Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Editorial Procedures
» Fair play
» Submission and Acceptance Guidelines
» Content Relevance and Scope Alignment
» Editorial Independence Policy
» Editorial Decisions and Appeals
» Editorial and Reviewer Accountability Policy
» Multiple Submissions
» Section Policies
» Resolving inconsistencies
» Publishing Schedule

Ethical Standards and Research Integrity
» Ethical Standards and Anti-Bias

» Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

» Commitment to Responsible Research Assessment (DORA)

» Disclosure and conflicts of interest

» Allegations of Research Misconduct

» Funding Disclosure Policy

» Data fabrication and falsification
» Policy of Screening for Plagiarism

» Policy on Academic–Practitioner Co-authorship
» Policy on Ethical Committee Approval 
» Data sharing and reproducibility
» Retrospective Ethical Review Policy
» Policies on the Use of AI
» Manuscript Withdrawal by the Authors

Peer Review Process
» Peer Review Statement
» Author and Reviewer Communication

Publication and Post-Publication Policies
» Citation Policies

» Citation Policy on Referencing Other Authors' Works
» Retraction and Correction Policy
» Post-publication Discussions
» CrossMark Policy

Access, Licensing, and Archiving
» Open Access Policy
» Repository Policy

» General Repositories

» Self-archiving policy
» Archiving Digital Version
» Article Processing Charge
» Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Policy

Intellectual Property and Copyright
» Journal policies on intellectual property
» Copyright
» Licensing
» Ownership

Administration and Transparency

» Governing Body
» Investigations and Complaints Policy
» Privacy Statement
» Journal’s Revenue Sources
» ORCID Number
» Disclaimer

Duties
» Duties of Editors
» Duties of Authors
» Duties of Reviewers
» Duties of the Publisher

 

Editorial Procedures

Fair play

At the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, we are committed to ensuring that all manuscripts are assessed exclusively based on their intellectual merit, scholarly rigor, and overall contribution to the field. Submissions are reviewed through a fair and transparent process that emphasizes methodological soundness, clarity, and originality. We firmly uphold the principle that an author’s age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, or political beliefs must not influence editorial decisions, thereby promoting an inclusive and respectful academic community.

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Submission and Acceptance Guidelines

We provide detailed submission guidelines that outline our requirements for manuscript preparation, formatting, referencing, and ethical considerations. Authors must adhere to these guidelines to facilitate a smooth review process. Our acceptance criteria are transparent and consistently applied, focusing on the quality, relevance, and integrity of the research. We enforce ethical standards uniformly, including policies on plagiarism, data fabrication, and conflicts of interest.

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Content Relevance and Scope Alignment

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is committed to publishing high-quality, original research that significantly contributes to the field of urban studies. To maintain the journal’s thematic integrity and ensure that readers receive relevant and focused content, all submitted manuscripts must align with the journal’s stated aims and scope. Manuscripts that fall outside the journal’s scope will not be considered for review. To see the Aims and Scope of the journal please click here.

To ensure alignment with the journal’s scope, all submissions must meet the following criteria:

1. Thematic Relevance: The manuscript must address contemporary urban issues and align with the journal’s focus areas.
2. Originality: The research must present original findings, insights, or theoretical contributions that advance the field of urban studies.
3. Methodological Rigor: The study should employ robust and appropriate research methods, with clear explanations of data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
4. Practical or Theoretical Significance: The manuscript should demonstrate how the research contributes to urban theory, policy, or practice.
5. Clarity and Coherence: The manuscript must be well-written, logically structured, and accessible to an interdisciplinary audience.

Submissions that do not meet the journal’s scope and relevance criteria will be desk-rejected without external peer review. Authors will be notified of the decision with a concise explanation. Should an author wish to contest the decision, they may submit a written petition within 14 days. The manuscript will then be reassessed by an independent Section Editor who was not involved in the initial screening. If the same deficiencies are confirmed, the author will receive a formal rejection letter detailing the outstanding issues and inviting them to resubmit once the manuscript has been fully revised in line with the Author Guidelines.. To ensure your manuscript meets the journal’s formatting and submission requirements, please refer to the detailed Manuscript Preparation Guidelines available at the following link: Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

For further inquiries about scope alignment or submission suitability, please contact the Editorial Office at editor@ijcua.com.

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Editorial Independence Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs upholds complete editorial independence, ensuring that all editorial decisions are made solely based on scholarly merit, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Although the journal is owned by Alanya University, the editorial process operates independently from institutional influence, financial considerations, or external pressures. The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board have full authority over the selection, review, and publication of manuscripts, following COPE’s guidelines on editorial integrity. Any attempts to interfere with editorial decisions will be formally addressed to maintain the transparency, credibility, and autonomy of the journal.

 

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Editorial Decisions and Appeals

Our editorial decisions are made based on objective criteria and are communicated transparently to authors. Each decision—whether acceptance, revision, or rejection—is accompanied by constructive feedback from editors and reviewers.

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe a review contained factual errors, biased evaluations, or misinterpretations of their research. Appeals must be submitted in writing within 14 days of receiving the editorial decision and must include:

1. A formal appeal letter outlining the specific concerns regarding the decision.
2. A point-by-point response addressing the reviewers' comments, supported by evidence or references.
3. Any additional clarifications that may help the editorial board reassess the manuscript.

Review of Appeals:

• The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Board, will review the appeal within 14 days of submission.
• If necessary, an independent reviewer or a different section editor may be assigned to evaluate the manuscript.
• The outcome of the appeal may result in one of the following decisions:
• Uphold the original decision (rejection remains final).
• Invite the authors to submit a revised version for further review.
• Reassign the manuscript to new reviewers for an additional evaluation.

The final decision on an appeal is made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board and is binding. Authors will be notified of the final decision via email, and no further appeals will be considered after this point.

 

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Editorial and Reviewer Accountability Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is committed to maintaining transparency, fairness, and accountability in all editorial decisions. Editors and reviewers are expected to evaluate submissions based on scholarly merit, methodological soundness, and relevance to the journal’s scope, avoiding subjective biases or personal preferences. To ensure accountability, all editorial decisions are regularly reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board. If concerns arise regarding an editor or reviewer’s consistent rejection or acceptance of papers based on non-academic criteria, the matter will be formally investigated, and corrective actions—such as reassignment of manuscripts or removal from editorial duties—may be taken. This policy aligns with COPE’s ethical guidelines to uphold the integrity and credibility of the peer review process.

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Multiple Submissions

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs upholds strict standards against multiple submissions and redundant publications. We do not consider manuscripts that are under review at another publication simultaneously, nor do we accept manuscripts that substantially duplicate content published or submitted elsewhere. Authors must confirm that their submission is exclusive to this journal and is not being considered elsewhere, ensuring a fair and thorough peer-review process and contributing to the timely and ethical publication of research. Authors are required to ensure that their submitted work is original and has not been published previously in any other journal, book, or conference proceedings. This policy preserves the integrity of published research and provides readers with unique, original contributions to urban studies. By submitting to the journal, authors affirm that their work is original and not under consideration elsewhere.

