Plagiarism and Artificial Intelligence Policy

Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Political and Development Issues only accepts original manuscripts that have not previously been published and are not under consideration by another journal or publisher.

Every submitted manuscript will be examined using similarity-detection software before proceeding to the peer-review process. The screening is conducted to identify:

  • direct plagiarism;

  • the use of ideas or data without proper citation;

  • paraphrasing that is excessively similar to the original source;

  • self-plagiarism;

  • duplicate or redundant publication; and

  • manipulation of citations or references.

Editorial decisions are not based solely on the similarity percentage. Editors will also consider the sources, patterns, context, and specific sections of the manuscript in which similarities are identified.

When a violation is identified, the editor may take one or more of the following actions:

  • request clarification or revision;

  • reject the manuscript;

  • retract a published article;

  • notify the author’s institution in cases of serious misconduct; or

  • restrict the author from submitting manuscripts for a specified period, depending on the severity of the violation.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all quotations, data, figures, tables, and ideas obtained from other sources are properly cited and acknowledged.

Artificial Intelligence Use Policy

Authors may use artificial intelligence or generative artificial intelligence technologies on a limited basis to assist with:

  • language editing;

  • grammar checking;

  • translation; or

  • improving the readability of a manuscript.

Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical compliance of an article.

Authors remain fully responsible for:

  • the accuracy of all information and data;

  • the originality of the arguments and analysis;

  • the accuracy of citations and references;

  • the protection of personal data and informant confidentiality;

  • potential bias or errors in artificial intelligence outputs; and

  • compliance with research and publication ethics.

Any substantive use of artificial intelligence must be disclosed transparently in the manuscript. The disclosure must include, at a minimum:

  • the name of the application or tool;

  • the purpose for which it was used; and

  • the section of the manuscript in which it was used.

Example of an AI Disclosure Statement

“The authors used [name of application] to assist with language editing and improve the readability of the manuscript. All outputs were reviewed and revised by the authors, who remain fully responsible for the content of the article.”

Artificial intelligence must not be used to:

  • generate or manipulate research data;

  • create interview results or findings that were never obtained;

  • generate fabricated references or quotations;

  • replace the authors’ scholarly analysis and interpretation;

  • commit plagiarism or conceal original sources;

  • create misleading images, figures, or data; or

  • upload confidential data, personal information, protected documents, or unpublished manuscripts without appropriate permission.

Use of Artificial Intelligence by Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are required to maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

Manuscripts, research data, review reports, and editorial communications must not be uploaded to publicly accessible artificial intelligence applications without permission from the journal and the authors.

Artificial intelligence must not be used to replace:

  • scholarly judgement;

  • manuscript evaluation;

  • editorial decision-making; or

  • the professional responsibilities of reviewers and editors.

Editors and reviewers remain fully responsible for the objectivity, accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of the editorial and peer-review processes.

Violations of this artificial intelligence policy may result in:

  • rejection of the manuscript;

  • withdrawal of manuscript acceptance;

  • cancellation of publication;

  • retraction of a published article; or

  • other editorial actions appropriate to the seriousness of the violation.