Publication Ethics and Research Integrity
Statement of ComplianceThe publication ethics policy of Peace & Democracy is aligned with the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, and reviewers—are expected to familiarize themselves with and adhere strictly to this policy.
1. Responsibilities of Authors
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must guarantee that submitted manuscripts are entirely original works. When using the work or ideas of others, authors must clearly acknowledge the source through appropriate citation or quotation. Manuscripts that have already been published, are under consideration by another journal, or are scheduled for publication elsewhere will not be accepted. All forms of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (duplicate or redundant publication), are considered unethical publishing practices and are strictly prohibited. All submissions may be subject to plagiarism detection screening to verify compliance with publication ethics.
Authorship and Responsibility
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. All contributors meeting these criteria must be listed as co-authors, and the corresponding author bears responsibility for ensuring that all appropriate co-authors are included in the manuscript.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Authors must clearly disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research results or their interpretation. Authors are also required to identify all sources of financial support for the research.
2. Data Availability and Reproducibility Policy
In line with broader efforts to enhance research transparency in political science, Peace & Democracy places strong emphasis on the reproducibility of research findings.
Provision of Data and Research Materials
Authors conducting empirical research are encouraged to share with Peace & Democracy the data, analytical code, and related materials necessary to replicate the reported findings, once the manuscript has been accepted for publication.
Exceptions
Exceptions to data sharing may be granted in cases involving sensitive information, proprietary data, or situations where the anonymity and protection of research participants must be preserved. In such cases, authors must clearly explain the reasons for the exception within the manuscript.
3. Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This policy is informed by the Generative AI Policy of Johns Hopkins University Press and the AI Guidelines issued by Wiley. In response to the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), Peace & Democracy adopts the following guidelines:
Restrictions on Authorship
AI and LLM tools cannot be recognized as authors, as they are unable to assume legal or ethical responsibility for the content of a manuscript. Accordingly, such tools may not be listed as authors on published work.
Disclosure of AI Use
If AI tools are used during manuscript preparation or data analysis, authors must clearly disclose the use of such tools and specify the scope of their application in the main text, footnotes, or the Methods section of the manuscript.
Author Responsibility
Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the entire manuscript, including any portions generated or assisted by AI tools.
Restrictions on AI Use in Peer Review
Reviewers may use AI tools for limited personal assistance in their workflow; however, they must not use AI to evaluate manuscripts or to generate any part of their review reports. Reviewers must not upload any part of a submitted manuscript into generative AI tools or platforms.
4. Research Involving Human Subjects (IRB)
For research involving human participants, including interviews, surveys, or experiments, the following requirements apply: Authors must state that the research received approval from their affiliated institution’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) or an equivalent ethics committee. Manuscripts must clearly indicate that informed consent was obtained from all research participants.
5. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers
Confidentiality
Editors and reviewers must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents and must not disclose or discuss them with third parties without prior authorization from the editorial board.
Peer Review Process
The journal employs a double-blind peer review process, in which the identities of authors and reviewers are not disclosed to one another.
Objectivity and Constructiveness
Peer review must be conducted objectively. Reviewers are expected to provide clear, well-reasoned, constructive, and professional evaluations, regardless of the editors’ final decisions.
Reporting Substantial Overlap
Reviewers should notify the editorial team if they identify substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and previously published work.
Fair Editorial Decisions
Decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts are based solely on scholarly merit and relevance to the journal’s aims and scope, without regard to authors’ personal characteristics or political positions.
6. Other Provisions
Appeals
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a reasoned appeal. Appeals do not guarantee reconsideration, and final authority rests with the Editor-in-Chief.
Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
In cases where ethical violations such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate submission are suspected or confirmed, Peace & Democracy will conduct an investigation in accordance with COPE guidelines. Depending on the outcome, the journal may issue a correction, retraction, or expression of concern in order to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.