Submissions that contravene this policy may be rejected immediately. Any instances of multiple submissions or redundancy will be addressed in accordance with the journal’s ethical guidelines. Authors are encouraged to comply fully with this policy to uphold the high standards of academic publishing and to support the dissemination of unique, rigorously vetted research.

Policy on Rejecting Unethical or Low-Rigor Submissions: The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs reserves the right to decline or withdraw any manuscript—at initial screening, during peer review, or even after provisional acceptance—if it is found to breach ethical standards (e.g., plagiarism, fabricated data, undisclosed conflicts of interest) or to fall below the journal’s methodological and scholarly thresholds. Editorial decisions to reject on these grounds are guided by COPE Core Practices, documented for transparency, and communicated promptly to authors with a clear rationale; if issues are discovered post-publication, the journal will issue a correction or retraction in line with its Retraction and Correction Policy.

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Section Policies

Section Title	Submission Type	Peer Review Type	Indexing Status	Submission Availability
Original Research	Full-length papers with empirical data or novel methods	Double-blind	Indexed	Open Submissions
Review Articles	Systematic or narrative reviews	Double-blind	Indexed	Open Submissions
Case Studies	In-depth urban cases or comparative analysis	Double-blind	Indexed	Open Submissions
Monographic Studies	Long-form studies (8,000+ words)	Double-blind	Indexed	Open Submissions
Book Reviews	Short critiques of recent publications	Editorial review	Indexed	Open Submissions
Conceptual Essays (new)	Theoretical frameworks or critiques	Double-blind	Indexed	Open Submissions

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Resolving Inconsistencies

In the case that an author has serious and reasonable objections to a review, the Editorial team makes an assessment of whether the said review is objective and whether it meets academic standards. If there is doubt about the objectivity or quality of the review, the Editor-in-Chief will assign an additional reviewer(s).

Additional reviewers may also be assigned when reviewers’ decisions (accept or reject) are contrary to each other or are otherwise substantially incompatible.

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Publishing Schedule

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs releases two scheduled issues per year—June and December—while also operating a continuous early-access model.

• Rolling submissions: Authors may submit manuscripts at any time via our online portal. All submissions enter peer review immediately upon passing the initial screening, irrespective of the calendar date.
• Issue-cut-off dates: To be considered for inclusion in the next scheduled issue, a manuscript must reach us by 30 March (for the June issue) or 30 September (for the December issue). Submissions received after those dates will continue through review and, once accepted, will appear online as early-access articles and will be allocated to the following issue.
• Early-access publication: Accepted papers are published online within two weeks of final acceptance, complete with DOI and full citation details. They remain citable and permanently accessible; subsequent pagination into the compiled issue does not alter the DOI.

 

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Ethical Standards and Research Integrity

Ethical Standards and Anti-Bias

We are committed to upholding the highest standards of editorial integrity and fairness. Our editorial team and reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and to treat all submissions impartially. Decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and relevance to the journal's scope, without discrimination based on authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy. We enforce ethical practices consistently across all submissions.

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Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Policy on Authorship Changes After Submission

To uphold academic integrity and transparency, the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs adheres to a strict policy regarding authorship changes after manuscript submission. Authorship—including the addition, removal, or rearrangement of author names—must reflect significant scholarly contributions as outlined in our "Authorship and Contributor Order" policy and follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

1. Before Acceptance

Requests for changes to the author list (addition, removal, or reordering) must be submitted by the corresponding author via a formal written request to the editorial office. The request must include:

• A clear reason for the change,
• Written confirmation from all authors, including those being added or removed, explicitly agreeing to the change,
• An updated authorship contribution statement (CRediT) reflecting the revised roles.

The editorial team will evaluate the request, and if approved, the changes will be reflected in the final version.

2. After Acceptance but Before Publication

Authorship changes after acceptance are discouraged and will only be considered under exceptional circumstances. Any request must include a compelling justification and be supported by:

• Written consent from all authors (current and proposed),
• Updated CRediT author contribution details,
• A signed declaration stating that the integrity of the scholarly work remains unchanged.

Approval is subject to the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

3. After Publication

Once an article is published, authorship changes are not permitted, except in cases of proven misconduct (e.g. ghost authorship or wrongful exclusion). Any necessary corrections will be issued in the form of a corrigendum or editorial note, following a COPE-guided investigation.

4. Dispute Resolution

If an authorship dispute arises that cannot be resolved internally by the authors, the journal will refer the matter to the relevant institutions or research ethics bodies. The journal will not adjudicate disputes but will take appropriate action based on institutional findings.

 

Authorship and Contributor Order

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs adheres to the principle that authorship credit should be based on substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; or the creation of new software used in the work; or has drafted the work or revised it critically for important intellectual content; and has approved the final version to be published; and agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the work. While the first author is typically considered the primary contributor, author order is ultimately determined by mutual agreement among the co-authors, reflecting their respective intellectual contributions to the research. In cases where two or more authors have contributed equally to the work, this should be clearly stated in the acknowledgements or a dedicated "CRediT" section within the manuscript, and authors may, by mutual agreement, choose their presentation order, often indicated by a prominent footnote or symbol next to their names. All authors are expected to confirm their individual contributions in line with the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) system if applicable to their submission type.

Geographical Diversity & Global South / Emerging Hubs Engagement Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is committed to amplifying scholarly voices from the Global South and other emerging research hubs; accordingly, we run periodic themed calls for papers on region-specific urban challenges, offer targeted outreach webinars and manuscript-development workshops, and maintain a geographically balanced Editorial Board with representation from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East to ensure culturally informed handling of submissions. Although the journal charges no publication fees, we additionally prioritise rapid, supportive peer review and, where needed, language-editing assistance for authors whose first language is not English. We monitor annual statistics on submissions, acceptances, and published content by world region to gauge progress and refine our initiatives, thereby fostering an inclusive, globally representative discourse aligned with the scope of the journal.

Gender Equity and Inclusion Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is dedicated to promoting gender balance across all facets of its operations, including authorship, peer review, and its editorial board, as a fundamental component of its broader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitment. We actively strive to ensure fair representation and equitable opportunities for all genders, recognizing that diverse perspectives strengthen scholarship and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of urban issues. Our ongoing efforts include monitoring the gender representation among our contributors and editorial teams, encouraging submissions from and inviting reviewers and editors of underrepresented genders in urban studies, and actively working to mitigate unconscious bias throughout the publication process.

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Commitment to Responsible Research Assessment (DORA)

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). We endorse the principles of responsible research assessment, recognising that research should be evaluated on its own merit and contribution to knowledge, rather than through journal-based metrics such as the Impact Factor. Our editorial policies encourage fair, transparent, and inclusive evaluation of research outputs, prioritising methodological quality, originality, and societal relevance. By aligning with DORA, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an equitable and responsible scholarly publishing environment.

 

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Allegations of Research Misconduct

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs follows COPE Core Practices and flowcharts when responding to allegations of research misconduct (including fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical research, undisclosed conflicts of interest, peer-review manipulation, or authorship fraud). Allegations may be raised by any party and should be sent to the Editorial Office. The journal may request raw data and images, consult independent experts, and contact authors’ institutions or funders. Outcomes can include rejection, correction, editorial note, expression of concern, or retraction. Where appropriate, institutions and indexing services will be notified. Editors and board members with conflicts of interest will recuse themselves from the process.

