Peer Review

International Civic Engagement Studies (ICES) is a single-blind peer-reviewed journal. To maintain the integrity and objectivity of the peer review process, all efforts are made to prevent the identities of the reviewers from being disclosed to the authors, while reviewers may have access to author information. This protocol applies to all parties involved, including authors, editors, and reviewers.

Once a manuscript is submitted, it undergoes an initial editorial screening to assess its relevance to the journal’s Focus and Scope, compliance with submission guidelines, and basic academic standards. Only manuscripts that pass this screening will proceed to the full peer-review stage.

At the peer-review stage, the manuscript is evaluated by at least one or more reviewers who are selected based on their expertise, academic reputation, and prior experience with the journal. The reviewers are given the authority to decline the review if the manuscript falls outside their field of competence.

Reviewers are expected to assess the manuscript critically and constructively, providing clear arguments for their evaluation—whether favorable or critical. Review content and all related correspondence are strictly confidential and must be treated as such by all reviewers and editorial staff.

Editors or members of the editorial board make the final decision to accept, reject, or request revisions based on the reviewers’ recommendations. A manuscript must demonstrate a meaningful contribution to the field of civic engagement, social education, or related interdisciplinary studies to be considered for publication.

ICES is committed to ensuring timely editorial decisions and upholding the quality of scholarly communication. Reviewers are generally given a deadline of two to three weeks to complete their review. Should delays occur, reviewers are expected to inform the editorial team promptly, allowing alternative arrangements to be made to avoid undue delays for the authors.

The full peer review process—including editorial screening, reviewer evaluation, and final decision—is estimated to take up to eight weeks from the date of initial submission.

For any questions, concerns, or clarifications regarding the peer-review process or editorial policies of International Civic Engagement Studies, please contact the editorial office directly.