other Latin expressions.
• The article must contain a minimum of 15 pages and a maximum of 25 pages, including the reference list at the end.

Detailed Instructions

First Page

Begin with the title of the paper, followed by the text. Do not include the names of the authors or any other elements that may identify the authorship.

The authorship of the article and the authors' qualifications must be entered in the specific fields of the electronic submission form. The purpose is to ensure blind peer review.

Paper Title

The title should be brief and sufficiently specific and descriptive to represent the content of the text. It must also have an English translation.

Abstract

All submitted articles must include an informative abstract of no more than 250 words, with single line spacing.

The abstract must contain the following information:

1. Objective of the article (mandatory);
2. Methodology (mandatory);
3. Conclusions (mandatory);
4. Research limitations and their implications (if applicable);
5. Practical implications (if applicable);
6. Originality or value (mandatory).

Highlight at least three and no more than six keywords that represent the content of the text.

The abstract and keywords must also be provided in English.

Rules for Preparing a Good Abstract

Important: the quality of the abstract will influence the interest generated by the article. A well-prepared abstract increases the likelihood that the article will be read.

We have established a standard abstract structure to assist authors.

What Is an Abstract?

According to NBR 6028:2003, an abstract is a concise presentation of the relevant points of a text that should provide sufficient information for the reader to decide whether it is worthwhile to read the complete work.

Abstracts must be written as a single paragraph, consisting of a logical sequence of sentences rather than an enumeration of topics.

The first sentence should be significant and explain the main subject of the document. This should be followed by information about the category of the work (whether it is an article, review, revision, editorial, or case study).

Preference should be given to the third-person singular and to verbs in the active voice. Authors should avoid paragraphs, negative sentences, symbols and contractions that are not in common use, formulas, equations, diagrams, and similar elements.

The abstract must not exceed 250 words. It should appear before the main text in the original language and after the main text in the translated language, preferably English.

According to ABNT standards, the abstract should emphasize:

1. the objective;
2. the method;
3. the results; and
4. the conclusions of the work.

For the purposes of submitting academic papers to the Revista de Direito Internacional, the abstract must also include:

5. research limitations and their implications;
6. practical and social implications; and
7. the value and originality of the work.

Items 5 and 6 are optional, while item 7 is mandatory.

Elements of the Abstract

Objectives

These are the reasons for the work and the goal of the research: what the author intends to address.

Methods and Techniques of Approach

These are the procedures used to test the hypothesis of the study. They should be described concisely. However, authors should indicate whether new techniques were used, as well as the fundamental methodological principle and the sequence of operations.

Results

The abstract should highlight the emergence of new facts, significant findings, contradictions with previous theories, and new relationships and effects identified. It should also specify raw or derived numerical values, the results of one or more repeated observations, and the limits of precision and degrees of validity.

Conclusions

This section corresponds to the consequences of the results and the way in which they relate to the objectives proposed in the document. Conclusions should be expressed in terms of recommendations, applications, suggestions, new relationships, and hypotheses that have been accepted or rejected.

Results and conclusions may be combined to avoid redundancy, while maintaining a clear distinction between them.

Research Limitations and Their Implications

This section should identify the limitations of the research and include suggestions for future research on the subject.

Practical and Social Implications

When applicable, authors should indicate the practical and social results and implications arising from the work.

In this regard, authors should concisely indicate whether the academic research may have social, economic, or commercial impacts; whether it may have implications for public policies or trade policies; and whether it may affect the social or environmental responsibility of public or private actors.

Value and Originality

Authors should indicate whether the work is original, whom it is intended for, and its value, that is, the contribution of the work to its field of research.

Example

The objective of this article is to analyze the performance of the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization between 1995 and 2007, as well as to discuss the main proposals for its improvement. First, we present the legal predictability of the system, compliance with its procedural provisions, and the participation of different groups of states. The deadlines are compared with those that actually occurred in practice. Next, we analyze the effectiveness of the decisions and the need to induce compliance through retaliation. Finally, we discuss the main proposals for changing this system.

We conclude that most legal procedures are implemented as provided for by the DSB, but the system itself is highly dependent on the actions of states, which need time to negotiate. It can also be concluded that there is a high level of effectiveness and that states prefer to respect DSB decisions and maintain the legitimacy of the system as a whole rather than obtain advantages in specific matters.

