Publication Ethics and Editorial Policy

Publication Ethics and Editorial Policy in Compliance with COPE Recommendations and International Standards

The peer-reviewed academic electronic journal Coordinates of Public Administration adheres to the principles of academic integrity, editorial independence, impartial peer review, transparency of editorial procedures, and the responsibility of all participants in the scholarly publishing process.

The editorial policy of the journal is developed in accordance with international standards of publication ethics, in particular the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the approaches of the Elsevier Publishing Ethics Resource Kit (PERK). Its purpose is to ensure the reliability of scholarly knowledge, prevent academic misconduct, protect the rights of authors and readers, and maintain trust in research outcomes in the field of public administration and governance.

The journal publishes scholarly works addressing issues of public administration, public policy, civil service, local self-government, administrative reform, governance of territorial communities, European integration, and related fields.

Editorial Independence and Responsibilities

The Editorial Board makes decisions on submitted manuscripts independently of any political, administrative, institutional, commercial, or personal influence. Editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly quality of the manuscript, its relevance to the journal’s scope, originality, methodological rigor, validity of conclusions, and compliance with academic integrity standards.

The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board are responsible for:

– ensuring a transparent editorial process;

– maintaining a rigorous peer review system;

– selecting competent and unbiased reviewers;

– preventing conflicts of interest;

– handling complaints and appeals;

– responding to suspected breaches of publication ethics;

– making decisions regarding corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

No manuscript shall be accepted or rejected on the basis of the author’s personal characteristics, including affiliation, nationality, political views, religious beliefs, gender, age, or ethnicity.

Manuscript Evaluation Criteria

Manuscripts are evaluated based on:

– relevance to the journal’s scope;

– significance of the research problem;

– scientific originality;

– theoretical and practical contribution;

– clarity of aims, objectives, and methodology;

– reliability of empirical or analytical evidence;

– logical structure;

– accuracy of citations;

– quality of references;

– validity of conclusions;

– absence of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject a manuscript without peer review if it falls outside the journal’s scope, does not meet formatting requirements, shows signs of academic misconduct, or lacks the characteristics of a scholarly article.

Peer Review

All submissions undergo expert peer review aimed at evaluating their scientific quality, methodological soundness, originality, and reliability of findings.

The journal follows an impartial peer review process ensuring independence of evaluation and confidentiality of submissions. Reviewers are expected to provide objective, well-reasoned, constructive, and respectful assessments based on the scholarly content of the manuscript.

A reviewer must decline an invitation if:

– a conflict of interest exists;

– the manuscript lies outside their expertise;

– they cannot meet the review deadline;

– they cannot ensure an unbiased evaluation.

Unpublished materials, ideas, or data obtained during the review process must not be used for personal advantage or disclosed to third parties.

Author Responsibilities

Authors bear full responsibility for the content of their manuscripts, the accuracy of research findings, the correctness of references, and compliance with academic integrity standards.

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

– the work is original;

– the manuscript has not been published previously;

– the submission is not under consideration elsewhere;

– all sources are properly cited;

– all listed authors have made a significant scholarly contribution;

– all sources of funding and potential conflicts of interest are disclosed;

– all data, figures, and materials are used lawfully.

Authors must promptly notify the Editorial Board of any significant errors discovered after submission or publication and cooperate in correcting or retracting the work if necessary.

Authorship and Contributions

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the research, including its conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, or drafting and critical revision of the manuscript.

All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and accept responsibility for its content.

The following practices are unacceptable:

– inclusion of individuals who did not contribute significantly;

– exclusion of contributors who meet authorship criteria;

– changes in authorship without written consent of all co-authors;

– granting authorship based on position or authority.

Individuals providing technical or administrative assistance should be acknowledged but not listed as authors.

Originality and Plagiarism

The journal does not accept manuscripts containing plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, misleading references, or other forms of academic misconduct.

Misconduct includes:

– unauthorized use of text, ideas, or data;

– verbatim copying without citation;

– duplicate publication;

– salami slicing of research results;

– fabricated references or data manipulation.

When misconduct is suspected, the Editorial Board follows COPE and Elsevier PERK guidelines, which may include requesting explanations, involving independent experts, or rejecting the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any relationships or circumstances that could influence their objectivity.

Conflicts may be financial, institutional, professional, personal, academic, or political.

Reviewers and editors must withdraw from the evaluation process in case of a real or perceived conflict of interest.

Confidentiality

All submissions are treated as confidential documents. Editorial staff and reviewers must not disclose any information regarding manuscripts, reviews, or editorial decisions.

Confidential information includes:

– unpublished manuscripts;

– peer review reports;

– editorial correspondence;

– personal data;

– review process details.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit reasoned appeals or complaints regarding editorial decisions or ethical concerns.

The Editorial Board considers such cases objectively, confidentially, and without bias. Appeals do not guarantee a change in decision but ensure procedural fairness.

Corrections and Retractions

The journal may publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retract articles when necessary.

Grounds for retraction include:

– plagiarism;

– data fabrication or falsification;

– duplicate publication;

– serious methodological errors;

– undisclosed conflicts of interest;

– manipulation of the review process.

Retraction serves to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record rather than to punish authors.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

AI tools may be used only as auxiliary instruments for language editing, translation, formatting, or data processing under full author supervision.

Authors must disclose the use of AI, specifying the tool, purpose, and extent of its contribution.

The following uses are prohibited:

– generating fictitious references or data;

– producing conclusions without author analysis;

– bypassing plagiarism checks;

– automated peer review generation;

– uploading confidential materials to external AI systems.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Open Access and Copyright

The journal supports open access principles to promote dissemination of research in public administration.

Authors retain copyright under the journal’s licensing policy and guarantee that their work does not infringe third-party rights.

Final Provisions

Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all participants in the publication process.

Submission of a manuscript constitutes acceptance of these ethical principles.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to update this policy in accordance with COPE guidelines, Elsevier PERK, and evolving international standards in scholarly publishing.