International Standards and Ethical Principles

The editorial board of the journal Foreign Affairs is guided in its work by international principles of publication ethics, including integrity, confidentiality, transparency of editorial procedures, and the management of conflicts of interest. The journal adheres to the recommendations of COPE  (Committee on Publication Ethics), the principles of WAME  (World Association of Medical Editors), and the provisions of DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) concerning the objective evaluation of research outputs.

The editorial practice also takes into account the Publishing Ethics Resource Kit (Elsevier) and other international resources on publication ethics.

General Principles of Editorial Activity

The editorial board follows the principles of scientific rigour, objectivity, professionalism, and support for innovative research. Equal and respectful treatment of all participants in the publication process is ensured. Particular attention is given to providing advisory support to authors in preparing manuscripts in accordance with the requirements of international indexing databases.

Decisions on Publication

Decisions on publication are made solely on the basis of the scientific value of the manuscript, its relevance to the journal’s scope, and the results of independent peer review.

The editorial board adheres to policies preventing plagiarism, copyright infringement, and unethical practices. Unpublished materials may not be used without the authors’ consent.

Evaluation is conducted independently of the authors’ personal characteristics.

Confidentiality

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Information regarding authors, content, and review outcomes is not disclosed, except where necessary within the editorial process.

Prevention and Management of Conflicts of Interest

Editors, reviewers, and consultants are required to declare any conflicts of interest and to refrain from participating in the evaluation of relevant manuscripts.

The editorial board ensures the consideration of all complaints and disputes that may arise both before and after publication and reserves the right to inform readers of the outcomes of their resolution.

Ethical Requirements for Research

Research involving human participants must be approved by the relevant ethics committees. Authors must confirm voluntary participation, informed consent, and the protection of anonymity and confidentiality.
The ethical integrity of research must be justified and, where possible, supported by references to international standards, including:

• American Sociological Association Code of Ethics (1997);
• ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market, Opinion and Social Research (2016);
• European Commission Ethics and Data Protection Guidelines (2021).

Prior to conducting research, approval from an appropriate ethics committee (IRB or equivalent) must be obtained. If such approval is not required, this must be properly justified with reference to applicable legislation.

Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

The editorial board ensures compliance with ethical standards, confidentiality, and proper interaction with authors.

Editorial revisions are agreed with authors. Materials that do not meet the journal’s scope, lack scientific value, contain plagiarism, or have been previously published are not accepted for publication.

The journal ensures the involvement of independent and competent reviewers and applies a double-blind peer review process.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are required to provide objective, well-reasoned, and confidential evaluations of manuscripts, adhere to deadlines, and not use the materials for personal purposes.

If a conflict of interest or evidence of research misconduct is identified, the reviewer must immediately inform the editorial office.

Responsibilities of Author

Authors guarantee the originality, reliability, and novelty of their research, proper citation of sources, and the absence of plagiarism.

Submitted materials must not have been published or submitted elsewhere.

If errors are identified, authors are obliged to correct them promptly in cooperation with the editorial office.

Authorship and Responsibility

All authors must have made a substantial contribution to the research, approve the final version, and bear responsibility for its content. Individuals who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged.

Submission Declaration

Submission of a manuscript implies its originality, absence of prior publication, and that it is not under consideration elsewhere.

Data Sharing Policy

The journal supports openness in research; however, access to data is provided upon request through the editorial office and only with the authors’ consent, taking into account ethical and legal constraints.

Post-publication Discussion

The journal supports scholarly discussion after publication, including on platforms such as PubPeer, provided that the principles of academic ethics are observed. All substantiated comments are considered in accordance with ethical procedures.

Transparency of Funding

Authors are required to declare all sources of research funding or indicate their absence, ensuring transparency and trust in research outcomes.