When the WTO was created, there was an effort to establish a system guided by legal rules (rule-oriented). The DSB has made efforts to maintain a high level of legal predictability. However, it has become clear that this system remains highly limited by the traditional method of negotiation among states.

The implementation of a system guided by legal rules contributes to greater democratization of access to justice and, to a limited extent, to the consolidation of the principle of sovereign equality among states.

Finally, most of the proposed changes attempt to apply the logic of national courts to an international body, assuming a level of organization within the international community that does not yet exist. Other proposals suggest increasing the politicization of the system, which is also inappropriate.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements for assistance received in the preparation of the work should be mentioned at the end of the article.

Appendices

Appendices may be used for extensive lists, statistics, and other supporting elements.

Graphic Materials

Clear photographs and graphics that are strictly necessary for the clarity of the text may be accepted.

• Each photograph or graphic must be included in the manuscript.
• Each photograph or graphic must also be submitted as a separate file.
• If the submitted illustrations have already been published, the source and permission for reproduction must be indicated.

Tables

Tables must be accompanied by a heading that allows the meaning of the data presented to be understood without reference to the text.

In the manuscript, indicate by sequential number the locations where the tables should be inserted.

References

References must be prepared according to NBR 6023/2002 of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), presented in alphabetical order, and constitute a single list at the end of the article.

The accuracy and appropriateness of references to works consulted and cited in the article are the responsibility of the author.

Information originating from personal communications, works in progress, or unpublished works should not be included in the reference list, but should be indicated in a footnote.

Do not use the author-date citation system. The format used by the journal is the numerical system, in which the citation is indicated by a superscript number and the corresponding reference is provided in a footnote.

Book

Format:

SURNAME, Name. Title: subtitle (if applicable). Edition (if applicable). Place: publisher, year.

Example:

REALE, Miguel. Lições preliminares de direito civil. 5. ed. São Paulo: Saraiva, 1978.

Part of a Book

Format:

SURNAME, Name (author of the chapter). Title (of the chapter). In: SURNAME, Name (author of the book) (may be editor, compiler, etc.). Title (of the book). Edition (if applicable). Place: publisher, year. Pages (of the chapter).

Example:

SCHWARTZMAN, Simon. Como a universidade está se pensando? In: PEREIRA, Antonio Gomes (Org.). Para onde vai a universidade brasileira? Fortaleza: UFC, 1983. p. 29-45.

Journal Article

Format:

SURNAME, Name. Title (of the article). Title of the journal, place, volume, issue, pages (of the article), abbreviated month and year.

Example:

SAVIANI, Demerval; CARVALHO, Délton de. A universidade e a problemática da educação e cultura. Educação brasileira, Brasília, v. 1, n. 3, p. 35-58, maio/ago. 1979.

Electronic Document

Format:

SURNAME, Name. Title: subtitle (if applicable), year. Available at: [address]. Accessed: day abbreviated month year.

Example:

MELLO, Luiz Antonio. A onda maldita: como nasceu a Fluminense FM, 1995. Available at: [address]. Accessed: October 13, 1997.

Academic Work

Format:

SURNAME, Name. Title. year. number of pages. Type of work (Degree) – name of the course or graduate program, college or university, place, year of defense.

Example:

OTT, Margot Bertolucci. Tendências ideológicas no ensino de primeiro grau. 1983. 214 f. Tese (Doutorado) – Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação, Faculdade de Educação, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 1983.

Judicial Decisions and Legislation

Format:

JURISDICTION. Title (law number and date). Provide the original reference and, if possible, the link.

Important: do not cite standards or regulations in footnotes or in the reference list.

Use of Latin Expressions

Avoid using Latin expressions in the numerical citation system (Ibidem, Idem, Op. cit.). Repeat the complete reference.

Additional Information

The journal reserves the right to make normative, spelling, and grammatical changes to submitted manuscripts in order to maintain the standard of formal language, while respecting the authors' style.

It is important to indicate whether the research received funding.

Since 2009, we have considered it useful to provide some suggestions (not mandatory) to authors based on the main reasons for rejection of articles in previous years.

Open Access and Publication Costs

The Revista de Direito Internacional is freely accessible to users, whether readers or authors.

Publication in the journal does not involve any costs for readers; access to published articles is free of charge.