FQP– Philosophy and Public Issues is an open-access academic journal on political, moral, legal, and social philosophy. The Journal adopts a double-blind peer-review process to select the papers to be published. Analytical clarity, scientific originality, and methodological rigor are essential requirements for the acceptance of articles.

All the parties involved – Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, Co-editor(s), Members of the Scientific Board, the Executive Board and the International Advisory Board, Authors and Guest Editors of Book Symposia or Special Sections – are committed to the following ethical requirements.

This journal adheres to the Open Access policy and publishes contributions in “Gratis Open Access” mode under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license (full text available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International).

Duties of the Publisher

The publication of scientific research products is an extensive process that necessitates the involvement of numerous parties (i.e, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief and Co-editors, Scientific Board, Executive Board and Editorial Managers, Referees, Authors and Guest Editors) to maintain rigor and accuracy.

The Publisher encourages the Editor-in-Chief and Co-editors, Scientific Board, Executive Board of the Journal to adopt the best international practices and ensures their implementation. The Publisher also requires that the Editor-in-Chief and Co-editors, Scientific Board, Executive Board accepts original contributions for publication, written in compliance with copyright laws, adhering to high scientific standards, and relevant to the content and goals of the Journal.

The Publisher is committed to the promotion and supervision of peer review as a method of article selection, supports research independence, condemns any violation of copyright and plagiarism, and demands and encourages original contributions based on rigorous and verified data, committing to the publication of corrections for any errors found in published articles.

Duties of the Editorial Boards

The Editorial Boards of the Journal are responsible for ensuring the fairness and impartiality of the systems used to evaluate, accept, or reject articles submitted by Authors. The Boards are responsible for the implementation of the double-blind peer-review process, the maintenance of the anonymity of the Referees, and that submitted articles intended for blind review have been correctly anonymised.

The Boards are dedicated to the advancement of the Journal’s scientific quality, operating with the objective of enhancing its rigor and credibility in the field. Unpublished material contained in articles submitted to the Journal may not be used by any of the members of the Editorial Boards for their own research without the written consent of the Author(s).

The Editor-in-Chief (Direttore Scientifico):

With the support of members of the Executive Board and Co-Editors, the Editor-in-Chief exercises the control over all the contents of the Journal. The Editor-in-Chief ensures the accuracy and fairness of the systems used to evaluate, accept, or reject articles submitted by Authors and submitted proposal for Book Symposia and Special Sections.

The Editor-in-Chief oversees the double-blind peer review process, ensuring its consistency, the anonymity of Referees, and that submitted articles intended for blind review have been correctly anonymised. In their capacity as both Editor-in-chief and Co-editors, they bear a professional responsibility to ensure that editorial processes remain unbiased and are not unduly influenced by personal bias or external pressures. This commitment encompasses the prevention of any actions that could potentially result in conflicts of interest. Furthermore, the principles of fairness and inclusivity mandate a zero-tolerance approach towards any forms of discrimination based on factors such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, personal beliefs, political orientation, geographic origin, or ethnic background. In instances where under-representation is identified, the Editor-in-Chief may initiate positive measures to ensure the inclusion and representation of these marginalised groups.

The Editor-in-Chief promotes, together with co-editors and members of the Scientific Board, freedom of expression and ensures that market interests do not compromise the scientific quality of publications and adherence to ethical standards.

The Editor-in-Chief and Co-editors keep both Authors and Referees promptly informed about any developments in the evaluation process. If cases of plagiarism or copyright infringement are found in the articles under review, the manuscript will be rejected. If serious errors, conflicts of interest, or instances of plagiarism are found in a published article, the Editor-in-Chief and Co-editors, after consultation with the Scientific Board, inform both the Publisher and the Author(s) and Guest-Editor(s) (if applicable), and if necessary, issues an Erratum/ Errata Corrige or requests the Author(s) to withdraw the article.

The Editor-in-Chief accepts and endorse the Journal’s editorial policies and the ethical code of conduct. In addition, the Editor-in-Chief complies with current laws regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The utilisation of unpublished material by the Editor-in-Chief for the purpose of their own research is strictly prohibited in the absence of explicit consent from the author.

