^aVrije Universiteit Brussel, Vakgroep Politieke Wetenschappen, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: kris.deschouwer@vub.ac.be

Abstract

Editing a journal like the European Journal of Political Research means in the first place the organisation of a constant reviewing process. Finding referees and making sure that they provide useful reports is needed for making wise decisions. Double-blind refereeing is indeed the generally accepted procedure for selecting publishable articles. This blind refereeing process is also believed to be the best way to select high-quality manuscripts. It is a sacred ritual. Yet the real life of refereeing can sometimes be quite messy and is not at all free from biases. It tends to be a fairly conservative selection process.