Conflict of Interest (CoI) Policy

At IIP: World Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, we are committed to ensuring the highest standards of transparency, ethical conduct, and academic integrity. Our Conflict of Interest (CoI) Policy is designed to identify, disclose, and manage any competing interests that could affect the editorial, peer review, or publication process.

✅ 1. What Constitutes a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest arises when personal, financial, or professional relationships could influence—or appear to influence—the objectivity, integrity, or impartiality of:

  • Submitted research

  • Peer review

  • Editorial decision-making

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Financial relationships (grants, consultancy, funding)

  • Personal relationships (family, friendship, rivalry)

  • Institutional affiliations (employment, board memberships)

✅ 2. Disclosure by Authors

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission, including:

  • Funding sources or sponsorships

  • Affiliations with organizations that may benefit from the research outcomes

  • Any non-financial competing interests that could bias the work

Authors should include a "Conflict of Interest Statement" at the end of their manuscript. If there is no conflict, the statement should read:

“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

✅ 3. Disclosure by Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Disclose any personal or professional relationships with the authors

  • Avoid reviewing manuscripts where a conflict exists

  • Inform the editorial office if they are unable to provide an unbiased and fair review

If a conflict is disclosed, the reviewer will be excused from the review process, and a neutral reviewer will be appointed.

✅ 4. Editorial Conflicts of Interest

Editors and editorial board members must:

  • Declare any conflicts when handling specific manuscripts

  • Recuse themselves from decisions where bias may arise

  • Ensure editorial decisions are made based solely on the academic merit of the submission

✅ 5. Managing and Mitigating Conflicts

Upon identification of a conflict of interest, the journal will take necessary actions to maintain the integrity of the review process:

  • Reassigning the manuscript to a neutral editor or reviewer

  • Making conflict disclosures transparent when relevant

  • Publishing a Conflict of Interest Disclosure when warranted

✅ 6. Transparency and Accountability

  • Conflict of interest declarations may be published alongside the article to ensure openness.

  • Editors reserve the right to request further information or clarification on any potential competing interest.

✅ 7. Post-Publication Action on Undisclosed Conflicts

If a conflict of interest is discovered after publication, the journal may:

  • Issue a correction or expression of concern

  • Retract the article if the conflict undermines the validity of the work

  • Inform the author's institution if needed

By enforcing this Conflict of Interest Policy, IIP: World Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences reinforces its commitment to ethical publishing, fostering trust and credibility in the academic community.