The Co-editors

The group of Co-editors comprises the Co-editor, the Founding Editor and the Director of the Adivisory Board. Co-editors are expected to support all the activities and work in close collaboration with the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal.

Co-editors accept and endorse the Journal’s editorial policies and the ethical code of conduct. In addition, they comply with current laws regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The utilisation of unpublished material by the Co-editors for the purpose of their own research is strictly prohibited in the absence of explicit consent from the author.

The Scientific Board (Comitato Scientifico):

The Scientific Board organises regular meetings (online and in-person) and follows the Journal publishing activities. In its capacity, the board ensures the accuracy and fairness of the systems used to evaluate, accept, or reject articles submitted by Authors. The Scientific Board is supportive of the Editor-in-Chief in the prevention of any conflicts of interest, discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, religion, personal or political beliefs, geographic origin, or ethnic background.

The Scientific Board supports the Editor-in-Chief in promoting freedom of expression and ensure that market interests do not compromise the scientific quality of publications or the adherence to ethical standards.

Members of the Scientific Board must accept the Journal’s editorial policies and ethical guidelines of conduct. It is also required that they do not to disclose any information about submitted contributions or in-progress/ unpublished contents of the Journal to third parties without prior authorization of the Editor-in-Chief. The use of unpublished material by members of the Scientific Board for the purpose of their own research is strictly prohibited in the absence of explicit consent from the Author(s).

The Executive Board:

The Executive Board supports the activities of the Editor-in-Chief and co-editor(s) and helps to manage the various tasks involved in the publishing process. The Executive Board is responsible for collecting unpublished material, supporting the Editor-in-Chief in handling the peer-review process, organising the various issues contents, and in ensuring a preliminary screening of submitted articles. The Executive Board shall inform the Editor-in-Chief, Co-editors and the Scientific Board if cases of plagiarism and copyright infringement are found.

Members of the Executive Board must accept the Journal’s editorial policies and ethical guidelines of conduct. It is also required that they do not to disclose any information about submitted contributions or in-progress/ unpublished contents of the Journal to third parties without prior authorization of the Editor-in-Chief. The utilisation of unpublished material by members of the Scientific Board for the purpose of their own research is strictly prohibited in the absence of explicit consent from the Author(s).

International Advisory Board

The International Advisory Board (IAB) organises regular yearly meetings (online) and follows the Journal publishing activities. In its capacity, the IAB ensures international recognition to the Journal. The IAB is also responsible for ensuring that the contents of the various issues are aligned with international high-quality standards. The IAB is supportive of the Editor-in-Chief in promoting diversity and inclusion, freedom of expression and ensure that market interests do not compromise the scientific quality of publications or the adherence to ethical standards.

Members of the IAB must accept the Journal’s editorial policies and ethical guidelines of conduct.

Duties of Guest– Editor(s)

Guest Editor(s) agrees to adhere to the journal’s editorial guidelines, which stipulate that the name of the Guest Editor(s) does not need to be indicated within the issue under their supervision. Instead, the name of the Guest Editor(s) should be included in the Credits section, which is available on the journal’s website.

Guest Editor(s) accepts the Journal’s editorial policies and ethical guidelines of conduct. In addition, they must comply with current laws regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

Duties of the Author(s)

Author(s) warrants that the article submitted for review is original and has not been published yet, nor it is in the process of evaluation/publication elsewhere.

Author(s) expresses their agreement with the procedures for selecting articles that are set out on the Journal’s website. Furthermore, Author(s) declares their awareness of the fact that their manuscript will undergo a double-blind peer-review process. During the time of evaluation, Author(s) refrains from submitting the paper elsewhere. If the article is accepted, Author(s) licences publishing rights to the publisher.

Author(s) agrees to declare any possible conflict of interest that may have influenced its content by submitting the paper for review. All sources of financial support for the project must be properly indicated to the Journal.

