The journal accepts only original, primary research articles that have not been previously published in any print or online forum. Secondary publication is not permitted in Slavica issues. Manuscripts submitted to the journal’s OJS platform are evaluated by the editorial board using a double-blind peer review system based on standardized criteria (see Peer Review Evaluation Form).

Review process

• Manuscript submission – the corresponding author submits the manuscript electronically to the journal through the online editorial system.
• Editorial evaluation – the section editors check the manuscript’s formatting and layout in accordance with the Instructions for Authors.
• The Editor-in-Chief examines whether the manuscript is suitable for the journal and whether it is sufficiently original and interesting. If not, the manuscript may be rejected without peer review.
• Invitation of reviewers – in consultation with the section editor, the Editor-in-Chief appoints at least two reviewers to evaluate the manuscript under a double-blind peer review process.
• Responses to review invitations – potential reviewers consider the invitation in light of their expertise, possible conflicts of interest, and availability. They then evaluate the article using the review form and recommend acceptance or rejection by scoring the manuscript. Rejection may occur if the work receives 0 or 1 point for any of the evaluation criteria, if the total score does not reach 60% of the maximum 40 points (24 points), or if the submitted manuscript does not meet the formal requirements. After receiving the review forms, the Editor-in-Chief may invite additional reviewers if the scores given by the two reviewers differ significantly, by more than 10 points.
• Decision-making – the Editor-in-Chief decides on the publication of the article based on the peer reviews, the scientific significance of the manuscript, and the recommendations of the reviewers and members of the editorial board.
• The Editor-in-Chief informs the author of the decision and attaches the results of the peer review.

After approval of the final version, the Editor-in-Chief concludes a publishing agreement with the authors (see Contract Template). The signed agreements are retained by the Editor-in-Chief. Deadline for submission of contracts: June 30.

Section editors determine the final order of articles within each section, and the technical editor performs typesetting and compiles the individual articles into a complete volume. Deadline: August 1.

The first proofreading of the typeset sections is carried out by the section editors, while the final proofreading of the entire volume is performed by the Editor-in-Chief, who also approves its publication on the OJS 3.4 platform. Deadline: August 15.

Regulation on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies in Manuscript Preparation

For Authors

Authors preparing manuscripts for Slavica may use generative artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence-assisted technologies as supportive tools. However, these tools must never be used as substitutes for human critical thinking, expertise, and evaluation. AI tools must always be applied under human supervision and control.

Authors are responsible and accountable for the content of their work. This includes accountability for the following:

• Careful review and verification of the accuracy, completeness, and impartiality of all AI-generated outputs (including the verification of sources, as AI-generated references may be incorrect or fabricated).
• Thorough editing and adaptation of all materials to ensure that the manuscript represents the author’s authentic and original contribution, and reflects their own analyses, interpretations, insights, and ideas.
• Ensuring that any tools or resources used—whether artificial intelligence-based or otherwise—are clearly and transparently disclosed to readers.
• Ensuring that the manuscript is prepared in compliance with data protection, intellectual property, and other legal rights, including verification of the terms of use of any AI tools employed.
• Statement: upon submission of the manuscript, authors must provide a separate AI disclosure statement specifying the AI tools used in the preparation of the manuscript; this statement will also appear in the published work. Authors must document the use of AI, including the name of the AI tool, the purpose of its use, and the degree of human oversight (see: Sample Statement for Authors on the Use of AI). Basic checks of grammar, spelling, and punctuation do not require disclosure. Any use of AI within the research process must be declared and described in detail in the “Methods” section.
• Authorship: authors must not list AI tools as authors or co-authors, nor cite AI tools as authors. Authorship entails responsibilities and duties that can only be attributed to and performed by humans.

The use of generative artificial intelligence or AI-assisted tools for the creation or modification of images contained in submitted manuscripts is not permitted.

For Reviewers

• When a researcher is invited to review another researcher’s manuscript, the manuscript must be treated as a confidential document. Reviewers must not upload the submitted manuscript or any part of it into a generative artificial intelligence tool, as doing so may violate the authors’ confidentiality and proprietary rights and, if the manuscript contains personally identifiable information, may also infringe data protection rights.
• This obligation of confidentiality also extends to the review report, as it may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or the authors. Therefore, reviewers must not upload their review reports into artificial intelligence tools, even if this is intended solely to improve language and readability.
• Reviewing a scientific manuscript is a responsibility that can only be assumed by humans. Reviewers must not use generative artificial intelligence or AI-assisted technologies to support the scientific peer-review process of a manuscript, because the critical thinking and original assessment required for peer review are beyond the scope of such technologies, and there is a risk that the technology may produce incorrect, incomplete, or biased conclusions about the manuscript. The reviewer is fully responsible for the content of the review report.

For Editors

• Submitted manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents. Editors must not upload the submitted manuscript or any part there of into any generative artificial intelligence tool, as this may violate the authors’ rights to confidentiality and intellectual property, and—if the article contains personally identifiable information—may also infringe data protection rights.
• This obligation of confidentiality extends to all communications related to the manuscript, including notification and decision letters, as these may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or the authors.
• The management of the editorial evaluation of a scholarly manuscript entails responsibilities that can only be borne by humans. Editors must not use generative artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence-assisted technologies to support the evaluation or decision-making process regarding a manuscript, as the critical thinking and original assessment required for this task fall outside the scope of such technologies, and there is a risk that they may produce incorrect, incomplete, or biased conclusions about the manuscript. The editor is responsible for the editorial process, the final decision, and the communication of that decision to the authors.

Sample Statement for Authors on the Use of AI

Upon submission of the manuscript, the author must include one of the following two types of statements at the end of the article:

• “During the preparation of this study, I used an artificial intelligence-based tool (type: …) for the preparation of the following section(s): (……..). The content generated by the tool was reviewed and, where necessary, revised by me, and I take full responsibility for the final manuscript.”
• “I declare that no artificial intelligence-based tool was used in the preparation of this study.”