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Disclosure and conflicts of interest

Conflicts of interest, also known as competing interests, arise when external factors might influence the impartiality or objectivity of the research or its evaluation. Transparent disclosure of any potential conflicts allows others to make informed decisions regarding the research and its review process. Common types of conflicts of interest include:

• Financial
• Affiliations
• Intellectual Property
• Personal
• Ideological
• Academic

All authors must explicitly disclose any real or potential conflicts of interest related to the submitted work. This includes, but is not limited to, financial support, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patents, or relationships with organizations that may benefit or be harmed by the research findings. Authors are required to include a clearly stated “Conflict of Interest” section at the end of their manuscript, preceding the References section. This section should provide a concise summary of any relevant conflicts. If no conflicts exist, the statement should explicitly declare “The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.”

Reviewers and editors must recuse themselves from handling or assessing manuscripts in which they have any conflicts of interest that could compromise their impartiality.

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Funding Disclosure Policy

All authors submitting to the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs are required to disclose any financial support received for the conduct of their research or the preparation of their manuscript. This includes, but is not limited to, grants, fellowships, project funding, institutional support, or private sponsorship. Funding details must be clearly stated under a separate “Funding” section within the manuscript, immediately before the Acknowledgements. If no specific funding was received, authors must include the following statement: “This research received no external funding.” Failure to disclose funding sources or to provide a statement of non-funding may result in rejection or post-publication correction, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

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Data Fabrication and Falsification

At our journal, we uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and research ethics. We strictly adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines regarding data fabrication and falsification. Any instance of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate actions will be taken to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Data Fabrication refers to the intentional creation of non-existent data or research results without having conducted any actual experiments, observations, or data collection. Data Falsification involves manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, or altering, omitting, or modifying data to misrepresent research findings. This includes selective reporting and deceptive image or figure manipulation.

Prohibited Practices: We reserve the right to reject, retract, or report any manuscript found to involve:

• Fabrication or falsification of research data, images, figures, or experimental outcomes.
• Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (text recycling) and unauthorized use of others' work.
• Submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously (redundant publication).
• Salami slicing, where a single study is fragmented into multiple papers to increase publication count.
• Citation manipulation, including excessive self-citation, coercive citation practices, or citation stacking to inflate metrics.
• Improper authorship practices, such as ghost authorship, gift authorship, or denial of rightful authorship.

If data fabrication, falsification, or any form of misconduct is confirmed, the journal may:

• Reject or retract the paper (if already published).
• Notify the author’s institution and relevant funding bodies about the misconduct.
• Place a submission ban on the authors for a defined period.
• Report the violation to COPE and other indexing databases to uphold academic integrity.

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Policy of Screening for Plagiarism

All papers submitted to the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs will undergo a plagiarism check using the iThenticate software, part of the CrossCheck Plagiarism Screening System. Any papers found to contain plagiarism or self-plagiarism will be immediately rejected. The journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and expects all submissions to be original works of the authors. Proper citation and acknowledgment of sources are mandatory. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are free from any form of plagiarism, including duplicate publication of their own previous work without proper citation. The journal reserves the right to report any instances of plagiarism to the authors' institutions and relevant authorities. By submitting a manuscript, authors agree to these terms and acknowledge that failure to comply may result in sanctions.

 

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Policy on Academic–Practitioner Co-authorship

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs actively encourages manuscripts co-authored by researchers and practising professionals (e.g., planners, architects, policymakers, community organisers, industry consultants) to enhance the practical relevance and societal impact of published work. Submissions that demonstrate genuine collaboration—evidenced through shared conception, data collection, analysis, and joint authorship contributions—are prioritised, provided they meet the journal’s rigorous scholarly standards. Authors should indicate practitioner affiliations clearly and outline, in the CRediT Author Contribution Statement, how academic and practitioner insights were integrated to address real-world urban challenges or inform policy and design practice.

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Policy on Ethical Committee Approval

Our journal adheres to COPE's ethical guidelines, including policies on consent for publication, protection of vulnerable populations, ethical treatment of animals and human subjects, handling confidential information, and responsible business practices. For studies requiring ethical committee approval, authors must provide detailed information about the approval, including the name of the ethical committee, the date of approval, and the approval number. This information must be explicitly stated in:

1. The Methodology Section: Include the ethical approval details as part of the description of the study's methods.
2. The First and Last Page of the Manuscript: Clearly mention the ethical approval details for transparency.

This statement must appear at the end of the manuscript—under the heading “Institutional Review Board Statement” and before the references section. Authors may choose one of the following scenarios relevant to your study (and adjust the details as needed):

-This study received ethical approval from [Committee Name], approval number [Number], dated [Date].

-This study did not require ethical approval as it does not involve human or animal subjects.

-Ethical approval was not applicable to this study in accordance with [specific guideline or reason].

-All procedures followed ethical standards and were conducted in compliance with institutional and national regulations.

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Data Sharing and Reproducibility

We follow the FAIR Principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) for data sharing. If authors do not provide access to raw data without a valid reason, their article may be rejected. All submissions must include a Data Availability statement, even if there is no data included.

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Retrospective Ethical Review Policy

Prospective ethics approval is a fundamental prerequisite for any research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive personal data. In line with COPE, ICMJE and WHO best practice, the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs does not accept manuscripts that rely on retrospective (ex-post) ethics approval.

 

1 Scope of non-acceptance

• Human or animal research conducted without documented, prospective approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Research Ethics Committee (REC) or equivalent authority will be rejected outright.
• Where the lack of prior approval is discovered post-publication, the journal will retract or issue an Expression of Concern pending investigation.

2 Narrow, policy-based exemptions (not “case-by-case” discretion)

A manuscript may proceed without an ethics-committee letter only when the research clearly falls into one of the categories below and the authors supply documentary evidence that the work was exempt under the regulations in force at the time the study began:

 

Legitimate exemption	Required documentation
Analysis of fully anonymised, publicly available secondary datasets (e.g. census microdata, open-government GIS layers)	Statement citing the dataset licence and confirmation that no re-identifiable data were used.
Observational fieldwork in public spaces that does not record identifiable personal data or intervene in behaviour	Signed declaration from the principal investigator and (where applicable) departmental ethics officer confirming exemption.
Historical/archival materials already in the public domain and free of privacy restrictions	Archive or library reference and a statement of public-domain status.

Studies involving vulnerable populations, biospecimens, clinical interventions, or personal interviews/questionnaires are never exempt.

 

3 Author responsibilities for exemption claims

• The corresponding author must upload the exemption evidence at submission and include an “Ethics Statement” in the manuscript’s Methods section explaining why prior review was not required.
• Misclassification of a study as exempt constitutes ethical misconduct and may lead to rejection, retraction, and notification of the authors’ institution(s).

4 Editorial verification

• The Handling Editor checks exemption evidence against local legislation and discipline norms.
• Doubtful cases are escalated to the Editor-in-Chief and, where necessary, to an independent ethics adviser.
• The editorial decision is final; no appeals will be considered once a rejection is issued for missing prospective approval.

