The art and politics of peer review

Peer reviewed manuscripts contain a certain level of merit, as they have survived the scrutiny of reviewers who possess some expertise in the relevant area. This article discusses the purpose of reviewing manuscripts for publication in scholarly journals. Various aspects and issues of the peer review process are described, including reviewer responsibilities. Criticisms and concerns associated with the current peer review system are addressed, as well as guidelines for reviewing manuscripts. Finally, recommendations for improving the peer review process are provided