The Journal of History, Politics and Strategy has been published by the School of History, Politics and Strategy at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) since 1971. Since then, it has grown to become an established name in Malaysian academic publishing with an editorial team of international scholars. It has gone through several changes, most notably in 2007, when the Editorial Board and School management introduced an e-journal version under the concept of free and open access. Hard copies continue to be printed subject to demand. In 2010, the journal underwent a major review. The cover was redesigned, and the content was reformatted and made more accessible for the reader. The changes were part of an on-going process of scrutiny by the editorial board to review, develop and improve the quality of the journal.

In 2012, the journal passed through another round of scrutiny by a new editorial team, and a decision was made to drop ‘Malaysian’ from the title. This decision reflected the scope of the journal’s content which covers the Asia-Pacific region more broadly. As the Journal of History, Politics, and Strategy (JHPS) the new title more accurately reflects the broad aims of the mission statement and the interests of the international editorial team. The journal continues to publish high quality scholarship on a range of Asian and global interests.

The inclusion of the name `Jebat` in the title is a reference to the legendary Hang Jebat, friend and confident of the Malay hero Hang Tuah. Believing his friend murdered by the Sultan of Malacca, Hang Jebat ousted the Sultan from his palace as revenge. Discovering that Hang Tuah was still alive, the Sultan ordered him to kill Jebat. Loyal to authority, Hang Tuah went to the palace and fought Hang Jebat: who had turned to a life of debauchery after taking the throne. The battle lasted seven days and Jebat died of his wounds in his friend`s arms.