InSearch: Asean Journal of Law, Business, & Human Rights
FOCUS AND SCOPE
FOCUS
InSearch: Asean Journal of Law, Business & Human Rights is a peer-reviewed, open-access, and interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the critical intersection of law, business, and human rights, specifically within the context of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The journal's primary focus is to serve as the premier scholarly forum for rigorous analysis, critical discourse, and policy-relevant research on the unique challenges and opportunities at this nexus in Southeast Asia. We aim to bridge the gap between international standards (such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) and their practical application and legal enforcement within the diverse legal, economic, and socio-cultural landscapes of ASEAN member states.
We seek to amplify perspectives from academics, legal practitioners, policymakers, and civil society, particularly those from the ASEAN region, to foster a deeper understanding of responsible business conduct and sustainable development.
SCOPES
The journal welcomes high-quality, original, and unpublished manuscripts from scholars and practitioners on a wide range of topics. The scope is interdisciplinary and includes, but is not limited to:
- Corporate Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD): Legal status, implementation, and industry-specific challenges (e.g., palm oil, garments, electronics).
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): The legal and regulatory dimensions of ESG frameworks and corporate accountability.
- Labor Rights & Global Supply Chains: Issues of modern slavery, forced labor, minimum wage, freedom of association, and the protection of migrant workers within ASEAN.
- Business, Technology & Digital Rights: Corporate responsibility related to data privacy, digital surveillance, "gig economy" labor rights, and platform governance in the region.
- Investment, Trade & Human Rights: The human rights implications of international investment agreements (IIAs), arbitration (ISDS), and regional trade pacts (e.g., RCEP) involving ASEAN members.
- Corporate Governance & Anti-Corruption: The intersection of corporate law, anti-corruption measures, and their impact on the rule of law and human rights.
- Climate Justice & Environment: Corporate liability for environmental degradation, transboundary haze, deforestation, and the rights of indigenous communities in Southeast Asia.
- ASEAN Institutional Frameworks: The role and effectiveness of ASEAN bodies (e.g., AICHR, AEC) in shaping regional business and human rights norms.
- Corporate Accountability & Access to Remedy: Legal and non-legal mechanisms for holding corporations accountable for human rights abuses in the region.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Business Ethics: Theoretical, empirical, and comparative studies on CSR and ethical business practices in the ASEAN context.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The role of the private sector, law, and policy in achieving the SDGs within Southeast Asia.
- International Economic Law: Broader issues of regional trade law (e.g., AEC), international finance, and its impact on domestic legal orders in ASEAN.
- Comparative Law in ASEAN: Comparative analysis of business law, company law, investment law, or human rights law among ASEAN member states.
- Dispute Resolution: Developments in commercial arbitration, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and other mechanisms for resolving business-related disputes in the region.
All submissions must be written in English. InSearch is published three times a year, in April, August, and December.
REVIEWER GUIDELINE
Guidelines for Reviewers
Responsibility of Peer Reviewer
Peer reviewer is responsible for critiquing by reading and evaluating manuscripts in the field of expertise, then giving constructive advice and honest feedback to the author of the article submitted. Peer reviewers, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the article, how to increase the strength and quality of the paper, and evaluate the relevance and authenticity of the manuscript.
Before reviewing, please note the following:
- Is the article requested to be reviewed in accordance with your expertise? If you receive a script that covers the topics that are not appropriate areas of your expertise, please notify the editor as soon as possible. Please recommend an alternative reviewer.
- Do you have the time to review this paper? The review process must be completed within two weeks. If you agree and require a longer period, notify the editor as soon as possible, or suggest an alternative reviewer.
- Is there any potential conflict of interest? Meanwhile, conflicts of interest will not disqualify you as a reviewer, disclose all conflicts of interest to the editor before reviewing. If you have any questions about potential conflicts of interest, do not hesitate to contact the editorial office.