 

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Policies on the Use of Generative AI (GenAI)

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs follows COPE guidelines in these matters, and authors are encouraged to consult the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) resources for further guidance. As stated by COPE, authors remain fully responsible for all content in their manuscripts, including any portions influenced by Generative AI (GenAI) and AI-assisted tools, and are accountable for any breaches of publication ethics.

For Authors:

- AI or AI-driven large language models (e.g., NovelAI, Jasper AI, DALL-E, ChatGPT, Rytr AI) cannot be credited as authors or co-authors under any circumstances, as they lack the capacity for responsibility and accountability required of human contributors. All intellectual content, including that refined or developed with AI assistance, must be validated and overseen by the human authors, ensuring the manuscript’s integrity and ethical compliance.

- Generative AI may be employed to improve the clarity, fluency, and readability of the manuscript’s text, helping to refine language, resolve grammatical errors, and enhance overall presentation.

- Any use of Generative AI—whether for language editing, conceptual refinement, or other non-authorial support—must be transparently acknowledged in the Acknowledgements section. Authors must clearly state how AI was utilized and confirm that final content has been verified by the authors themselves in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Important note: Authors remain fully responsible for all content, including any portions developed with AI assistance, and must ensure accuracy, originality, and compliance with ethical standards (e.g., COPE, ICMJE).

Generative AI Images:

The Journal does not accept images produced solely by Generative AI due to unsettled legal, ethical, and copyright concerns. AI-based enhancements to pre-existing images or visuals must be fully disclosed so that editors and readers can assess the nature of the modifications. In rare cases, when AI-generated imagery is integral to the research itself (e.g., studies examining AI image generation methods), such content may be considered, provided it is clearly labeled as AI-generated and ethically sourced, and that it meets all applicable legal and copyright standards.

Example statement:
During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication.

 

AI Use by Reviewers:

Peer reviewers must not share or upload any part of a manuscript to Generative AI platforms, thus maintaining strict confidentiality and data protection. 

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Manuscript Withdrawal by the Authors

Authors have the right to withdraw their manuscript from the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs at any stage before final publication. To request withdrawal, the corresponding author must submit a formal written request to the editorial office, stating the manuscript title, submission ID, and reason for withdrawal. The request will be processed within seven working days, and once approved, the manuscript will be removed from the editorial system. Withdrawal after peer review or acceptance is discouraged unless there are compelling reasons, such as ethical concerns or significant errors. Authors should note that once a manuscript is published online, it cannot be withdrawn, and any necessary corrections or retractions will follow the journal’s Retraction & Correction Policy, in line with COPE guidelines.

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Peer Review Process

Peer Review Statement

At the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, every submitted manuscript undergoes a rigorous double-blind peer review process. We apply consistent review criteria to all submissions, evaluating them based on originality, relevance to contemporary urban issues, methodological rigor, clarity of presentation, and contribution to the field. Our reviewers follow standardized guidelines to ensure each manuscript is assessed fairly and thoroughly, without bias or favoritism. For details on the journal's Peer Review Statement, please visit the following link: https://www.ijcua.com/ijcua/reviewing-procedure

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Author and Reviewer Communication

We ensure consistent and professional communication with authors, reviewers, and editorial board members. Our correspondence follows standardized templates that provide clear instructions, expectations, and updates throughout the submission and review process. Feedback to authors is constructive and detailed, aiming to assist in improving their work. We are committed to prompt responses and transparent communication to foster a collaborative and respectful publishing environment.

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Publication and Post-Publication Policies

Citation Policies

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs adheres to the best practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding citation manipulation. We define citation manipulation as the inclusion of references that do not contribute to the scholarly content of the article and are added solely to increase citation counts for personal gain. This includes excessive self-citation, excessive citation to the journal publishing the article, and coordinated excessive citation between journals. Such practices violate publication ethics and are strictly prohibited.

Authors must ensure that all citations are relevant and contribute meaningfully to their work. Legitimate self-citations that address valid academic needs are acceptable. However, any form of manipulative citation will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript and may lead to further penalties, such as reporting to the authors' institutions or relevant authorities. The journal reserves the right to take appropriate action to uphold the integrity of the academic record. For more details, you can check their recommendations here: https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.3.1

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Citation Policy on Referencing Other Authors' Works

To maintain scholarly integrity, encourage academic diversity, and prevent citation clustering, the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs implements the following citation limitation policy:

Authors are permitted to cite the scientific publications of any single external author up to a maximum of two citations, or 5% of the total number of references—whichever is lower.

This policy applies to all types of references, including journal articles, books, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Exceptions may be granted for systematic literature reviews, meta-analyses, or in cases where the external author’s work is central to the theoretical or methodological framework of the study. Such exceptions must be justified explicitly in the manuscript and are subject to editorial approval. This policy is intended to:

• Promote balanced and comprehensive referencing practices,
• Discourage excessive self-citation and cross-citation networks,
• Encourage the inclusion of a diverse range of perspectives in academic discourse.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in requests for revision or rejection of the manuscript.

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Retraction and Correction Policy

Our journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly integrity. We recognize that errors, oversights, or misconduct can compromise the accuracy of the academic record. This policy outlines the procedures for addressing flawed, fraudulent, or otherwise compromised publications, ensuring transparency and trust in the scientific record. An article may be considered for retraction if:

1. Evidence of Fraud or Misconduct: Data fabrication, data falsification, plagiarism, unethical research practices, or other forms of misconduct are discovered.
2. Serious Errors: Errors in methodology or results that significantly undermine the reliability or validity of the research findings.
3. Duplicate Publication: If the article has been published elsewhere without proper authorization or disclosure.
4. Breach of Ethical Standards: Violation of ethical guidelines, including issues related to consent, confidentiality, or conflicts of interest that invalidate the research.

Retraction Process:

1. Investigation Initiation
• Investigations may be triggered by authors, readers, reviewers, editorial board members, or other concerned parties who provide credible evidence of misconduct or major errors.
• The Editor-in-Chief (or an appointed committee) will perform an initial review of the complaint or evidence.
2. Inquiry and Evaluation
• The Editorial Office requests any necessary documentation from the authors, reviewers, or relevant institutions.
• The Editor-in-Chief consults with subject matter experts or members of the Editorial Board for an unbiased evaluation of the evidence.
3. Decision and Communication
• If the investigation confirms misconduct or major flaws, the Editor-in-Chief will decide to retract the article, possibly in consultation with the Editorial Board.
• A written notice outlining the findings and the decision is sent to all involved authors, giving them an opportunity to respond or appeal within 14 days.

Retraction Notice:

The retraction notice will clearly state the reason for the retraction (e.g., data falsification, major errors) and reference the original article. It will be written to avoid defamatory or accusatory language, focusing on factual statements. The retraction notice will:

• Appear in the next available issue and on the journal’s website.
• Be prominently linked to the retracted article (PDF and HTML versions).
• Clearly mark the article as “Retracted” in all publicly accessible places where the article metadata is displayed.

