Reviewer Guidelines

Commitment to Double-Blind Peer Review

IAPSS Politikon is committed to the principle of double-blind peer review, ensuring author and reviewer anonymity and minimizing bias in the evaluation process.

Becoming a Reviewer

Serving as a reviewer for IAPSS Politikon is a valuable academic contribution that helps uphold high standards in Political Science publishing. Reviewers engage with new research while contributing professionally to the scholarly community.

Reviewer Database

To become a reviewer, please complete the application form.

Once you are accepted into the reviewer database, Editorial Board members will contact you with review requests for manuscripts in your area of specialization. The timing of your first request will depend on the topics of submitted manuscripts.

To be removed from the reviewer database, please email politikonjournal@iapss.org.

Submitting Your Review

Please complete the reviewer report form sent with the review request and return it by email. The form includes an assessment checklist, a recommendation, comments to the author, and an optional section for confidential comments to the editor. Use the comments section to explain your evaluation and to discuss the manuscript's strengths, weaknesses, and compliance with the submission guidelines.

You may also insert comments directly into the manuscript file using the comments or track changes function in your word processor, and return it with the completed form. The form itself is still required.

Confidentiality and Generative AI

Treat the manuscript as confidential. Do not upload the manuscript, or any part of it, to generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, as this breaches confidentiality and the authors' rights. The review report, including the comments to the author, must be written by you. If you recognize the work or its authors, please inform the editor.

Anonymizing Comments in Microsoft Word

On Windows:

  1. Go to the "File" menu and click "Options".
  2. In the "Word Options" dialog box, select "Trust Center".
  3. Click "Trust Center Settings".
  4. Choose "Privacy Options".
  5. Check "Remove personal information from file properties on save".
  6. Click "OK" to confirm and close the dialogs.

On Mac:

  1. Open the manuscript file in Microsoft Word.
  2. Click "Word" in the top menu and select "Preferences".
  3. Choose "Security" under "Personal Settings".
  4. Check "Remove personal information from this file on save".
  5. Click "OK" to save settings.

These steps help maintain reviewer anonymity in the double-blind review process.

Your Review

A strong review identifies the manuscript's weaknesses and offers constructive suggestions for improvement. If a manuscript shows promise but needs work, detailed and specific feedback can help the author bring it to publication quality.

In the review form, please select one of the following recommendations:

  • Accept: The manuscript meets all standards and is ready for publication as is.
  • Minor revisions: The manuscript is sound but needs minor adjustments. The editors check the revised version; it is not normally sent for another round of review.
  • Major revisions: The manuscript has potential but requires substantial changes. The revised version is sent for a second round of review.
  • Reject: The manuscript does not meet publication standards because of major flaws in methodology, originality, or presentation.

After You Submit Your Review

Once the process is complete, reviewers may request the anonymized comments of other reviewers for comparison. Your own anonymized review may also be shared with others involved in the review of the same manuscript.

You may be invited to review a revised version of a manuscript you previously evaluated. The review form asks whether you are willing to do so; you are free to accept or decline without any effect on your reviewer status.

Thank You

We sincerely appreciate your time and contribution to the peer review process. Your thoughtful feedback is vital to maintaining the standards of IAPSS Politikon.