Review Process
When reviewing the article, please consider the following:
- Title: is it clearly illustrating the article?
- Abstract: does it reflect the contents of the article?
- Introduction: does it describe the accuracy of matters submitted by the author and clearly state the problem being considered? Typically, the introduction should summarize the context of the relevant research, and explain the findings of the research or other findings, if any, offered for discussion. This research should explain the experiments, hypotheses and methods.
Content of the Article
In order to determine the originality and suitability for the journal, are there any elements of plagiarism over 25% of this paper field? A quick literature search can use certain tools, such as Scopus, to see if there are similarities with other parts.
- If the study had been previously done by other authors, is it still eligible for publication?
- Is the article fairly new, fairly deep, and interesting enough to be published?
- Does it contribute to knowledge?
- Does the article adhere to the standards of the journal?
- Scope - Is the article in line with the objectives and scope of the journal?
Method
Comprehensive and perfect:
- Does the author accurately describe how the data is collected?
- Is the theoretical basis or reference used appropriate for this study?
- Is the exposure design suitable for the answer to the question?
- Is there enough information for you to imitate the research?
- Does the article identify the following procedures?
- Are there any new methods? If there is a new method, does the author explain it in detail?
- Is there any appropriate sampling?
- Have the tools and materials used been adequately explained? and
- Does the article's exposure describe what type of data is recorded, right in describing the measurement?
Results
This is where the author must explain the findings in his/her research. It should be clearly laid out and in a logical sequence. You will need to consider whether the appropriate analysis has been carried out; the use of statistical tools? If you have a better statistical tools to be used in this study, notify it, and the interpretation need not to be included in this section.
Discussion and Conclusion:
- are the claims in this section is supported by the fair results and quite reasonable?
- does the author compare the research results with other previous ones?
- do the results of research written in the article contradict the previous theories?
- does the conclusion explain how a better scientific research to be followed-up?
Tables and Pictures:
Is it suitable with the referred explanation by showing data which is easy to to interprete and understanable for the readers?
Writing Styles
- Authors must be critical mostly to the literature systematic review of the issues, which is relevant to the field of study.
- Reviews should be focused on a single topic.
- All exposure should be in English and written in a god and coherent grammar.
- Easy to understand
- Interesting to read
Things that need to be considered:
- Perspective, a unique perspective that describes experiences and situations related to contemporary legal issues in various perspectives and approaches.
Originality Research
Research policy and observational analysis, it should clarify the feasibility, effectiveness, and implementation on the research results.
In Practice (case study), The paper should explain the situation regarding the future challenges in contemporary legal issues
Reference
- First Person (Interview)
- Book Reviews
- Insight Technology (Product Review)
Final Review
- All results of the review submitted by reviewers are confidential
- If you want to discuss the article with a colleague, kindly inform the editor
- Do not contact the author directly.
- Ethical issues: (1) Plagiarism: if you suspect the article is mostly plagiarism from other authors, please let the editor knows the details, (2) Fraud: It is very difficult to detect a fraud catogory, but if you suspect the results in the article is not true, please inform the editor
Complete "The Review" by the due date to the editorial office. Your recommendation for the article will be considered when the editor makes a final decision and your honest feedback is highly appreciated.
When you write a comment, please show the part of the comment that is only intended for the editor and parts that can be returned to the author.
Please do not hesitate to contact the editorial office with any questions or problems that you may encounter.
Our journal opens opportunities for the best people to be involved in the development of this journal, so we open opportunities for anyone to become a Reviewer in our journal. Please send your CV and Information on Willingness to be a Reviewer via email: adminjournal@insearch-journal.org
PROOFREADING POLICY
Proofreading Policy
The author is responsible for the readability of the manuscript and all writing errors. In certain cases, the editor will ask for valid proof from the author that the manuscript has been checked through a professional proof-reader. Once the manuscript has been deemed acceptable by the Board of Editors, it will undergo a proofreading process to maintain linguistic quality.