Corrections and Errata:

1. Minor Corrections (Errata)
• If an error does not compromise the overall findings or interpretations (e.g., minor typographical errors, mislabeled figures), the journal will publish a Correction or Erratum.
• The Correction will be linked to the original article and be clearly labeled.
2. Major Corrections
• If errors significantly affect specific parts of the article but do not invalidate the entire research, a Corrigendum may be issued. This corrigendum will include a detailed explanation of the corrections and how they affect the research conclusions.

Expression of Concern:

If a significant allegation of research misconduct or a major error comes to light but conclusive evidence is not yet available (e.g., ongoing institutional investigation), the journal may publish an Expression of Concern. This serves to:

• Alert readers of a potential issue with the article.
• Indicate that an official investigation is underway.

Once the investigation concludes, the Expression of Concern may be replaced with a Retraction Notice or a Correction, depending on the outcome.

Article Removal:

In rare instances (e.g., legal infringement, defamation, extremely high risk of harm if the information remains accessible), the journal may remove the article’s text from the online platform. A statement will be published in its place explaining the reason for the removal, in line with best ethical practices and applicable legal requirements.

Follow-up and Indexing

-We will promptly communicate retractions or corrections to indexing databases so that all records accurately reflect the article’s status.

-Retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern remain part of the permanent publication record to maintain transparency.

-Any editorial board member with a conflict of interest regarding a suspected article will recuse themselves from the investigation. Authors have the right to appeal retraction decisions. Appeals must be submitted in writing, detailing specific reasons and additional evidence. The Editorial Office will re-evaluate the case with impartial advisors.

Note: Our retraction policy follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) recommendations and guidelines.

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Post-publication Discussions

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs encourages discussion and debates regarding its published articles through letters to the editor or on an external moderated platform such as PubPeer. PubPeer is a platform that facilitates the evaluation and discussion of scientific research after it has been published. The journal follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding post-publication discussions and corrections.

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CrossMark Policy

For details on the journal's CrossMark Policy, please visit the following link: https://doi.org/10.25034/crossmarkpolicy 

 

 

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Access, Licensing, and Archiving

Open Access Policy

This is an open-access journal which means that all contents are freely available without any cost to the users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the authors.

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Repository Policy

For details on the journal's Repository Policy, please visit the following link: https://ijcua.com/ijcua/repository-policy

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General Repositories

If subject-specific or institutional/funder repositories are unavailable, authors can use general repositories to share their data such as:

Repository Name	Information on costs	URL
- Dryad Digital Repository	Fees apply	Visit the  website
- Figshare	Fees apply	Visit the website
-Harvard Dataverse	Contact repository for datasets over 1 TB	Visit the website
Open Science Framework	Free of charge	Visit the website
Science Data Bank	Free of charge	Visit the website
Zenodo	Donations towards sustainability encouraged	Visit the  website

Our journal follows COPE's guidelines on "data sharing and reproducibility". For more information in this regard please see: https://publicationethics.org/topic-discussions/data-sharing 

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Self-archiving policy

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs allows authors to self-archive their submitted, accepted, and published versions of their articles without embargo. Authors may deposit their work in institutional repositories, personal websites, academic social networks (e.g., ResearchGate, Academia.edu), and departmental websites at any time. The final published version (Version of Record) must include a full citation and a link to the original article on the journal’s website. This policy is registered in SHERPA/RoMEO and ensures compliance with open-access standards, enabling wider dissemination of research while maintaining proper attribution to the journal. For more information, please see Repository Policy

 

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Archiving Digital Version

In accordance with legal requirements and recognised best practice for scholarly preservation, the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs deposits secure digital copies of every published issue in multiple trusted archives. All content is preserved in the Keepers Registry via the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN). In addition, complete issues are deposited in the Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library that safeguards millions of open-access books and articles. These complementary arrangements guarantee the long-term integrity, authenticity, and availability of the journal’s scholarly record, even in the event of unforeseen technical failure or discontinuation.

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Article Processing Charge

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs does not impose any fees on authors or any third party for publication. Both manuscript submission and article publishing services are free of charge and there are no hidden costs.

-There are no Article Submission Charges (ASCs) in the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs.

-There are no membership fees in the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs.

-There are no language editing fees in the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs.

-The authors are not charged for including coloured photos or extra pages in their papers.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs assigns a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to each article that successfully passes the initial screening and reaches the production stage. DOIs ensure permanent accessibility, citation tracking, and seamless integration into academic databases, enhancing the visibility and credibility of published research. All assigned DOIs are registered with CrossRef, allowing authors, researchers, and institutions to reference and retrieve published articles reliably. This policy aligns with international best practices for academic publishing, ensuring long-term digital preservation and accurate citation indexing.

 

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Intellectual Property and Copyright

Policies on Intellectual Property

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is an open-access journal operating under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. This license grants unrestricted access to published materials, allowing users to share, distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the content for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and source. We follow COPE's guidelines on intellectual property. 

 

Copyright

Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights for their published articles (including all versions such as PDFs, HTML, and XML) without any restrictions. They grant the publisher non-exclusive rights to publish their articles, to be cited as the original publisher in case of reuse, and to distribute the content in all forms and media.

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Licensing

All articles and other scholarly works published in the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. You are free to:

1. Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
2. Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

Key Principles:

Attribution Required: Users are welcome to copy, share, modify, and build upon the journal’s content, as long as they provide appropriate credit. This should include the original author(s), the journal name (Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs), the article’s title, and a link to the article’s official version.

No Additional Restrictions: No permissions beyond proper attribution are necessary. Users must not impose legal or technological barriers that would limit others from making similar use of the content.

Open Access Format: Adopting a CC BY 4.0 license ensures that all content published in the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs remains openly accessible. This approach broadens the reach of scholarship, promotes knowledge exchange, and supports interdisciplinary dialogue.

Author Rights and Long-Term Availability: Authors retain full copyright of their work. By publishing in the journal, they grant non-exclusive, worldwide, and perpetual rights for others to use the content under CC BY 4.0. This guarantees ongoing availability, encourages scholarly collaboration, and fosters continuous advancement of the field.

 

Note: The licensor cannot revoke above mention freedoms as long as you follow the license terms which is stated in  the following link:  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Ownership

Alanya University is the sole owner of the Journal Of Contemporary Urban Affairs.

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Administration and Transparency

Governing Body

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is governed by its Editorial Board, which serves as the journal’s official governing body. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editors, Academic Editors, International Section Editors and Coordinators, the Editorial Advisory Board, and supporting Language, Production, EndNote, and Site Editors. Together, they uphold the journal’s mission, ensure editorial independence, safeguard the integrity of the peer review process, and provide strategic direction in line with COPE, DOAJ, and OASPA standards. The Board currently includes 38 editors and advisory members across 15 countries and regions (Cyprus, Egypt, Hong Kong, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam), reflecting the journal’s international and interdisciplinary scope. The full names, institutional affiliations, and contact details of all board members are published transparently on the journal’s website under the Editorial Team.

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Investigations and Complaints Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is committed to maintaining research integrity and adheres to COPE guidelines for addressing ethical concerns, research misconduct, and formal complaints.

