SOCRATES

Aim and Scope

SOCRATES is an esteemed international journal dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in Public Policy, Public Administration, and Philosophy. As a rigorously peer-reviewed and meticulously indexed publication, SOCRATES serves as a pivotal platform for academic discourse and the dissemination of pioneering research. The journal is committed to excellence, providing a forum for global scholars, researchers, and practitioners to explore critical issues, innovative theories, and practical applications within these fields. Each issue includes original contributions covering a wide array of topics, such as governance structures, policy analysis, ethical frameworks, and political philosophy. The journal upholds the highest standards of academic rigour and integrity through its comprehensive peer-review process, promoting impactful and influential scholarship. Indexed in leading databases, SOCRATES offers global visibility and accessibility to its diverse readership. The journal publishes biannually, in both print and online formats, and encompasses a broad subject category of Social Science. Its content includes research articles, review articles, short communications, case studies, research methods, opinion papers, observations, special articles, standards, reports, and proceedings papers. SOCRATES invites established scholars, emerging researchers, and interested readers to engage with its rich content and contribute to the collective pursuit of intellectual inquiry, critical discourse, and scholarly excellence.

Publication Ethics Statement

SOCRATES is committed to adhering to the Principles of Transparency and Best Practices in Scholarly Publishing.

Ethics:

Authors submitting to The SOCRATES Journal are expected to uphold basic standards of professional ethics and conduct common across all areas of scholarly publishing. By agreeing to the publication terms, authors certify the originality of their work and its exclusive submission to the journal. Additionally, all involved parties are required to maintain standards of professional respect and civility. While such standards are generally upheld in Social Science publishing, occasional misunderstandings and breaches may occur, including instances of plagiarism, inadequate attribution, conflicts of interest, or unprofessional behaviour toward referees, authors, editors, or journal staff members. This document outlines the expected standards of professional and ethical conduct, particularly as they apply to publication in the SOCRATES journal.

Plagiarism and Republication:

Plagiarism, defined as the unauthorized use or replication of another author's work or ideas without proper acknowledgment, is considered a serious ethical violation and a breach of journalistic standards. SOCRATES JOURNAL maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism, whether it involves direct copying or paraphrasing without appropriate attribution. Authors are reminded to cite all sources properly, including any reused content from their own previously published work.

Attribution and Citation Practice:

Authors submitting to SOCRATES are expected to appropriately cite previous relevant work, especially when presenting new ideas or findings. Failure to credit prior research, whether intentional or unintentional, is viewed as a breach of professional ethics and can lead to manuscript rejection. While it may be challenging to include every relevant reference due to the expanding body of Social Science literature, authors are encouraged to ensure accuracy and completeness in their citations. Referees and editors may provide guidance on citation updates and improvements, which authors are expected to incorporate before publication.

Conflicts of Interest:

Any factors that could potentially influence the impartiality of research or its publication, whether financial, professional, or personal, must be disclosed as competing interests. Failure to disclose such conflicts can result in manuscript rejection. If undisclosed conflicts come to light post-publication, appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with COPE guidelines, including article retraction if necessary. Authors are required to submit a Competing Interest (CI) statement upon manuscript submission and to update it as needed during the publication process.

Confidentiality Guidelines:

Peer review at SOCRATES is conducted under strict confidentiality, with identities of referees and content of reviews kept confidential for at least 75 years. Authors are not subject to the same confidentiality requirements but are expected to respect the confidentiality of referee reports and editorial correspondence.

Professional Conduct and Civility:

All participants in the publication process, including editors, authors, referees, and journal staff, are expected to maintain professional courtesy and respect throughout. While constructive criticism and debate are encouraged, personal attacks or verbal abuse are unacceptable and may result in refusal of submissions or cooperation in the peer review process.

Investigation of Misconduct Allegations:

Allegations of unethical conduct will be thoroughly investigated by the Editor of the Journal, and appropriate actions will be taken. Misconduct allegations falling outside the scope of publication may be directed to relevant institutional authorities. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the investigation process.