Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics Statement

Rural Governance and Green Development (RGGD) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal adheres to the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all stakeholders—authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers—to act with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Submitted work must be original and properly cite all sources. Plagiarism and duplicate publication are strictly prohibited.
  • Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions should be listed. All listed authors must approve the final version.
  • Data Integrity: Authors must present accurate data and acknowledge limitations. Data fabrication or manipulation is unethical.
  • Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: All relevant financial or institutional relationships must be declared.
  • Ethical Compliance: Research involving human subjects or communities must have appropriate ethics approvals.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality and Anonymity: Reviewers must respect the double-blind process and confidentiality of submissions.
  • Objectivity and Constructiveness: Reviews must be respectful, unbiased, and grounded in scholarly merit.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline to review if any conflict could compromise impartiality.
  • Ethical Vigilance: Suspicions of ethical misconduct must be reported to the editorial office.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

  • Editorial Independence: Decisions are made based on academic quality, free from commercial or political influence.
  • Fair and Transparent Processes: Editors ensure consistency, timeliness, and integrity in peer review and decision-making.
  • Misconduct Handling: Ethical concerns are investigated in accordance with COPE procedures. Corrections or retractions are issued as needed.

4. Misconduct and Corrections

RGGD reserves the right to act upon proven misconduct. Measures may include:

  • Retraction or correction of published articles
  • Notification of affiliated institutions or funders
  • Temporary or permanent submission bans

5. Ethical Oversight and Policy Updates

This statement is reviewed periodically to align with evolving best practices. RGGD remains committed to fostering a publishing environment grounded in academic integrity and professional ethics.