Guidelines for Reviewers

The CLRS Journal of Global Justice & Governance (ISSN: 3049-1940) is a diamond open-access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing legal scholarship in global justice and global governance. Peer reviewers are essential to maintaining the quality, rigor, and ethical standards of our publications. These guidelines, aligned with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) topics—particularly Peer Review, Ethical Oversight, Conflicts of Interest, and Allegations of Misconduct—outline the responsibilities, ethical expectations, and procedures for reviewers contributing to our double-blind peer review process.

1. Role of Reviewers

Reviewers serve as independent experts who:

  • Evaluate the academic quality, originality, and relevance of manuscripts to global justice and global governance.
  • Provide constructive, unbiased feedback to authors to enhance their work.
  • Assist editors in making informed publication decisions (accept, revise, reject).

2. Responsibilities

  • Objective Assessment: Review manuscripts based on their intellectual merit, legal accuracy, and alignment with the journal’s Aims & Scope, without regard to the authors’ identity, affiliation, or background.
  • Constructive Feedback: Offer detailed, respectful, and actionable comments to support authors, balancing critique with encouragement.
  • Timeliness: Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe (typically 3-4 weeks from acceptance of the invitation). Notify the handling editor immediately if delays are anticipated.
  • Thoroughness: Assess all aspects of the manuscript, including argument coherence, evidence quality, and contribution to scholarship.

3. Ethical Standards

  • Confidentiality:
    • Treat manuscripts as confidential documents. Do not share, discuss, or use the content for personal purposes before publication.
    • Maintain the anonymity of the double-blind process by not attempting to identify authors or disclose your identity in reviews.
  • Conflicts of Interest:
    • Decline to review if you have a personal, professional, or financial relationship with the author(s) or subject matter that could bias your judgment (e.g., co-authorship, institutional ties).
    • Disclose any potential conflicts to the editor immediately upon invitation.
  • Ethical Oversight:
    • Ensure the manuscript adheres to research ethics (e.g., accurate legal citations, no misrepresentation), as outlined in our Research Ethics policy.
    • Report any suspected ethical issues (e.g., plagiarism, falsification) to the editor without investigating independently.
  • Fairness: Provide impartial reviews, free from bias or prejudice, reflecting the journal’s commitment to global justice.

4. Review Process

4.1 Invitation and Acceptance
  • Upon receiving a review invitation via email or the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform, confirm your availability and expertise within 5 business days.
  • Decline if the manuscript falls outside your area of expertise or if a conflict of interest exists.
4.2 Evaluation Criteria

Assess the manuscript based on:

  • Relevance: Does it contribute meaningfully to global justice or global governance scholarship?
  • Originality: Does it offer new insights or perspectives within international law?
  • Clarity: Are the arguments well-structured, coherent, and accessible?
  • Evidence: Are claims supported by credible, accurately cited legal sources (e.g., cases, treaties)?
  • Rigor: Is the methodology or analysis sound and appropriate?
  • Impact: Does it advance academic or practical discourse in the field?
4.3 Writing the Review
  • Structure:
    • Provide a summary of the manuscript’s key points to demonstrate understanding.
    • Offer specific strengths (e.g., “The analysis of ICC jurisdiction is thorough and well-supported”).
    • Detail weaknesses with examples (e.g., “The discussion on climate law lacks recent case law from 2023”).
    • Suggest improvements (e.g., “Incorporate X treaty to strengthen the argument”).
  • Tone: Be professional, constructive, and respectful, even when recommending rejection.
  • Recommendation: Select one of the following, supported by your comments:
    • Accept (no revisions needed).
    • Minor Revisions (small clarifications or edits).
    • Major Revisions (significant changes required).
    • Reject (fundamental flaws or lack of fit with the journal).
4.4 Submission
  • Submit your review via the OJS platform or as instructed by the editor, including:
    • Confidential comments to the editor (e.g., ethical concerns).
    • Comments for the author (anonymized feedback).

5. Handling COPE Topics

  • Allegations of Misconduct: If you suspect plagiarism, falsification, or redundant publication, notify the editor with evidence (e.g., “This section mirrors X article”). Do not contact the author directly.
  • Authorship and Contributorship: Flag any concerns about authorship (e.g., unusually large author list without clear roles) to the editor, referencing our Authorship Policy.
  • Intellectual Property Issues: Report potential copyright violations (e.g., uncredited reproduction of text) to the editor.
  • Post-publication Review: If reviewing a published article raises concerns, follow our Retractions & Corrections policy to escalate issues.

6. Recognition and Support

  • Acknowledgment: With your consent, your contribution may be recognized in an annual editorial note (anonymously or by name).
  • Resources: Consult our Peer Review Policy, Aims & Scope, and Research Ethics pages for context. For complex cases, refer to COPE’s reviewer flowcharts (available at copepublicationethics.org).
  • Support: Contact the handling editor or Editor-in-Chief for clarification during the review process.

7. Contact

For questions or assistance:
Email: editor.jgjg@academyclrs.org
Subject Line: “Reviewer Query”

8. Commitment to Excellence

By adhering to these guidelines, reviewers uphold the journal’s mission to foster rigorous, ethical scholarship that advances global justice and global governance. Your expertise ensures our publications remain a trusted resource for the global legal community.