1. Reporting Ethical Concerns and Allegations

Any concerns regarding ethical violations, research misconduct, or breaches of publication ethics should be reported to the editorial office of the journal. Reports can be submitted anonymously through secure services like ProtonMail or TorGuard. The journal may request raw data, images, or supporting documentation from authors, seek expert editorial advice, or contact relevant institutions to conduct investigations.

2. Complaint Handling Process

The journal takes all complaints seriously and follows a structured process to investigate and resolve issues fairly and transparently. We maintain records of the following types of complaints:

• Authorship disputes
• Plagiarism and duplicate publication
• Misappropriation of research results
• Research errors and fraudulent data
• Violations of research ethics and standards
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest

Complaints should be submitted via email to editor@ijcua.com with full details. The journal will investigate each case thoroughly and notify the complainant of the final decision. If necessary, further actions—such as retraction, correction, or institutional reporting—will be taken to uphold academic integrity. For more information, see Allegations of Misconduct.

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Privacy Statement

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy. Any personal details you provide to us, such as your name and email address, will be kept confidential and used solely for the intended purposes of this journal. We assure you that any information collected will be handled in accordance with this privacy statement.

Manuscripts submitted for peer review are treated as confidential. The editor and editorial staff will not disclose submitted manuscripts to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, or other editorial advisers as necessary. Editors and reviewers are prohibited from using any materials submitted without the authors' explicit permission.

Your privacy is important to us, and we are dedicated to ensuring that your information remains secure. We do not share personal information with third parties and take all reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure. If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy, please contact us at: editor@ijcua.com

 

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Journal’s Revenue Sources

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs is fully funded by the Rectorate of Alanya University, which serves as the sole source of financial support for the journal. There are no additional revenue sources, and the journal does not engage in commercial advertising, reprint sales, subscription models, or author processing charges. The journal carries no commercial advertising and accepts no sponsorship. Editorial decisions are made independently and are never influenced by financial considerations.

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ORCID Number

The journal strongly suggests that all authors submitting a paper obtain an Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID) account. ORCID registration provides a unique and permanent digital identifier for the author, which enhances the discoverability of their published work and ensures that proper credit is given to the correct author. The ORCID remains unchanged, even if the author's name, affiliation, or research field changes, ensuring that their past work remains easily discoverable and making it easier to correspond with colleagues. The journal strongly encourages the corresponding authors to include their ORCID in their submission information and suggests that co-authors do the same. The ORCID should be included in the author's information at the time of submission, and if the paper is accepted, it will be published along with the submission.

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Disclaimer

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs makes every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented in its publications. However, all content is provided on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis for general informational purposes only. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:
-The Journal, its agents, and licensors make no representations or warranties of any kind (express or implied) regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the information contained in its publications.
-The opinions expressed in any published work are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Journal. Each author remains fully responsible for the legal and moral content of their work. The Journal does not assume liability for any inaccuracies, omissions, or legal disputes arising from an author’s content.
-Under no circumstances shall the Journal, its agents, or licensors be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages—such as loss of data, financial losses, or claims of defamation—stemming from the use or inability to use any information published by the Journal.

-The Journal accepts no responsibility for the content or reliability of external websites referenced in its publications. Any link or reference to a third party does not imply an endorsement or guarantee of that third party’s services, information, or opinions.

-Nothing in this disclaimer is intended to exclude or limit liability for any matter in a way that contravenes applicable law. Any disputes arising from the content or use of the Journal’s publications shall be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction where the Journal is registered, and the parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of its courts.
-No information provided by the Journal should be interpreted as professional, legal, or other specialized advice. Readers are advised to seek independent professional consultation before acting on any information found within the Journal’s publications.

By accessing and using the Journal’s publications, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms of this disclaimer. If you do not agree with any part of this disclaimer, please refrain from using or relying upon the Journal’s content.

Note: The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs and its publisher and editorial board follow the guidelines set by COPE in handling any accusations.

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Duties

Duties of Editors

The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs recognizes and takes into consideration the following potential sources of conflict when evaluating and publishing articles: personal conflicts, financial conflicts, non-financial conflicts, submission by an editor, submission from the same institution, personal relationships, political or religious beliefs, submission by a family member of the editor(s), or by an author whose relationship with the editor(s) may give rise to the appearance of bias. Our publisher and editors are committed to publishing corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies as necessary. Our journal follows COPE's guidelines on the "Code of conduct for journal editors". For more information in this regard please see:  https://publicationethics.org/media/609/download?attachment 

Below are the detailed responsibilities of our editorial team:

Editorial Role	Key Responsibilities	COPE Compliance Highlights
Editor-in-Chief (EIC)	• Sets the journal’s vision, scope, and editorial policies. • Makes final accept / reject decisions informed by peer-review and Section Editor input. • Oversees a rigorous, fair, and timely double-blind review process. • Investigates plagiarism, authorship disputes, data fabrication, and conflicts of interest. • Leads and appraises the editorial team.	• Follows COPE Core Practices and flow-charts for misconduct, retractions, and corrections. • Safeguards editorial independence. • Requires transparent COI declarations from editors, reviewers, and authors.
Managing Editors	• Screens submissions for scope fit, plagiarism, and formatting. • Coordinates reviewers via Section Editors / Coordinators and tracks deadlines. • Communicates editorial decisions and reviewer comments to authors. • Oversees the entire submission-to-production workflow.	• Implements and enforces double-blind review. • Detects duplicate submissions and ethical breaches. • Maintains strict confidentiality throughout peer review.
Academic Editors	• Provide in-depth scholarly evaluations or select subject experts for review. • Assess methodological rigour and contribution to urban studies. • Recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection to the EIC. • Flag citation manipulation or other unethical research practices.	• Declare any COIs before reviewing. • Report suspected misconduct (e.g., data falsification) directly to the EIC.
Section Editors & Coordinators	• Manage manuscripts within their speciality areas (e.g., Urban Transformation, Citizenship Rights). • Recruit reviewers and ensure timely, impartial evaluations; escalate disputes to the EIC. • Propose thematic issues or special collections.	• Guarantee subject-matter expertise and neutrality. • Declare and manage their own COIs; recuse when required.
Editorial Advisory Board	• Advise on international best practice in urban-studies publishing and journal strategy. • Identify emerging research trends. • Occasionally review submissions or recommend reviewers. • Champion JCUA within academic networks. • Assist the EIC with complex ethical dilemmas.	• Uphold ethical standards and support resolution of serious ethical cases alongside the EIC.
Production & Support Team	• Copy / Layout Editors: ensure manuscripts follow journal style and layout. • Proof Editors: check final proofs for accuracy and consistency. • Site Administrators: maintain submission platform uptime and accessibility.	• Preserve authors’ voice while editing. • Monitor for text recycling or undisclosed overlap and alert the EIC.

 

Policy on the Selection of New Editorial Board Members: Prospective editorial board members of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs are selected on the basis of demonstrable scholarly expertise in urban studies or closely related disciplines, a robust record of peer-reviewed publications indexed in reputable databases, proven experience as a conscientious reviewer or editor, and an unequivocal commitment to COPE-aligned ethical standards; candidates must also enhance the board’s disciplinary breadth, institutional and geographic diversity, and gender balance while confirming their capacity to undertake timely peer-review and strategic editorial duties without conflicts of interest.

