Peer Review Process
The Anatolian Journal of Politics and International Relations (AJPIR) operates a rigorous, transparent, and impartial double-blind peer review process designed to ensure the highest standards of academic quality and scholarly integrity. All submitted manuscripts are evaluated exclusively on the basis of their originality, theoretical contribution, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal’s aims and scope.
Initial Editorial Screening
Upon submission, manuscripts undergo an initial evaluation by the editorial team. At this stage, submissions are assessed for scope alignment, academic quality, structural coherence, and compliance with the journal’s formatting and ethical requirements. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be desk rejected without external review.
Double-Blind Peer Review
Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to at least two independent expert reviewers under a strict double-blind review system, in which neither the authors nor the reviewers are aware of each other’s identities. Reviewers are selected based on their subject-matter expertise and are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations.
Evaluation Criteria
Reviewers assess submissions according to the following core criteria:
- originality and contribution to the literature
- theoretical and conceptual clarity
- methodological soundness
- quality and relevance of evidence
- coherence and structure of argumentation
- engagement with existing scholarship
Editorial Decision
Based on the reviewers’ reports, the editorial team makes one of the following decisions:
- acceptance
- minor revision
- major revision
- rejection
In cases where reviewer reports are contradictory or insufficient, the editors may request additional evaluations. The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board.
Revision and Resubmission
Authors receiving revision requests are expected to submit a revised manuscript along with a detailed response to reviewers, explaining how each comment has been addressed. Revised submissions may be sent for further review when necessary.
Confidentiality and Ethical Standards
All manuscripts and review reports are treated as strictly confidential documents. Reviewers and editors are required to adhere to internationally recognized publication ethics standards, ensuring impartiality, confidentiality, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest throughout the review process.
Through this structured peer review system, AJPIR aims to maintain a fair, efficient, and high-quality editorial process, contributing to the advancement of scholarly research in political science and international relations.
