Journal of Political Issues implements a rigorous peer review process to ensure the quality, originality, and academic integrity of all published manuscripts. The journal applies a double-blind peer review system in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial screening (desk review) conducted by the Board of Editors. At this stage, the manuscript is evaluated for its conformity with the journal’s focus and scope, adherence to author guidelines, and overall academic quality. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected or returned to the authors for preliminary revision before proceeding to the peer review stage.

Manuscripts that pass the desk review are assigned to at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise in the subject area. Reviewers are selected based on their academic qualifications, publication record, and subject-matter relevance. The editorial team ensures that there is no conflict of interest between reviewers and authors prior to the review assignment.

The review process is conducted confidentially. Reviewers are expected to evaluate the manuscript objectively and provide constructive feedback to improve the quality of the work. All review materials are treated as confidential documents and must not be used for personal advantage.

Reviewers provide one of the following recommendations:

1. Accepted, indicating that the manuscript is suitable for publication without revision;
2. Accepted with minor revisions, indicating that the manuscript requires limited improvements;
3. Accepted with major revisions, indicating that substantial revisions are necessary;
4. Rejected, indicating that the manuscript is not suitable for publication.

The editorial decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief based on the reviewers recommendations and the overall academic merit of the manuscript. The Editor-in-Chief retains full responsibility for the final decision and ensures that the process is fair, unbiased, and based solely on scholarly considerations.

Manuscripts requiring revision are returned to the authors along with reviewers comments. Authors are expected to revise their manuscripts within the specified timeframe and provide a clear response to each reviewer comment. Revised manuscripts may be subject to further evaluation before a final decision is made.

Once a manuscript is accepted, it proceeds to the production stage, where it undergoes proofreading to ensure clarity, accuracy, and linguistic quality. The final version of the manuscript is then sent to the author for confirmation. At this stage, only minor typographical corrections are allowed. After author approval, the manuscript is processed for publication and made available online.