Publication Ethics

The Frequency of International Relations (FETRIAN) is committed to the highest standards of ethical publishing in accordance with internationally recognized guidelines, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All stakeholders in the publication process—editors, authors, reviewers, and publishers—are expected to uphold these ethical principles to ensure integrity, transparency, and trust in academic publishing.

Responsibilities of the Editors

  1. Editorial Independence

    • The editorial team ensures that editorial decisions are based solely on the manuscript's academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal's focus and scope.
    • Editors operate free from external influences, including those of the publisher or funding sources.

  2. Confidentiality

    • Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Details about submissions are only shared with corresponding authors, reviewers, and the editorial team on a need-to-know basis.

  3. Conflict of Interest

    • Editors are required to recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have competing interests or conflicts of interest.

  4. Handling of Allegations of Misconduct

    • Editors are responsible for addressing allegations of misconduct promptly and transparently. Investigations will follow COPE guidelines, and corrective actions, such as retractions or corrections, will be taken when necessary.

Responsibilities of Authors

  1. Originality and Plagiarism

    • Authors must ensure that their work is original and free from plagiarism. Proper citations and acknowledgment of others’ work are mandatory. Submissions must not contain fabricated, falsified, or manipulated data.

  2. Authorship and Contributorship

    • Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant intellectual contributions to the research. All contributors must be listed as authors or acknowledged, and all authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.

  3. Multiple Submissions

    • Manuscripts must not be submitted to multiple journals simultaneously or published elsewhere in any form.

  4. Data and Reproducibility

    • Authors should ensure the accuracy and integrity of their research data. They should be prepared to provide raw data upon request and retain data for a minimum of 10 years after publication.

  5. Conflict of Interest

    • Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their research outcomes or interpretations.

  6. Ethical Oversight

    • Research involving human participants or animals must comply with ethical standards, including obtaining informed consent and institutional review board (IRB) approval. A statement of compliance must be included in the manuscript.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  1. Confidentiality

    • Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential and must not share or discuss their content with others without prior permission from the editor.

  2. Objectivity

    • Reviews must be objective and constructive, providing feedback to improve the manuscript while avoiding personal criticism of the authors.

  3. Conflict of Interest

    • Reviewers should decline review assignments if they have any competing interests or if they feel unqualified to evaluate the manuscript.

  4. Timeliness

    • Reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within the stipulated timeline to ensure a prompt review process for authors.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

  1. Editorial Freedom

    • The publisher ensures that the editorial team operates independently and without interference in decision-making.

  2. Ethical Publishing Standards

    • The publisher supports the journal in following COPE standards and guidelines for ethical publishing.

  3. Corrections and Retractions

    • If errors or misconduct are identified post-publication, the publisher will collaborate with the editorial team to issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as appropriate.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

  • Pre-Publication: If a concern is raised during the peer-review process, the editorial team will suspend the review process and investigate.
  • Post-Publication: Allegations received after publication will be investigated in line with COPE guidelines. Outcomes may include retractions, corrections, or clarifications.

Ethical Compliance

FETRIAN actively encourages adherence to best practices in academic publishing. Authors, reviewers, and editors are urged to familiarize themselves with and uphold these ethical principles to contribute to the integrity of scholarly communication.