Publication Policy

Journal Policies

Public Affairs and Governance (PAG) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, transparency, and academic integrity. The journal adopts internationally recognized best practices to ensure the quality, credibility, and reliability of scholarly communication. These policies define the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher in maintaining ethical publishing standards.

Open Access Policy

PAG follows a full open access publishing model, ensuring that all articles are freely and permanently accessible online without subscription barriers. This model supports the global dissemination of knowledge and enhances the visibility and impact of published research.

All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license. Under this license:

  • Readers may freely access, download, and share published content
  • Articles may be distributed for non-commercial purposes
  • Proper attribution to the original publication must be maintained
  • No modifications or derivative works are permitted without prior permission

This licensing ensures a balance between accessibility and protection of author rights while maintaining the integrity of the published work.

Copyright Policy

Upon acceptance of a manuscript, authors are required to transfer copyright to the journal. This allows the publisher to manage distribution, indexing, and archiving of the content effectively.

Authors retain certain rights, including:

  • The right to reuse their work in future scholarly publications with proper citation
  • The right to share their work for educational and non-commercial purposes
  • The right to deposit their work in institutional or subject repositories
  • The right to present their work in conferences, lectures, and academic platforms

Authors are responsible for ensuring that any third-party material included in their work has appropriate permissions for reuse.

Self-Archiving and Repository Policy

PAG supports the broad dissemination of research through responsible self-archiving. Authors may share different versions of their manuscript as follows:

  • Author’s Original Manuscript (AOM): May be shared freely prior to submission or during the review process.
  • Accepted Manuscript (AM): May be shared after acceptance, provided that acknowledgment of publication is included along with a link to the final article.
  • Version of Record (VOR): The final published article may be shared via DOI or deposited in repositories for non-commercial use.

Authors are encouraged to ensure that all shared versions are properly linked to the final published article to maintain consistency and citation accuracy.

Publication Ethics and Responsibilities

The journal adheres to recognized ethical standards in scholarly publishing and expects all participants in the publication process to comply with these principles.

Duties of Authors

  • Original Work: Authors must submit only original work that has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere.
  • Plagiarism: Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is unacceptable and will result in rejection.
  • Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as authors.
  • Data Accuracy: Authors must present accurate data and provide sufficient detail to enable reproducibility.
  • Disclosure of Conflicts: All financial or personal conflicts of interest must be disclosed.
  • Ethical Approval: Research involving human participants or animals must comply with ethical standards and receive appropriate approvals.
  • Corrections: Authors must promptly notify the journal of any errors discovered after publication.

Duties of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents.
  • Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted impartially and supported by clear arguments.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers should complete their evaluations within the stipulated timeframe.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline review if a conflict exists.
  • Contribution to Quality: Reviewers should help improve the quality and clarity of the manuscript.

Duties of Editors

  • Decision Making: Editors are responsible for deciding which articles are published based on academic merit.
  • Fair Evaluation: Manuscripts are evaluated without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, or institutional affiliation.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
  • Conflict Management: Editors must avoid handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.

Peer Review Process

PAG employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartiality. Each submission undergoes:

  • Initial editorial screening for scope and quality
  • Review by independent subject experts
  • Evaluation based on originality, methodology, and contribution

The editorial decision may include acceptance, revision, or rejection based on reviewer feedback.

Handling of Ethical Misconduct

The journal takes allegations of misconduct seriously. This includes plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, and unethical research practices.

Investigations are conducted following standard procedures, and actions may include:

  • Rejection of the manuscript
  • Retraction of published articles
  • Notification to authors’ institutions
  • Restriction on future submissions

Corrections, Retractions and Updates

To maintain the integrity of the scholarly record, PAG will publish corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary. Authors are expected to cooperate fully in such cases.