Definition of Complaints

Complaints are understood as any substantiated submissions from authors, reviewers, readers, or other interested parties concerning possible breaches of publication ethics, editorial procedures, or quality standards related to the submission, peer review, or publication of materials in the journal Foreign Affairs.

Consideration of Complaints

The editorial office ensures the timely, impartial, and constructive consideration of all complaints. Each submission is examined with due regard to its content, nature, and complexity. In handling complaints, the editorial office follows international recommendations, in particular the principles of COPE  (Committee on Publication Ethics).

Complaints should be sent to the journal’s official email address: info@uaforeignaffairs.com. Submissions must be clear, reasoned, and contain sufficient information to allow assessment of the situation, with supporting materials attached where possible.

As a rule, complaints are considered within 30 working days; however, in complex cases this period may be extended in order to ensure a full and objective review.

Submissions that are offensive, threatening, or defamatory in nature will not be considered. Where a complaint falls outside the journal’s competence, the complainant will be provided with a reasoned response explaining this.

Definition of Appeals

An appeal is understood as a formal request from an author for reconsideration of an editorial decision, including rejection of publication or the outcome of peer review, where the author believes that the decision was made in breach of procedure or on the basis of an incomplete or incorrect assessment.

Grounds and Criteria for Submitting an Appeal

An appeal may be submitted where there are reasonable grounds, including in particular:

• the presence of factual errors in the reviews;
• a possible conflict of interest on the part of reviewers or editors;
• a breach of the peer review procedure;
• an incomplete or biased assessment of the scholarly content of the work.

An appeal must contain a clear justification, specific comments on the decision taken, and, where possible, supporting materials.

Procedure for Considering Appeals

Appeals should be submitted to the journal’s official email address. Upon receipt of an appeal, the editorial office conducts a renewed assessment of the materials, which may include consultation with independent experts or a repeat peer review.

Appeals are considered impartially and in accordance with ethical standards. The final decision is taken by the editorial office following a comprehensive review of the author’s arguments and the previous conclusions.

Restrictions on Appeals

Appeals will not be considered where they lack sufficient justification, merely repeat previous arguments without new evidence, or are submitted in an improper form. A decision taken following consideration of an appeal is final.