Complaints and Appeals Policy

The Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (JECS) is committed to handling all complaints and appeals fairly, confidentially, and in a timely manner, in accordance with COPE guidelines on complaints and appeals.

1. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors who wish to appeal a rejection decision must submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief at editorial@ejecs.org within 30 days of receiving the decision. The appeal must clearly state the grounds for reconsideration and provide a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments. Appeals based solely on disagreement with the decision, without new scientific arguments, will not be considered.

2. Appeal Review Process

Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, if necessary, an independent editorial board member who was not involved in the original decision. The Editor-in-Chief's decision on the appeal is final. Authors will be informed of the outcome of their appeal within 30 working days of submission.

3. Complaints About Editorial Processes

Complaints regarding editorial processes, reviewer conduct, publication timelines, or any other aspect of the journal's operations may be submitted in writing to editorial@ejecs.org. All complaints will be acknowledged within 7 working days and investigated within 30 working days. The complainant will be informed of the outcome and any actions taken.

4. Complaints About Published Content

Concerns about the integrity of published articles, including allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, citation manipulation, or authorship disputes, will be handled in accordance with COPE flowcharts and JECS's Retraction Policy. If an investigation finds evidence of misconduct, appropriate action will be taken, including issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

5. Complaints About Reviewer or Editor Conduct

If an author or any party believes that a reviewer or editor has acted inappropriately, including showing bias, breaching confidentiality, or misusing submitted material, a formal complaint should be submitted to editorial@ejecs.org. All such complaints will be treated confidentially and investigated thoroughly.

6. Confidentiality

All complaints and appeals are handled confidentially. The identities of complainants will be protected to the extent possible. JECS is committed to ensuring that no complainant suffers any negative consequences as a result of submitting a complaint or appeal in good faith.