About the Journal

Summary

About the Journal

Conversas e Controvérsias is a journal of the Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and the Graduate Program in Sociology and Political Science at PUCRS, published under the direction of Edipucrs. Focused on student scientific production, the journal publishes original articles in Social Sciences, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, and International Relations authored by researchers, including those in training (undergraduate and graduate students), who contribute to the theoretical, methodological, and empirical advancement of these fields.

Brief History of the Journal

The journal was created by undergraduate students and professors from the Department of Social Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Its first issue was published in March 1999 in print format. Beginning in 2010, the journal started circulating in digital format.

In 2016, through an initiative led by students from the PUCRS Graduate Program in Social Sciences, the journal entered a new phase, expanding its audience to include graduate studies while remaining a collective project involving faculty members, undergraduate students, and graduate students. Since 2016, the journal has been published exclusively in digital format in order to democratize access. With the aim of representing a space for academic dialogue, it offers three sections: Thematic Dossier, Articles, and Reviews. Starting in 2017, professors and researchers from other institutions began participating as external collaborators, editorial board members, and organizers of thematic dossiers. In 2021, with the creation of the PUCRS Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, the journal incorporated international themes into its scope. In 2023, the PUCRS Graduate Program in Social Sciences was repositioned as the Graduate Program in Sociology and Political Science.

Mission

The journal’s mission is to publish original academic works related to the fields of Social Sciences, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, and International Relations, authored by researchers, including those in training (undergraduate and graduate students), who contribute to the theoretical, methodological, and empirical advancement of these fields.

Focus and Scope

The focus of Conversas e Controvérsias is to encourage scientific research among undergraduate and graduate students, especially in the fields of Social Sciences, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, and International Relations. Its objective is to provide researchers in training with a learning space through qualified peer dialogue fostered by blind-reviewed academic journals. The journal publishes original articles and reviews of works in the field.

Peer Review Process

Submitted texts undergo an initial evaluation by the editorial team, which may request corrections and additions. Texts that do not fit within the journal’s scope, fail to meet mandatory requirements, or are not adequately revised within the deadline will be archived. Once the submission’s admissibility is confirmed, expert reviewers in the subject area are invited to provide evaluations that support the editors, who retain the final decision. Publication of papers is conditional upon compliance with the reviewers’ recommendations. The evaluation considers the originality of the topic approach, the consistency and rigor of the methodology, the contribution of the work, and its alignment with the journal’s thematic line. The review system is double blind: the reviewers’ names remain confidential, as do the authors’ names in relation to the reviewers. Reviewers are expected to provide objective evaluations. In cases of conflict of interest or difficulty in forming an unbiased judgment, reviewers should contact the editors. Reviewers are also expected to indicate relevant literature if it has not been included in the text. The manuscript and all information made available during the review process must be treated confidentially and may not be used for any other purpose.

Publication Frequency

Continuous Flow

Open Access Policy

This journal provides open access to all its content, following the principle that making scientific research freely available promotes a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Preprints

This journal adopts the principles of Open Science, aligning itself with contemporary practices that promote transparency, accessibility, and the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

The journal accepts for evaluation manuscripts that have already been made available on a reliable, non-commercial preprint server, such as SciELO Preprints, provided they are not simultaneously under peer review by another journal. The corresponding author must indicate at the time of submission whether the text is available on a preprint server and provide the respective DOI.

Research Data

The journal Conversas & Controvérsias suggests that authors deposit their research data in institutional or thematic repositories, such as CIS Social Information Consortium. If the research reused data, authors are requested to cite the research data and include it in the cover sheet file.

Principles of Ethics and Best Practices in Academic Publishing

Authorship

Authors are the original rights holders and are responsible for the originality and authorship of their work. The publisher shall not be held civilly or criminally liable for any plagiarism or inappropriate content.

Originality and Novelty

By submitting the manuscript, authors guarantee that the work has not been previously published nor is it under consideration by another journal. Literal copies of previously published excerpts are not acceptable, except in exceptional cases in the form of quotations. Illustrations and graphics from other sources must be properly credited or accompanied by permission from the copyright holders, when applicable.

Policy on Scientific Publication Misconduct

To promote research integrity, strengthen transparency in the process, and ensure ethical publication standards, all material submitted to and published in Conversas & Controvérsias must comply with the Guide to Good Practices for Strengthening Ethics in Scientific Publication and the Open Science Compliance Form.

Regarding the retraction policy, in cases of misconduct Conversas & Controvérsias follows the guidelines adopted by the SciELO platform, according to the Guide to Good Practices and the Guide for the Registration and Publication of Retractions. Retractions will only be published after review and authorization by the editorial board.

Conflict of Interest

Conversas & Controvérsias requires all authors, editors, and reviewers to disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that may influence — or be perceived as influencing — the reader’s interpretation of the article. Perceived conflicts of interest are as relevant as actual conflicts. Whenever there is any relationship between authors and public or private organizations that may generate a conflict of interest, this information must be disclosed and specified in the article. If there are no conflicts of interest, this must also be explicitly stated.

Ethics Committee

The journal Conversas & Controvérsias is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows its principles of ethics, transparency, and integrity in publishing.

Instructions for Complaints and Appeals

Complaints against the journal or its staff should initially be directed to one of the two editors-in-chief. As appropriate, they will conduct an internal investigation. If necessary, they may request additional assistance from the Editorial Board. The investigation must be carried out promptly and transparently.

Errata

With regard to the registration and publication of Errata (for correction, inclusion, or exclusion of information) and Retractions (total or partial), the guidelines adopted by the SciELO platform in its official documents will be followed.

Similarity Check

The journal uses Turnitin Originality software to verify manuscript similarity. All manuscripts are analyzed during the initial submission stage before being sent for review.

Confidentiality

The text submitted for evaluation is a document and will be protected from any form of exploitation.

Indexers, Directories, and Repositories

Other Information

Policy on Submission Fees and Article Processing Charges (APCs)

This journal does not charge publication fees.

Thematic Coverage Coded According to CNPq Classification, Identifying First and Second Levels

  • Main Area: Social Sciences
  • Qualis: B3
  • Period: 2017-2020