Conflict of Interest Policy

Conflict of Interest Policy

Comparative Philosophy and Religious Traditions (CPRT) is committed to transparency and integrity in scholarly publishing.

All participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are required to disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence, or be perceived to influence, the research or editorial process.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as research integrity or editorial fairness) may be influenced by a secondary interest.

Conflicts may be:

  • Financial
  • Institutional
  • Personal
  • Professional
  • Academic
  • Ideological

Both actual and perceived conflicts should be disclosed.

2. Author Responsibilities

Authors must disclose any relationships or circumstances that could be perceived to influence their research, including:

  • Research funding
  • Institutional affiliations
  • Employment relationships
  • Consulting or advisory roles
  • Personal relationships related to the research

A Conflict of Interest statement must be included in all submissions.

If no conflict exists, authors should state: "The authors declare no conflict of interest."

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in corrective action, including retraction where appropriate.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers must decline to review a manuscript if:

  • They have collaborated with the author within the recent past
  • They share institutional affiliation with the author
  • They have personal or professional relationships that could compromise impartiality
  • They have financial or competitive interests related to the manuscript

Reviewers must inform the editorial office immediately if a conflict becomes apparent during the review process.

4. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts if:

  • They have a personal or professional relationship with the author
  • They share institutional affiliation
  • They have collaborated recently
  • They have any financial or academic interest that could affect impartiality

In such cases, the manuscript will be reassigned to another qualified editor.

5. Publisher Independence

The publisher does not interfere in editorial decision-making.

Financial considerations, including Article Processing Charges (APCs), do not influence editorial outcomes.

Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit.

6. Disclosure and Transparency

All declared conflicts of interest will be published within the article when applicable. Transparency ensures reader trust, academic accountability, and protection of the scholarly record.

7. Undisclosed Conflicts

If undisclosed conflicts of interest are identified after publication, the journal may take appropriate action, including:

  • Publication of a correction
  • Expression of concern
  • Retraction in serious cases

Investigations will be conducted fairly and confidentially.