Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The CLRS Journal of Global Justice & Governance is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal committed to the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement (PEMS) is based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and follows the Scopus principles of transparency and best practices.

This statement applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers involved in the Journal's publication process and outlines our policies on ethical publishing, integrity, and handling of malpractice.

  1. Authorship and Contributorship

The Journal follows strict authorship criteria to ensure that only those who have made significant contributions are credited as authors.

  • Authorship should be based on the following criteria:
    • Substantial contribution to the conception, research, drafting, or analysis.
    • Active participation in revising and refining the manuscript.
    • Final approval of the version to be published.
    • Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
  • Misrepresentation of authorship is strictly prohibited, including:
    • Ghost authorship (excluding those who significantly contributed).
    • Gift authorship (listing those who did not contribute).
    • Guest authorship (adding well-known names without involvement).
  • The corresponding author is responsible for:
    • Ensuring all co-authors meet the authorship criteria.
    • Securing written consent from all co-authors before submission.
    • Obtaining permission for acknowledged contributors.
  • Any requests to add or remove authors after submission must be accompanied by written consent from all authors.
  • In authorship disputes, the Journal will not mediate and expects authors to resolve conflicts independently.
  1. Complaints and Appeals
  • Complaints related to editorial decisions, ethical concerns, or disputes can be submitted to editor.jgjg@academyclrs.org.
  • Appeals must include detailed reasoning and supporting evidence and will be reviewed by the Editorial Board or an independent ethics panel.
  • The Journal will acknowledge complaints within 10 days and resolve cases within 30 days, where possible.
  • The Journal reserves the right to reject or uphold appeals, and all decisions are final.
  1. Allegations of Research Misconduct

The Journal takes allegations of misconduct seriously and follows COPE guidelines to address cases of:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Duplicate submission or redundant publication
  • Unethical research practices

Process for Handling Allegations:

  1. Initial Assessment: Complaints must be submitted with supporting evidence.
  2. Investigation: The Editorial Board will conduct a preliminary review and may consult independent experts.
  3. Author Response: The accused author will be given an opportunity to respond within 14 days.
  4. Decision: If misconduct is confirmed, corrective actions may include:
    • Rejection of the manuscript (if unpublished).
    • Retraction with a formal statement (if published).
    • Reporting to the author's institution or funding body.
    • Blacklisting the author from future submissions.

All investigations are strictly confidential, and findings will be reported as needed.

  1. Conflicts of Interest
  • Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that may influence their work.
  • Examples of conflicts include:
    • Financial sponsorships, grants, or funding related to the research.
    • Employment or consultancy roles related to the topic.
    • Personal or professional relationships with any of the authors or editors.
  • If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication, the Journal may issue a correction or retraction.
  1. Data Sharing and Reproducibility
  • The Journal encourages data transparency and expects authors to:
    • Provide accurate and complete datasets where applicable.
    • Ensure data availability for verification upon request.
    • Clearly state data sources, methods, and limitations.
  • Authors should indicate whether their research data is publicly available or confidential due to legal or ethical constraints.
  1. Ethical Oversight
  • Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must comply with:
    • Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals.
    • Informed consent from participants.
    • Ethical guidelines for human and animal research.
  • Any study that does not meet ethical approval standards may be rejected.
  1. Intellectual Property and Copyright
  • The Journal follows a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) license, allowing authors to retain copyright while permitting open access use.
  • Authors confirm that:
    • They own the rights to their submitted work.
    • The submission does not infringe any third-party rights.
    • Proper credit is given for reproduced or adapted content.
  1. Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

The Journal welcomes post-publication discussions and critiques via Letters to the Editor or official responses.

  • If a significant error is identified after publication, corrective actions may include:
    • Correction notices for minor errors.
    • Expressions of concern for possible misconduct under investigation.
    • Retractions for major ethical violations or unreliable findings.
  • Retractions will be clearly labeled and linked to the original article.
  1. Corrections and Retractions

The Journal ensures the integrity of published content by implementing:

  • Corrections for minor errors that do not affect conclusions.
  • Retractions for serious ethical breaches, including:
    • Plagiarism.
    • Data falsification.
    • Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
  • Retraction notices will be publicly available, stating the reason for retraction.
  1. Editorial and Peer Review Integrity
  • The Journal follows a double-blind peer review process to maintain impartiality.
  • Reviewers must:
    • Provide constructive and unbiased feedback.
    • Maintain confidentiality and not use unpublished content.
    • Disclose conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment.
  • Editors must:
    • Ensure a fair review process.
    • Reject manuscripts with serious ethical concerns.
    • Handle complaints promptly and professionally.
  1. Publisher Responsibilities
  • The publisher will support the Editorial Board in addressing:
    • Ethical violations and misconduct investigations.
    • Ensuring secure digital archiving and open access.
    • Maintaining transparency in publishing policies.
  • The publisher reserves the right to withdraw, correct, or clarify any published material if ethical concerns arise.
  1. Policy Amendments and Discretion of the Editorial Board
  • The Editorial Board may update this statement to reflect new ethical standards and best practices.
  • Any unforeseen ethical issues will be handled based on COPE guidelines and international best practices.

For any ethical concerns, complaints, or conflicts of interest, contact:

???? Email: editor.jgjg@academyclrs.org