REVIEW PROCESS FOR ARTICLES

Desk review

All submissions are initially reviewed for conformity to the guidelines discussed in preparing your materials. Non-conforming submissions will be returned to the author without further review, as will manuscripts that do not meet JLR’s editorial standards or are outside the scope of JLR. At this stage, submissions are also reviewed for similarity with other published and unpublished manuscripts using Crossref similarity check powered by iThenticate.

Editorial review

Conforming manuscripts are reviewed by at least one co-editor with subject matter expertise for (1) its fit with JLR’s editorial priorities, (2) the substance of the research and argument, and (3) scholarly quality. Following editorial review, the manuscript may be (1) rejected, (2) rejected with recommendations for revision and the opportunity to resubmit, or (3) sent for external review. Editorial review is conducted with single anonymity. The author’s identity is available to the editor(s), but the editorial reviewer(s) will not be disclosed to the author.

Some solicited articles may bypass editorial review and be sent directly for external review.

External Review

Manuscripts recommended for external review are reviewed double-anonymously by experts on the subject matter of the manuscript. External reviewers are asked to provide feedback on the scholarly contribution, demonstrated knowledge of the subject and sourcing, and quality of argument and analysis. JLR seeks a minimum of two external reviewer reports and may seek additional reviewer reports when necessary to fully evaluate a manuscript.

Decision

All externally reviewed manuscripts are presented to the editorial board (comprised of the journal’s co-editors), who review the external reviewer reports and decide on publication. The final decision may be (1) publish, (2) accept with minor revisions, (3) accept with major revisions, (4) revise and resubmit, or (5) reject.

Description of decisions

Publish: The article is ready to be immediately queued for production.

Accept with minor revisions: The manuscript is returned to the author for small revisions such as limited additions to the citations, minor corrections of fact, copyediting, reworking of short sections of the manuscript, or conformity to JLR style. If revisions are made and the manuscript conforms to JLR style, a publish decision will follow.

Accept with major revisions: The manuscript is returned to the author for significant revisions such as a sizable expansion of the bibliography, structural changes, reworking of large sections, or additions of significant new material. If revisions are made and the revised manuscript conforms to JLR style, a publish decision will follow.

Revise and resubmit: The manuscript is returned to the author for thorough revisions following the guidance of the external peer reviewers and/or editors. Resubmitted manuscripts will be sent for another round of external review once received. When possible, revised manuscripts are sent to the original reviewers for further consideration.

Reject: The journal declines to publish the manuscript, and a revised draft will not be considered.

Timelines

It is JLR’s goal to conclude editorial review within 60 days of submission and to make a final decision on all article manuscripts within 120 days of submission. We cannot, however, guarantee review consistent with these timelines in all cases.

REVIEW PROCESS FOR ESSAYS, REVIEW ESSAYS, AND BOOK REVIEWS

Reviews, review essays, and book reviews are not reviewed externally. See below for the review process for each type of manuscript.

Essays

Essays are reviewed by at least one co-editor with subject matter expertise who makes a recommendation on publication in consultation with the executive editor. This recommendation is then reviewed by the editorial board before being finalized. The final decision may be (1) publish, (2) accept with minor revisions, (3) accept with major revisions, (4) revise and resubmit, (5) reject. For a description of decisions, see above.

Review essays

Review essays are reviewed by the symposium and book review editor in consultation with the executive editor, with input from co-editors as needed. Following review, review essays may be accepted for publication with or without revisions, returned for revision before a final decision is made, or rejected.

Book reviews

Book reviews are reviewed by the book review editor and/or the executive editor, with input from co-editors as needed. Following review, book reviews may be accepted for publication with or without revisions, returned for revision before a final decision is made, or rejected.

Timelines

It is JLR’s goal to make a decision on all essay, review essay, and book review manuscripts within 60 days of submission, but a 60-day decision cannot be guaranteed.

APPEALS

To appeal an editorial decision, please contact the Executive Editor, silas.allard@emory.edu, and specify the reason for your appeal. Appeals of editorial decisions will only be considered if they refer to a specific manuscript and must be based on evidence that either (1) an editor or reviewer made a significant factual error/a major misunderstanding of a manuscript, or (2) the integrity of the editorial decision making process was compromised. Your appeal will be reviewed by the editorial board (comprised of the co-editors), who will make a final decision.