Publication Ethics

The journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical behaviour and academic integrity in scholarly publishing. This Publication Ethics Policy establishes clear ethical principles and responsibilities for all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

The policy is guided by the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (https://publicationethics.org/) and other internationally recognized ethical frameworks, and applies to research in Social Sciences, Humanities, and related interdisciplinary fields.

1.     Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

1.1. Originality and Academic Integrity

Submitted manuscripts must be original scholarly works that have not been previously published and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors must ensure that their work is free from plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, redundant publication, or inappropriate reuse of previously published material. All sources must be properly cited and acknowledged.

1.2. Responsible Use of Sources and Data

Authors must accurately represent primary and secondary sources, archival materials, texts, historical documents, interview data, survey responses, and qualitative or quantitative datasets. Misrepresentation, selective citation, manipulation of data, or distortion of interpretations is considered unethical scholarly conduct.

1.3. Data Transparency and Availability

Where applicable, authors should maintain original data and materials and make them available for verification upon reasonable request. Any limitations on data access (e.g., confidentiality, legal, or cultural restrictions) must be clearly stated.

1.4. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should reflect significant intellectual contributions to the conception, design, analysis, interpretation, or writing of the manuscript. All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission. Individuals who contributed in a limited manner should be acknowledged but not listed as authors.

Any change in authorship after submission requires written consent from all authors.

1.5.  Ethical Conduct of Research

Research involving human participants—such as interviews, surveys, ethnographic studies, focus groups, or the use of personal or sensitive data—must be conducted in accordance with recognized ethical standards. Where formal ethics committee approval is required, authors must provide relevant approval details. If ethical approval is not required, authors must clearly state this and describe the ethical safeguards applied, including informed consent and confidentiality measures.

1.6.  Cultural, Social, and Intellectual Sensitivity

Authors must respect cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge systems, historical contexts, and socially sensitive topics. Research should be conducted and presented in a manner that avoids harm, discrimination, misappropriation, or misrepresentation of communities, cultures, or intellectual traditions.

1.7.  Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, personal, or ideological relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation. All sources of funding or support must be clearly acknowledged.

1.8.  Post-Publication Responsibility

Authors have a continuing obligation to notify the journal promptly if significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication and to cooperate fully in corrections, clarifications, or retractions when necessary.

2.     Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in ensuring the quality, credibility, and integrity of published research.

  • Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents.
  • Reviews must be objective, scholarly, constructive, and respectful.
  • Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance.
  • Any conflicts of interest—academic, professional, financial, or personal—must be declared, and reviewers should decline the review when appropriate.
  • Reviewers should identify relevant uncited literature and alert editors to possible ethical concerns, plagiarism, or misconduct.
  • Reviews should be completed within the agreed timeframe.

3.     Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, transparent, and unbiased editorial process.

  • Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit, originality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  • Editors must maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
  • Editors must declare conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when necessary.
  • Allegations of misconduct are handled seriously and investigated according to COPE guidelines.
  • Editorial independence must be preserved, free from commercial, institutional, or political influence.

4.     Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports ethical scholarly communication by ensuring:

  • Editorial independence and integrity
  • Transparent publication policies
  • Long-term digital archiving and accessibility of published content
  • Timely publication of corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern
  • Fair and ethical handling of complaints and appeals

5.     Research Misconduct and Unethical Practices

Unethical publishing behavior includes, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism and self-plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Improper authorship attribution
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Misuse or misrepresentation of historical, cultural, or qualitative sources
  • Ethical violations involving human participants or sensitive data

All allegations of misconduct are investigated following COPE recommendations.

6.     Research Withdrawal and Retraction Policy

6.1.  Grounds for Withdrawal or Retraction

An article may be withdrawn or retracted for the following reasons:

  • Proven plagiarism
  • Fabrication or falsification of data or sources
  • Duplicate publication
  • Major errors that invalidate findings or interpretations
  • Ethical violations
  • Authorship or intellectual property disputes
  • Unauthorized use of images, texts, or datasets
  • Misleading or undisclosed funding or conflicts of interest

6.2.  Withdrawal and Retraction Procedure

The journal follows a transparent and fair procedure:

  • Initial assessment by the Editorial Board
  • Formal notification to the corresponding author
  • Opportunity for authors to respond or provide clarification
  • Final decision based on evidence and ethical standards
  • Publication of a formal retraction or withdrawal notice
  • The original article remains accessible online and is clearly marked as “Retracted” to preserve the scholarly record

7.     Corrections and Expressions of Concern

Minor errors that do not compromise the overall validity of the work may be addressed through a correction notice. In cases where serious concerns exist but investigations are ongoing, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern.

8.     Appeals and Complaints

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints related to ethical matters. All appeals and complaints are handled objectively, transparently, and in accordance with COPE procedures.

9.     Compliance with Ethical Standards

By submitting a manuscript to the journal, authors confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with this Publication Ethics Policy.