Compliance with COPE Guidelines Policy: All Editorial Board members of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs are required to uphold the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices at every stage of the editorial and peer-review process, proactively familiarise themselves with any updates or revisions issued by COPE, and promptly integrate those changes into their editorial duties to ensure continuous alignment with the highest standards of research integrity and scholarly publishing ethics.

Conflict-of-Interest Handling Policy: To safeguard editorial impartiality, any member of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs Editorial Board who is an author, co-author, collaborator, or institutional colleague of a submitted manuscript must immediately declare the conflict of interest and recuse themselves from every stage of its assessment. The Editor-in-Chief will delegate the submission to an independent editor with no conflicting ties, ensuring that the manuscript proceeds through the standard double-blind review workflow without influence from the conflicted party. Failure to disclose or to step aside will result in disciplinary action, which may include suspension or removal from the Board.

Policy on Institutional Conflict of Interest for Editorial Board Members: Editorial Board members of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs must recuse themselves from handling or reviewing any manuscript submitted by authors affiliated with the same institution, department, or research centre as their own. Such submissions are automatically reassigned to an independent editor with no institutional ties to the authors, ensuring an unbiased peer-review process and safeguarding the journal’s integrity.

Voluntary Service Policy: All members of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs Editorial Board serve on a strictly voluntary, unpaid basis, receiving no stipends, honoraria, or other financial remuneration; their involvement is motivated solely by scholarly commitment to the journal’s mission, and acceptance of an editorial role constitutes acknowledgement and agreement to these uncompensated conditions.

Policy on Special Issues and Guest-Edited Volumes: Special-issue or guest-edited volume proposals may originate from any member of the Editorial or Advisory Boards, from current Guest Editors, or through formal invitations issued by the Editor-in-Chief to distinguished scholars in the field. Each proposal must include a concise rationale (250–500 words) demonstrating alignment with the journal’s scope, a draft table of contents, brief CVs of the proposed Guest Editors, and a publication timetable. The Editorial Board welcomes interdisciplinary and geographically diverse themes, provided they advance urban studies scholarship and adhere to COPE Core Practices.

Once a proposal is approved by the Editor-in-Chief, the appointed Guest Editors assume responsibility for soliciting manuscripts and overseeing the double-blind peer-review process, while the Managing Editors monitor timelines, reviewer selection, and ethical compliance. All accepted papers are subject to final approval by the Editor-in-Chief, who reserves the right to reject any manuscript that fails to meet the journal’s quality or ethical standards. Conflicts of interest must be declared at every stage, and Guest Editors may not adjudicate their own submissions; such papers will be handled by an independent Academic Editor.  

Editorial Authorship Limitation Policy: To ensure editorial independence and prevent perceived conflicts of interest, the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs maintains a strict policy whereby no more than 5% of the articles published in any given issue are authored or co-authored by current members of the Editorial Board ( even board-authored commentaries or invited articles are peer-reviewed). This limit helps preserve the credibility of the peer-review process and reinforces the journal’s commitment to impartiality, diversity of authorship, and academic transparency. Exceptions to this threshold may only be considered under exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief, with full disclosure of the editorial handling process.

Policy on Editorial Submissions and Independent Handling: When an Editorial Board member submits a manuscript to the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, the submission must be handled with complete independence and transparency to avoid any conflict of interest. In such cases, the Editor-in-Chief will assign the manuscript to a senior Academic Editor or an external Guest Editor with no affiliation to the submitting editor, who will oversee the full double-blind peer-review process. The submitting editor will have no access to or influence over the review, editorial decision-making, or correspondence related to their submission. The journal will transparently disclose any such editorial authorship in the published article's metadata or footnote, ensuring adherence to COPE guidelines and maintaining the integrity of the editorial process.

Policy on Applying for Editorial Board Membership: Scholars wishing to join the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs Editorial Board must (i) hold a PhD in a discipline clearly aligned with the journal’s scope, (ii) demonstrate a sustained, high-quality publication record in reputable, high-impact journals, and (iii) be recognised within the international urban studies community for their scholarly contributions. Prospective candidates should e-mail a concise cover letter, full academic CV, and a one-page statement outlining how their expertise will advance the journal’s mission directly to the Editorial Office (addressed to the Editor-in-Chief) at editor@ijcua.com . Applications are reviewed bi-annually by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Managing Editors and Advisory Board, with selections based on disciplinary fit, publication impact, geographic and gender diversity, and evidence of ethical editorial practice. Successful applicants will receive a formal invitation and must confirm their willingness to adhere to all journal policies, including COPE Core Practices, before their appointment is announced on the journal website.

Commitment to Open Science and Ethical Publishing Policy: The Editorial Board of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs fully endorses open-science principles and the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. We encourage authors to share data, methods, and code in trusted open repositories, support the citation of pre-prints and replication studies, and require transparent disclosure of funding, conflicts of interest, and ethical approvals. All editorial and peer-review decisions are guided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability across the publication workflow.

Please see the editorial team of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs at the following link: https://ijcua.com/ijcua/about/editorialTeam  

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Duties of Authors

The term "authorship" can refer to either the originator of an idea, such as the person who created the theory of relativity, or the individuals responsible for executing and disseminating intellectual or creative works. To address this, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) offers crucial resources for authors, policy guidance for editors, clarification on the scope of submission guidelines, tools for resolving pre- and post-publication authorship disputes, and guidance for institutions to maintain and support the integrity of authorship. Our journal follows COPE's guidelines on authorship. For additional information, please refer to COPE's Discussion Document on Authorship.  

Authors submitting to Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs must ensure that:

• Originality: The work is entirely original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
• Exclusive Submission: The manuscript is not under review with any other journal or publication.
• Significant Contribution: All listed authors have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research.
• Approval of Submission: All authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and consent to its submission.
• Ethical Compliance: The research complies with all relevant ethical guidelines, and necessary approvals have been obtained.

Self-citation Policy: To safeguard scholarly objectivity and prevent metric manipulation, the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs requires authors to limit self-citations to essential references only, with a recommended ceiling of no more than 5 per cent of the total reference list. Self-citations that exceed this threshold must be fully justified in the cover letter, demonstrating their indispensability to the argument or methodology. During editorial screening and peer review, excessive or tangential self-references may be questioned, and authors may be asked to remove or replace them. Failure to comply, or any attempt to inflate citation metrics through unwarranted self-citation, will result in manuscript rejection or post-publication correction in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship but have provided support—such as technical assistance, writing support, or general supervision—should be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgments" section with their permission. We require transparency in disclosing each contributor's role and any potential conflicts of interest. Omission of significant contributors or inclusion of individuals who did not contribute ("guest" authorship) may result in rejection or retraction, in accordance with our ethical guidelines and the standards set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

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Duties of Reviewers

At the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, our reviewers play a pivotal role in preserving the quality and integrity of published research. To maintain high ethical standards, all reviewers must follow the guidelines set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Below are the core responsibilities expected of our reviewers:

Use of AI Tools

• The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs currently prohibits the use of Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies (e.g., ChatGPT) for peer review to safeguard authors’ rights and maintain the confidentiality of their research.

