Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to LOKANUSA undergo a structured editorial and peer-review process designed to ensure academic quality, originality, relevance, methodological rigor, and ethical compliance.

Initial Editorial Screening

After submission, the editorial team conducts an initial assessment to determine whether the manuscript fits the aims and scope of the journal and complies with basic manuscript requirements.

Manuscripts that fall outside the journal's scope, fail to meet minimum academic standards, contain serious ethical concerns, or substantially violate the author guidelines may be rejected without external review.

Similarity Screening

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial screening may undergo similarity checking using appropriate plagiarism-detection software.

Reviewer Assignment

Eligible manuscripts are assigned to reviewers with expertise relevant to the subject, theoretical framework, methodology, or research context of the manuscript.

LOKANUSA applies a double-blind peer-review process, meaning that the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other during the review process.

Normally, manuscripts are evaluated by at least two reviewers where possible.

Review Criteria

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on originality, relevance, theoretical contribution, methodological appropriateness, quality of data and analysis, coherence of arguments, clarity of presentation, engagement with relevant literature, and contribution to local administration, governance, public policy, or regional development.

Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer reports and editorial assessment, the manuscript may receive one of the following decisions:

Accept Submission
The manuscript is accepted with no or only minor editorial adjustments.

Revisions Required
The manuscript requires limited revision before further consideration.

Resubmit for Review
Substantial revision is required and the manuscript may undergo another round of peer review.

Decline Submission
The manuscript does not meet the journal's academic, methodological, ethical, or scope requirements.

Revision

Authors receiving revision requests must respond systematically to reviewer and editor comments.

A revised manuscript should normally be accompanied by a response explaining how each comment has been addressed or providing a scholarly justification when a suggestion has not been adopted.

Final Decision

The Editor-in-Chief or authorized editor makes the final publication decision after considering reviewer recommendations, author revisions, ethical requirements, and the overall academic quality of the manuscript.

The journal does not guarantee acceptance solely because authors have completed the requested revisions.