Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Contemporary Security Studies (IJCSS) is committed to academic integrity, responsible scholarship, and ethical publishing. Everyone involved in the editorial and publication pathway—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—is expected to act professionally, transparently, and in line with recognized ethical standards throughout the manuscript lifecycle.

1. Authors’ Ethical Duties

By submitting to IJCSS, authors confirm that:

  • the manuscript is original, and that all sources, data, and references are properly credited

  • the work is not under consideration elsewhere and has not been published previously

  • any conflicts of interest are declared promptly and clearly

  • all listed authors made substantial contributions and approved the final version

  • the submission contains no fabricated, falsified, or plagiarized content

2. Responsibilities of the Editorial Team

The editorial team is responsible for:

  • assessing manuscripts on scholarly merit, without discrimination based on authors’ identity, affiliation, or background

  • administering a double-anonymous (double-blind) peer review that is impartial, efficient, and consistent

  • responding appropriately to ethical issues, including complaints, appeals, suspected misconduct, and corrections

  • protecting the confidentiality of manuscripts and all related communications during review and decision-making

3. Reviewer Obligations

Reviewers support the quality and credibility of IJCSS by:

  • providing constructive, well-grounded, and respectful evaluations

  • refusing assignments when conflicts of interest exist or when they lack adequate expertise

  • treating manuscripts and review materials as strictly confidential

  • alerting the editors to potential ethics breaches (e.g., plagiarism, manipulated data, unethical research practices)

4. Publisher’s Role

The publisher supports ethical publishing and editorial independence by:

  • ensuring the necessary infrastructure for secure, stable, and reliable publication workflows

  • supporting the handling and resolution of ethical concerns and disputes when needed

  • encouraging transparency and accountability in journal governance and operations

5. Research Misconduct Handling

Allegations of misconduct—whether involving authors, reviewers, or editors—are addressed through a documented, fair procedure, which may include inquiry, investigation, correction, expression of concern, or retraction where appropriate. Concerns may be reported to the IJCSS editorial office at:
✉️ ijocss@gmail.com

6. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

Authors must disclose any use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT or similar) in preparing the manuscript. Such tools may be used to support language editing or improve structure, but:

  • AI tools must not be credited as authors

  • AI use should be transparently stated (e.g., in Acknowledgments or Methods, as applicable)

  • authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and ethical compliance of the work

  • interpretation, scientific judgment, and core intellectual contribution must remain human-led

To protect confidentiality, reviewers and editors must not use AI tools to process or evaluate confidential materials (including submitted manuscripts or peer-review reports) unless explicitly authorized and handled in a way that preserves confidentiality and integrity.