Peer Review

Balkanistic Worlds uses a double-blind peer review system. The identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the review process.

1. Initial Editorial Assessment

All submitted manuscripts are first assessed by the editorial team for:

  • relevance to the journal’s aims and scope;

  • academic quality and originality;

  • compliance with the journal’s Author Guidelines;

  • ethical and publication-integrity requirements.

Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be rejected before external peer review.

2. External Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial assessment are reviewed by at least two independent experts with relevant subject expertise.

Reviewers evaluate, where applicable:

  • originality and scholarly contribution;

  • relevance to the field;

  • methodological soundness;

  • quality of analysis and argumentation;

  • use of evidence and sources;

  • clarity and organization;

  • adequacy of references.

Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and disclose any potential conflict of interest.

3. Editorial Decisions

Based on the reviewers’ reports and the editorial assessment, the following decisions may be made:

  • Accept

  • Minor Revision

  • Major Revision

  • Reject

When revisions are requested, authors should normally submit the revised manuscript within 30 days, together with a point-by-point response to the reviewers’ comments.

4. Review Period

The average peer-review period is 4–8 weeks. The actual duration may vary depending on reviewer availability, manuscript complexity, and the need for additional review.

5. Final Decision

The final decision on publication is made by the Editor-in-Chief, taking into account the reviewers’ reports and, where appropriate, the recommendation of the Editorial Board.

All editorial decisions are based on academic and ethical considerations and are independent of commercial or other external interests.

6. Confidentiality

Manuscripts submitted to the journal are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers and editors must not disclose, use, or share unpublished manuscript content outside the review process.