Peer Review Process

Malikussaleh Social and Political Reviews (MSPR) maintains the highest standards of editorial integrity through a rigorous double-blind peer review process. This ensures that the quality of published research remains objective, unbiased, and academically sound.

1. Initial Editorial Assessment (Desk Review)

Every submission undergoes a preliminary screening by the Editorial Board. At this stage, manuscripts are evaluated for:

  • Originality and adherence to the journal's Aims and Scope.

  • Compliance with Author Guidelines and formatting requirements.

  • Language proficiency (English) and technical quality.

  • Plagiarism detection (using Turnitin or similar tools).

Manuscripts that do not meet the basic criteria or contain significant overlaps with existing literature will be desk rejected without further review.

2. Double-Blind Review Process

Submissions that pass the initial screening are assigned to a minimum of two (2) independent subject-matter experts.

  • Anonymity: The identity of both the authors and the reviewers remains concealed throughout the process. Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are de-identified before submission.

  • Selection of Reviewers: Reviewers are selected based on their expertise, publication record, and lack of conflict of interest with the research or authors.

3. Reviewer Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers are requested to evaluate the manuscript based on:

  • Significance: Does the work contribute new knowledge to social and political sciences?

  • Methodology: Is the research design robust and the data analysis accurate?

  • Clarity: Is the argument logical and the manuscript well-written?

  • Ethical Standards: Does the study adhere to international ethical guidelines?

4. Editorial Decision

Based on the reviewers' recommendations, the Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor will make one of the following decisions:

  1. Accept: The manuscript is ready for publication without further changes.

  2. Minor Revision: The author must address small points of clarification or formatting.

  3. Major Revision: The manuscript requires significant structural or theoretical changes and may undergo a second round of review.

  4. Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication in MSPR.

5. Review Timeline and Confidentiality

  • Timeline: Reviewers are typically asked to submit their reports within four (4) weeks. MSPR is committed to a timely review process, although securing specialized experts may occasionally extend the duration.

  • Confidentiality: All manuscripts are treated as privileged documents. Reviewers and editorial staff are prohibited from sharing, citing, or using the data from unpublished manuscripts.

6. Conflict of Interest

Editors and reviewers must recuse themselves from the review process if they have a financial, personal, or professional conflict of interest regarding the manuscript. Authors are also required to declare any potential conflicts upon submission.