The International Journal of Historical Cartography and Regional Studies (IJHCRS) has a firm dedication to upholding the best standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal adheres to internationally accepted ethical standards in an attempt to be transparent, honest, and of high quality in scholarly publication.

Ethical practices during the submission, review, and publication process should be observed by all authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff. Unethical behaviours, including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of results, duplication, and other acts of academic misconduct, are strongly discouraged. Any paper discovered to violate ethics may be rejected or disqualified from publication.

Responsibilities of Authors

To place their manuscripts in the journal, authors must ensure their research complies with the following ethical requirements:

• Originality of Work – Manuscripts must present original work and should not have been published or submitted elsewhere before.
• Correct Citation and Recognition – Authors should acknowledge other writers by citing them accordingly.
• Avoidance of Plagiarism – Submissions must not feature plagiarism of any nature, self-plagiarism, or unauthorised use of others' work.
• Accuracy of Data – Authors must provide correct research data and must not fabricate, interfere with, or alter results.
• Authorship Transparency – All individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research must be listed as authors.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a critical role in ensuring the journal maintains good quality and credibility. The ethical standards expected of reviewers include:

• Confidentiality – Manuscripts submitted for review must be treated as confidential documents.
• Objective Evaluation – Reviews must be fair, objective, and free from personal bias.
• Constructive Feedback – Reviewers are expected to provide clear and constructive comments to assist in improving the manuscript.
• Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest – Reviewers must decline to review a manuscript if any conflict of interest exists.

Responsibilities of Editors

The editors of the International Journal of Historical Cartography and Regional Studies are responsible for ensuring the quality of the publication process. Their duties include:

• Making publication decisions based on the scholarly merit and relevance of the manuscript.
• Assuring an impartial and even-handed peer-review process.
• Ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
• Handling ethical issues or complaints of misconduct appropriately and in a timely manner.

Handling of Ethical Issues

In case of any publication malpractice or ethical misconduct, the journal will take appropriate action. Possible measures include:

• Rejection of the manuscript.
• Requesting corrections or clarifications from the authors.
• Retraction of published works where necessary.
• Notification to the relevant institutions or authorities if serious misconduct is identified.

The International Journal of Historical Cartography and Regional Studies encourages responsible research practices by ensuring that its operational standards and ethics are upheld in order to maintain the credibility and integrity of scholarly publishing.