Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Introduction

The International Journal of Peace, Governance and Social Change (IJPGSC) recognises that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, including generative AI and large language models, are increasingly being used in academic research and scholarly writing.

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and scientific validity of all submitted work.

AI Cannot Be an Author

Artificial intelligence systems, chatbots, or language models, including ChatGPT and similar technologies, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of a manuscript. Authorship requires accountability, intellectual responsibility, the ability to approve the final manuscript, and responsibility for responding to questions regarding the published work. AI systems cannot fulfil these obligations and therefore do not meet internationally recognised authorship criteria.

Prohibited Uses of AI

The journal prohibits the use of AI to fabricate or falsify research data, generate false experimental results, create fictitious participants or case studies, manipulate images or figures, produce fabricated references or citations, or misrepresent original research findings. AI must not be used to conceal plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other forms of academic misconduct.

Any manuscript found to contain fabricated or misleading AI-generated content may be rejected or retracted if already published.

Permitted Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors may use AI-powered tools to assist with language editing, grammar correction, spelling, formatting, translation, and improving the readability of manuscripts. AI may also be used for limited support in coding, data organisation, literature searches, and other research-related tasks, provided that authors carefully verify all outputs for accuracy and reliability.

The use of AI should always support, rather than replace, the authors' own intellectual contribution, critical thinking, analysis, interpretation, and scholarly judgement.

Author Responsibility

Authors bear full responsibility for every aspect of their manuscript, regardless of whether AI tools were used during its preparation. Authors must ensure that all information generated with the assistance of AI is accurate, properly verified, free from fabricated references or misleading statements, and supported by reliable evidence.

Authors are accountable for the originality of the work, the validity of the research methods, the interpretation of findings, and compliance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Plagiarism Policy. The use of AI does not diminish or transfer these responsibilities.

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors should disclose the use of AI tools whenever they have made a significant contribution to the preparation of the manuscript. Such disclosure should briefly describe the AI tool used and explain how it assisted in the development of the manuscript. Examples include language editing, translation, coding assistance, or drafting non-scientific text.

Routine use of software for spelling, grammar checking, or reference management does not normally require disclosure.

Accuracy and Verification

Authors are expected to review and verify all AI-generated content carefully before submission. AI systems may produce inaccurate information, incorrect citations, fabricated references, or biased interpretations. Authors should independently confirm the accuracy of all facts, quotations, references, statistical analyses, and conclusions included in the manuscript.

The journal will not accept responsibility for errors introduced through the inappropriate use of AI technologies.

Confidentiality During Peer Review

Authors, reviewers, and editors must not upload confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, or unpublished research into publicly accessible AI systems that may retain, learn from, or reuse submitted content. Protecting the confidentiality of the peer review process is essential to maintaining trust in scholarly publishing.

Where institutional or secure AI tools are used, users must ensure that confidentiality and data protection requirements are fully respected.

AI Use by Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to conduct independent and objective assessments of submitted manuscripts. AI tools may be used for limited assistance with language, grammar, or identifying general writing issues, provided that confidential manuscript content is not disclosed to external AI services.

Reviewers remain fully responsible for the quality, fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality of their peer review reports.

AI Use by Editors

Editors may use AI-assisted technologies for administrative tasks such as identifying potential reviewers, improving editorial correspondence, or detecting language issues. However, editorial decisions, ethical evaluations, and publication recommendations must always be made by qualified human editors. AI systems shall not replace editorial judgement in determining the suitability of manuscripts for publication.

Compliance with Publication Ethics

The use of AI does not exempt authors from complying with the journal's Publication Ethics, Plagiarism Policy, Copyright Policy, or other editorial policies. Any misuse of AI that results in research misconduct, plagiarism, fabricated data, falsified images, or misleading scholarship will be handled in accordance with the journal's established ethical procedures.

Policy Updates

As artificial intelligence technologies continue to evolve, the International Journal of Peace, Governance and Social Change reserves the right to revise this policy to reflect emerging international best practices, publishing standards, and ethical guidance. Updated versions of the policy will be published on the journal's website.

Commitment to Responsible AI

The International Journal of Peace, Governance and Social Change supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing. The journal encourages authors to use AI as a supportive research tool while ensuring that human expertise, academic integrity, critical analysis, and scientific accountability remain central to the creation and dissemination of scholarly knowledge.