The journal Historie – Otázky – Problémy (HOP), published by the Institute of History at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, Czechia, provides a publication platform for publishing research in the historical and interdisciplinary humanities (understood broadly) with a special focus on the history of the Czech lands, Czechoslovakia and Central Europe. Every manuscript submitted to the journal is considered for publication. First, its appropriate content and form (see the General instructions for authors of papers) are checked by the editors and then it undergoes a double-blind peer review process: each manuscript is treated as confidential, and both peer-reviewers’ and authors’ identities are protected. Manuscripts submitted to the journal are evaluated solely on their intellectual content, with no discrimination on grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship or political views (see Publication ethics and malpractice statement) and are accepted based on their importance, originality and clarity as well as their relevance to the journal’s academic aims and standards.
Procedure
Stage 1: Manuscripts are evaluated by the journal’s editor-in-chief as well as the guest editor(s) of the thematic issue. If they fail to meet the journal’s academic standards or do not comply with its formal requirements specified in the General instructions for authors of papers, they are returned to authors either for revision and resubmission, or rejected with the reasons for rejection provided to the authors. The editors may check manuscripts for plagiarism using Charles University’s tools.
Stage 2: Anonymized manuscripts are evaluated by two peer-reviewers selected from among the specialists in the field affiliated with internationally recognized universities or other research institutions. Peer-reviewers’ identities are never disclosed to either authors or readers. If the two peer-reviewers differ substantially in their evaluations, one further reviewer is invited to evaluate the manuscript. Evaluation results are anonymized and communicated to authors, who are asked to implement the changes required. Editors ensure the process is efficient and the changes adequate and, if in doubt, may consult peer-reviewers. Submissions rated as unpublishable even after substantial rewriting are rejected. Editors accept or reject manuscripts based on peer-reviewers’ recommendations.
Peer-reviewers should strive as much as they can to improve the quality of manuscripts by evaluating them carefully, objectively and in a timely manner. Editors or the editorial board select peer-reviewers and ensure that disagreements/objections/appeals are handled correctly. The editorial board (especially guest editors in charge of particular journal issues) is responsible for selecting papers, reviews and other texts to be published in the journal and ensuring that the formal standards of the journal are adhered to. Authors may appeal against editorial decisions to the editorial board.
