Ethical Standards

The International Journal for Research in Politics & International Affairs (IJRPIA) follows the ethical principles and best-practice guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility throughout the editorial, peer review, and publication processes.

In alignment with COPE Core Practices, the journal periodically reviews and updates its editorial and publication policies to ensure continuous improvement in scholarly quality and ethical compliance. Feedback from authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members is welcomed to strengthen publication standards and promote research integrity.

All manuscripts submitted to the International Journal for Research in Politics & International Affairs undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process in accordance with recognized international publishing standards. Manuscripts are evaluated by qualified editorial board members and independent subject-matter experts with relevant academic qualifications and research expertise. In addition to peer review, editorial assessments are conducted to ensure clarity, technical accuracy, formatting consistency, and compliance with scholarly and ethical standards. Minor technical, grammatical, or language corrections may be applied where necessary to improve readability without altering the scholarly content of the work.

Research Misconduct Policy

The International Journal for Research in Politics & International Affairs follows COPE guidelines when addressing allegations or suspicions of research misconduct. Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Duplicate submission or redundant publication

  • Plagiarism or improper reuse of text, data, figures, or ideas without appropriate citation

  • Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation

  • Citation manipulation or unethical authorship practices

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

When concerns are raised by reviewers, editors, readers, or third parties, the editorial office conducts an initial assessment in accordance with COPE flowcharts and procedures for handling suspected misconduct. Authors are formally contacted and given an opportunity to respond, clarify concerns, and provide supporting documentation when necessary.

If errors or misconduct are confirmed, appropriate corrective actions may be implemented, including publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, in accordance with COPE recommendations regarding post-publication issues. If authors fail to provide satisfactory explanations or if the integrity of the research cannot be verified, the manuscript may be rejected. In cases involving published articles, formal retraction or corrective notices may be issued to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

In situations where disputes remain unresolved or authors fail to respond, the matter may be referred to the authors’ affiliated institutions or relevant authorities in accordance with COPE best practices.

Authorship Changes Policy

The International Journal for Research in Politics & International Affairs follows COPE guidance on authorship and contributorship when managing requests for authorship changes. Such requests may occur either prior to publication or after publication and may involve:

  • Addition of an author

  • Removal of an author

  • Change in corresponding author

  • Modification of author order

All requests for authorship changes must be submitted in writing with a clear explanation and justification for the proposed modification. In accordance with COPE recommendations, written consent from all listed authors, including those being added or removed, is required before any changes can be approved.

If agreement is obtained from all authors, the requested change will be implemented accordingly. However, if consensus cannot be reached, the manuscript or published article may be placed on hold until the matter is resolved. In post-publication cases where disputes persist, the issue may be referred to the authors’ affiliated institutions for investigation in accordance with established ethical publishing standards.

The International Journal for Research in Politics & International Affairs, published by Green Publication Services Private Limited, remains committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring ethical, responsible, and transparent academic publishing practices across all its publications.