Review Ethics

Peer Review Ethics

Rural Governance and Green Development (RGGD) upholds the highest ethical standards in the peer review process, in alignment with the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international academic norms.

1. Confidentiality

  • Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.
  • Manuscripts must not be shared or discussed without editorial permission.

2. Impartiality and Fairness

  • Reviews must be objective, constructive, and free from bias.
  • Evaluation should focus on academic merit, not author identity.

3. Conflict of Interest

  • Disclose any recent collaboration, institutional ties, or competing research.
  • If conflicts exist, decline the review assignment.

4. Plagiarism and Misconduct

  • Report suspected plagiarism, duplication, data fabrication, or unethical practices to the editor.
  • All concerns will be handled per COPE guidelines.

5. Professional Conduct

  • Avoid harsh or dismissive language; be constructive.
  • Submit reviews within agreed deadlines or request extensions if needed.

6. Use of Unpublished Material

  • Information from peer review must not be used for personal gain before publication.

RGGD is committed to maintaining the integrity of peer review. Any breach of ethical responsibilities may result in removal from the reviewer database and notification to relevant institutions or professional bodies.