Plagiarism Policy

Introduction

The International Journal of Peace, Governance and Social Change (IJPGSC) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Originality is a fundamental requirement for scholarly publication, and the journal expects all authors to submit work that is entirely their own. The journal has a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism and any other form of research misconduct that compromises the integrity of the scholarly record.

All manuscripts submitted to the journal are expected to represent original research that has not been published previously and is not under consideration by another journal. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all sources of information, ideas, data, figures, tables, and quotations are properly acknowledged through accurate citation and referencing.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's words, ideas, data, images, or intellectual work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment. It is considered a serious violation of publication ethics and may occur intentionally or unintentionally.

The journal considers plagiarism to include, but not be limited to, direct copying of text without quotation or citation, close paraphrasing of another author's work without proper attribution, mosaic plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, unauthorized use of figures or tables, and the submission of work that substantially overlaps with previously published material without appropriate disclosure.

Similarity Screening

Every manuscript submitted to the journal undergoes plagiarism screening before it enters the peer review process. The Editorial Office uses recognised plagiarism detection software to assess the originality of submitted manuscripts and identify similarities with previously published literature.

A similarity report is used as a screening tool and is not interpreted solely on the basis of the overall similarity percentage. Editors carefully evaluate the nature, source, and context of any matching text to distinguish between acceptable similarities, such as references, commonly used technical terminology, or properly cited quotations, and instances of potential plagiarism.

Acceptable Similarity

The journal generally expects manuscripts to demonstrate a similarity index of no more than 15%, excluding references, quotations, and standard methodological descriptions. In addition, no single source should normally account for more than 3% of the manuscript's content without appropriate justification.

A similarity score below these thresholds does not automatically guarantee acceptance, and a higher similarity score does not automatically indicate plagiarism. Editorial decisions are based on a careful assessment of the quality and originality of the manuscript.

Editorial Action

Where minor instances of unattributed text or inappropriate citation are identified, authors may be requested to revise the manuscript before it proceeds to peer review. Where substantial plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other serious ethical concerns are detected, the manuscript may be rejected immediately without external review.

If plagiarism or research misconduct is discovered after publication, the journal reserves the right to publish a correction, issue an expression of concern, retract the article, and notify the relevant institutions, funding agencies, or other appropriate bodies where necessary.

Self-Plagiarism

Authors are expected to avoid self-plagiarism by ensuring that submitted manuscripts are substantially different from their previously published work. Where portions of earlier publications are reused, they must be appropriately cited and disclosed. Authors should not submit the same manuscript, or substantially similar manuscripts, to more than one journal simultaneously.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original and properly referenced before submission. They should carefully review their work to ensure that all borrowed material is appropriately acknowledged and that permission has been obtained where required to reproduce copyrighted content.

Authors are also expected to disclose any related publications that may overlap with the submitted manuscript and to cooperate fully with the Editorial Office if concerns regarding originality arise during the review or publication process.

Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers play an essential role in safeguarding the originality of published research. Editors evaluate plagiarism reports and investigate any concerns regarding possible research misconduct. Reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical publication practices that they identify during the peer review process.

All allegations of plagiarism are handled confidentially, fairly, and in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

Appeals

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision relating to plagiarism may submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief. The appeal should provide a detailed explanation together with any supporting evidence. The Editorial Office will review the appeal objectively and may seek additional independent advice before making a final decision.

Commitment to Academic Integrity

The International Journal of Peace, Governance and Social Change is dedicated to preserving the integrity of scholarly publishing by promoting originality, transparency, honesty, and responsible research practices. The journal expects all authors, editors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Board to uphold these principles throughout the publication process. By submitting a manuscript to the journal, authors acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with this Plagiarism Policy.