Timeliness and Objectivity

• Complete assessments within the agreed timeframe.
• Offer unbiased feedback supported by clear arguments and evidence.
• Avoid personal criticism of the author; focus instead on the manuscript’s content, merits, and relevance.

Ethical Conduct and Confidentiality

• Treat all manuscripts and associated information as strictly confidential.
• Refrain from sharing or using any unpublished data without the authors’ explicit written consent.
• Respect authors’ rights and ensure the confidentiality of their research.

Conflict of Interest

• Disclose any conflicts of interest—whether related to the research, the authors, or funding sources—to the Editor as soon as they arise.
• If you feel unqualified or unable to provide a timely review, promptly notify the Editor.

Citation Practices

• Do not suggest citations of your own work, that of close colleagues, or any specific journal unless it is genuinely necessary to strengthen the manuscript.

Compliance and Originality

• Evaluate the manuscript’s alignment with the journal’s scope, the significance of the research question, the appropriateness of the methods, and the originality of the findings.
• Identify relevant but uncited published work and inform the Editor of any substantial overlap or suspected parallel submissions in other publications.

Adherence to COPE Guidelines

• Bring any suspected ethical violations—such as plagiarism or duplicate submission—to the Editor’s attention immediately.

Policy on Reviewer Misconduct and Fraudulent Peer Review: The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs applies zero tolerance to reviewer misconduct—including undisclosed conflicts of interest, breaches of confidentiality, plagiarism, coercive citation, unacknowledged use of AI tools, or fake reviewer identities—and to any form of fraudulent peer review. All reviewer invitations are issued only to verifiable scholars, and reviewer accounts are routinely audited. Allegations trigger an immediate COPE-guided investigation led by the Editor-in-Chief; the reviewer is suspended pending outcome, and proven misconduct results in permanent removal, notification of the reviewer’s institution, and re-review of any affected manuscripts.  

Policy on Editorial Submissions and Reviewer Independence: Any manuscript authored or co-authored by a member of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs Editorial Board is handled entirely by an independent editor with no professional or personal ties to the submitting editor; under no circumstances may the submitting editor participate in, influence, or view the peer-review process for their own work.

Policy on Reviewer Performance Monitoring: The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs monitor reviewer-performance  regarding its timeliness, thoroughness, constructiveness, and adherence to ethical and journal guidelines for every review completed. Editors rate each report using a standard rubric and may solicit confidential feedback from authors on the clarity and usefulness of reviewer comments. Reviews deemed late, cursory, biased, or otherwise deficient are flagged, and reviewers who accrue two successive low-quality ratings are notified and offered guidance or mentoring resources. Persistent under-performance—typically evidenced by three substandard reviews within any rolling two-year period—results in removal from the reviewer database. This quality-assurance process, aligned with COPE recommendations, ensures that all peer evaluations meet the journal’s standards of rigour, fairness, and scholarly integrity.

Policy on Adherence to COPE Ethical Review Guidelines: All peer reviewers for the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs must conduct their assessments in strict accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers, ensuring confidentiality, impartiality, transparency, and academic rigour. By accepting a review invitation, reviewers affirm that they have read and will abide by these guidelines—available at https://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines/cope-ethical-guidelines-peer-reviewers  and understand that any breach (e.g., undisclosed conflicts of interest, plagiarism, or inappropriate use of confidential material) will result in removal from the reviewer database and potential notification of their institution.

Universal Peer-Review Policy: The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs enforces a strict rule that every submission—whether a research article, editorial, commentary, or invited contribution—must undergo formal peer review before acceptance. No manuscript is exempt from this process; each is evaluated by at least two independent experts to ensure scholarly rigour, ethical compliance, and alignment with the journal’s scope, thereby safeguarding the integrity and credibility of all published content.

Policy on Managing Revisions and Reviewer Disagreements: When a revised manuscript is received, the handling editor verifies that authors have responded comprehensively to every reviewer comment and, where necessary, returns the revision to the original reviewers for confirmation. If reviewer opinions remain conflicting or a consensus cannot be reached, the editor may solicit an additional independent review or consult the Editor-in-Chief or relevant Editorial Board members to arbitrate. The final decision—acceptance, further revision, or rejection—is based on the collective weight of reviewer feedback, the quality of the authors’ responses, and the manuscript’s adherence to the journal’s scholarly and ethical standards.

For more information please see » Guidelines for Reviewers

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Duties of the Publisher

Alanya University, as publisher of the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, adopts the following publisher-level policies:

Editorial Independence Policy

The publisher guarantees complete editorial autonomy. All decisions on manuscript selection, peer-review management, acceptance or rejection rest solely with the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board. No institutional, political, or commercial interests may influence, delay, or overturn an editorial judgement. University administrators and funders acknowledge that they have no right of veto over content, thereby preserving the journal’s scholarly integrity.

Research Integrity and Ethical Oversight Policy

Alanya University upholds COPE Core Practices in full. It maintains clear pathways for reporting suspected plagiarism, data fabrication, image manipulation, authorship disputes, or any other form of misconduct. When an allegation arises, the publisher convenes an ad-hoc ethics panel with the Editor-in-Chief, informs relevant institutions or funders, and supports a transparent investigation. Depending on the outcome, the journal will issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions to safeguard the record.

Open-Access Stewardship and Licensing Policy

The publisher affirms that all JCUA content is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. Authors retain copyright while granting the journal non-exclusive publishing rights. Article-processing charges are permanently set at zero; neither authors nor readers face any fees. Licence information is embedded in every PDF and HTML file to facilitate reuse and text-and-data mining.

Technological Infrastructure and Accessibility Policy

JCUA runs on the latest stable release of the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform, served over SSL with daily server back-ups and 99.9 % uptime monitoring. The publisher works towards WCAG 2.1 AA compliance so that users of assistive technologies can access and navigate all content on equal terms.

Open Science and Reproducibility Policy

The publisher encourages authors to deposit datasets, code, and methodological appendices in recognised repositories and to cite these resources formally. Where requested, DataCite DOIs are issued to ensure persistent linking between the article and its underlying evidence, supporting replication and reuse.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Policy

An annual audit benchmarks publishing practice against COPE, DOAJ, and OASPA check-lists. The publisher funds staff training in emerging ethical issues—such as AI-generated content and advanced image forensics—and implements platform upgrades to improve workflow efficiency and user experience.

Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy

The journal operates a digital-only workflow to minimise paper consumption and carbon impact. In addition, the publisher supports the journal’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objectives by facilitating outreach to under-represented authors, reviewers, and readers, thus broadening participation in urban-studies scholarship.

 

Publisher address:

Alanya University

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Architecture

Cikcilli District, Saraybeleni Street No:7 07400, Alanya, Antalya, Turkey

Email: ijcua@alanyauniversity.edu.tr

Phone: (+90 506) 189 99 66

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The Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs publication ethics and malpractice statement has been written in accordance with COPE general guidelines http://publicationethics.org/

 

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