Author(s) is obliged to properly cite the sources of the content reported and obtain the necessary permissions to publish images, tables or other content already published in accordance with the provisions of the copyright law.

Fraudulent or wilfully inaccurate statements constitute unethical behaviour and are unacceptable. Author(s) is responsible for the accuracy of the data presented in the article and the objectivity of its interpretations. All individuals who have contributed to writing the text, reviewed and approved its final version, and agreed to its publication must be indicated as Authors in the article.

If Author(s) finds significant errors or inaccuracies in the published manuscript, they have a duty to promptly notify the scientific board and provide appropriate errata corrections.

Author(s) accepts the Journal’s editorial policies and ethical guidelines of conduct. In addition, they must comply with current laws regarding defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

Invited Author(s) is subject to the same obligations of all the others Authors. In order to ensure high– evaluation standards the Journal adopt a single-blind peer review process for commentaries written by invited Author(s) to contribute to book symposia as well as for articles contributing to Special Sections.

Duties of Referees

Referees support the evaluation process of submitted article, ensure the high quality of manuscript under review and accept the deadlines specified by the Journal Managing Editors.

Each review must be conducted with objectivity and impartiality, providing clear and well-supported reasoning for the evaluation. Referees identify relevant bibliographic material that has not been cited in the article and suggest improvements that could enhance its potential for publication.

Referees should not accept articles for evaluation if there are any conflicts of interest due to competitive, collaborative, or other types of connections with the Authors and his/her/their affiliation.

Referees are committed to treat manuscripts under review as confidential documents. The dissemination or discussion of these materials with third parties is strictly prohibited.

Referees accept the Journal’s editorial policies and ethical guidelines of conduct.

Procedures Related to Violations of Scientific Integrity

The Editor-in– Chief and Co-editors, after consultation with the Scientific Board, notify the Publisher if a case of plagiarism or copyright infringement in articles (under review or already published) is detected. If conflicts of interest or plagiarism are identified in a published article, the parties involved (Editor-in– Chief and Co-editors and the Publisher) will publish an erratum. The parties concerned then proceed with a request for the Author(s) to withdraw the article.

The Editor-in-Chief and Co-Editors, supported by the Executive Board and the Scientific Board, exercise the necessary control over the content of the Journal to identify improper conduct and prevent illegal activities from occurring in the publication.

Any corrections to published articles that are deemed necessary are highlighted through the errata corrige procedure.

Author(s), as the exclusive holder or joint holder with the co-author of the rights to their article, guarantees that it is original, freely available, and lawful, and indemnifies the Publisher from any potential damages or costs. Author(s) acknowledges the publisher, G. Giappichelli Srl, and agrees to assign the rights to publish the article in the Journal. Author(s) is responsible for ensuring that the article under review is original or informing the Editor-in-Chief and Co-editors if it has already been published or is in the process of being published elsewhere. The Author accepts the article selection process outlined on the journal’s website, particularly the double-blind peer review procedure.

Procedure for Publicizing the Issues after Publication

The Journal may publish articles on topics previously covered by earlier contributions in order to further the debate on the subject. For issues of significant relevance and timeliness, the Journal may organize conferences or public event to disseminate the results. Any modifications or corrections to published articles are allowed only in exceptional cases, and always with acknowledgment in the article’s publication page so that future readers are aware of the changes made.

Intellectual Property Policy

The duration of the “embargo” for cataloguing individual contributions from the Journal in institutional repositories (so-called green open access) is determined by the Publisher on a case-by-case basis, following a justified request from the author, and can never be shorter than 18 months. The Publisher will declare the “embargo” in writing within 20 days of the author’s request; if no response is provided, the Publisher’s silence will be considered as an 18-month embargo.

The Author, therefore, agrees – unless otherwise stipulated in writing with the Giappichelli publishing house – not to translate and/or publish the peer-reviewed article in any other context before at least 18 months have passed since its publication in this Journal and, in any case, not to allow or publish the article in its editorial format elsewhere. Any online usage must also adhere to these conditions and can only be made through the author’s personal website or the institutional website of the entity to which the author is affiliated.