Publication Ethics

Balkanistic Worlds is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, and responsible scholarly publishing.

The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and internationally recognized standards of scholarly publishing.

Editorial Integrity

Editorial decisions are based on the academic quality, originality, relevance, and integrity of submitted manuscripts. Decisions are made independently of commercial interests, sponsors, or other external influences.

The editors maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and ensure a fair and impartial editorial process.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

  • submit original work that is not under consideration elsewhere;

  • provide accurate and properly cited sources;

  • ensure that all listed authors have made a substantial contribution;

  • disclose relevant funding and conflicts of interest;

  • ensure the accuracy and integrity of research data;

  • comply with applicable ethical requirements.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • provide objective and constructive evaluations;

  • maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts;

  • disclose potential conflicts of interest;

  • identify relevant publications that have not been cited;

  • report suspected ethical or publication misconduct.

Publication Misconduct

The journal considers the following to constitute serious publication misconduct:

  • plagiarism and self-plagiarism;

  • fabrication or falsification of data;

  • duplicate or redundant publication;

  • inappropriate authorship or attribution;

  • manipulation of the peer-review process;

  • undisclosed conflicts of interest.

When misconduct is suspected, the journal investigates the matter and may request explanations or supporting documentation from the authors. Appropriate action may include rejection, correction, withdrawal, or retraction of a publication.

All cases are handled in accordance with applicable COPE guidance.

Corrections and Retractions

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the published scholarly record. Corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern may be issued when necessary.

For detailed procedures, see Corrections & Retractions.