Academic quality and international visibility

Security and Defence Quarterly is an international peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the War Studies University. Due to the interdisciplinary character of contemporary security challenges, Security and Defence Quarterly publishes research situated within security studies, security engineering, political science and public administration, international relations, law, sociology, management and quality studies, as well as media and communication studies. The journal regularly publishes articles examining political decision-making, legal aspects of security and cyber governance, social dimensions of resilience and conflict, strategic and media communication, organisational management in crisis situations, and international security dynamics. The interdisciplinary profile reflects both the thematic scope of submitted manuscripts and the evolving nature of contemporary security research, which increasingly integrates social sciences, legal studies, communication research, management studies, and international relations perspectives.

International visibility and scholarly impact

The journal demonstrates growing international scholarly visibility reflected in citation metrics, international indexing, and global academic collaboration. Articles published in Security and Defence Quarterly have received 537 citations indexed in Scopus (as of May 2026), indicating sustained academic impact and increasing recognition within the international scientific community.

Security and Defence Quarterly is indexed and abstracted in recognised international databases and bibliographic systems, including: European Reference Index for the Humanities and Social Sciences (ERIH+), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), EBSCO, Index Copernicus International, Semantic Scholar, CEJSH, BazHum, Polish Scientific Bibliography (PBN) and other databases. The journal is also archived in the Portico digital preservation system, which ensures long-term accessibility and preservation of published scientific content.

Editorial quality and scientific standards

Security and Defence Quarterly applies rigorous editorial and ethical standards consistent with international academic publishing practices. All submitted manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process involving both Polish and international reviewers. In 2025, 70.9% of reviewers represented international academic institutions. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least one reviewer affiliated with a foreign research institution. The journal cooperates with recognised scholars and experts representing universities, defence institutions, and research centres from different regions of the world. The full list of reviewers is available in the Reviewers section: here.

In 2025, 67% of submitted manuscripts were rejected following editorial assessment and peer review, which reflects the journal’s high selectivity and commitment to scientific quality.

The journal follows internationally recognised publication ethics standards and is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics. Editorial procedures include plagiarism screening, independent peer review, conflict-of-interest policies, and transparent editorial guidelines.

Internationalisation

Security and Defence Quarterly has achieved a high level of internationalisation. In 2025, 82.9% of published articles were authored by researchers affiliated with foreign institutions, compared to 69% in 2024. The journal’s international scientific profile is further strengthened by its highly internationalised review and editorial structure. In 2025, 70.9% of reviewers represented foreign academic institutions, while 92% of members of the Scientific Board were affiliated with international universities and research centres. The full composition of the Scientific Board is available here: here.

Contribution to Polish and international scholarship

Alongside internationally recognised researchers, the journal regularly publishes articles authored by scholars affiliated with Polish universities and research institutions, thereby actively contributing to the promotion of Polish scientific achievements and analytical thought within the international academic environment. The journal supports the dissemination of Polish research representing not only security studies and defence-related disciplines, but also political science and public administration, international relations, law, sociology, management and quality studies, as well as media and communication studies. Through its interdisciplinary profile, the journal promotes research addressing issues important to Polish security, governance, public communication, social resilience, and technological development, strengthening the international visibility of Polish scholarship across multiple scientific disciplines.