Plagiarism policy

1. Commitment to Originality

Politics & Security is committed to publishing only original research that has not been previously published and is not under review elsewhere. Every submitted manuscript undergoes a strict plagiarism screening process to ensure academic integrity and compliance with ethical publishing standards.

2. Plagiarism Detection System

  • All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using iThenticate software.
  • The similarity index is evaluated both automatically (via software) and manually (by the editorial board) to ensure accuracy.
  • Manuscripts containing more than 20% similarity (excluding references and common phrases) will be flagged for review.

3. Plagiarism Before Publication

Plagiarism cases detected before publication will be evaluated based on severity:

  • Minor overlap (≤ 15%) – The manuscript proceeds to review.
  • Moderate overlap (15-25%) – The manuscript is returned to the author for revision and proper citation.
  • Severe plagiarism (> 25%) – The manuscript is rejected immediately, and authors may be blacklisted from future submissions. If necessary, the journal may notify the author’s institution or funding agency.

The editorial team reserves the right to reject, revise, or take corrective action based on the findings.

4. Plagiarism After Publication

If plagiarism is detected after publication, the journal will conduct an investigation and take the following actions based on severity:

  • A plagiarism notice will be added to the article’s PDF and website.
  • The corresponding author will be notified and required to provide an explanation.
  • If plagiarism is confirmed, the article may be formally retracted, and the author’s institution and funding bodies may be informed.

The journal follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines when handling post-publication ethical breaches.

5. Types of Plagiarism Addressed

✅ Direct Plagiarism – Copying text, data, or ideas without proper citation.
✅ Self-Plagiarism (Text Recycling) – Reusing substantial parts of one’s own previously published work without proper attribution.
✅ Paraphrasing without Attribution – Rewording another author’s ideas without credit.
✅ Image, Table, and Data Plagiarism – Using visuals or datasets without permission or acknowledgment.

Authors must obtain copyright permissions for reproducing figures, tables, and illustrations from external sources.

6. Recommendations for Authors to Avoid Plagiarism

  • Use quotation marks for direct quotes and cite sources properly.
  • Paraphrase correctly by rewriting ideas in your own words while citing the source.
  • Limit direct quotes to only essential phrases, and provide references.
  • Ensure proper attribution for all data, figures, and tables.
  • Check your manuscript using plagiarism detection tools before submission.

By submitting a manuscript to Politics & Security, authors agree to comply with this plagiarism policy. Any breach may result in rejection, retraction, or reporting to relevant authorities.

For further inquiries, contact: editor@politics-security.net.