Conflicts of Interest

MUKADIMAH is committed to maintaining the integrity, independence, and credibility of scholarly publishing. This policy explains how authors, reviewers, editors, and journal staff must disclose and manage interests that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, research, peer review, or editorial decisions. The journal draws on relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Definition and Scope

A conflict of interest, also called a competing interest, arises when financial, personal, professional, or institutional interests could influence an individual’s judgment or responsibilities in research and publication.

Conflicts may be actual, potential, or reasonably perceived. Their existence does not automatically indicate misconduct or disqualify a manuscript from publication. Disclosure enables the journal and its readers to assess their relevance and determine whether appropriate safeguards are needed.

This policy applies to authors, peer reviewers, the Editor-in-Chief, other editors, guest editors, editorial board members, journal staff, and the publisher.

2. Types of Conflicts of Interest

Financial interests may include employment, consultancy fees, honoraria, research grants, paid advisory roles, travel support, stock ownership, royalties, patents, or other financial relationships with organizations that could benefit from the research or its publication.

Non-financial interests may include:

  • Close personal or family relationships with individuals involved in the research or publication process.

  • Current or recent collaboration, supervisory relationships, professional rivalry, or academic disputes.

  • Institutional responsibilities or leadership positions in organizations discussed or evaluated in the manuscript.

  • Involvement in advocacy groups, political organizations, foundations, or other bodies with a direct interest in the research.

  • Competing research projects or unpublished work that could compromise impartial assessment.

  • Personal or professional commitments directly relevant to the work that could reasonably affect independent judgment.

Subject expertise, shared research interests, theoretical perspectives, or disagreement with an argument do not, by themselves, constitute a conflict of interest. Disclosure should focus on relationships and commitments relevant to the work, rather than unrelated personal beliefs or identities.

3. General Disclosure Requirements

All participants in the publication process must disclose relevant interests promptly and accurately. When uncertain whether an interest is relevant, they should seek guidance from the editorial office.

Authors must provide a declaration at submission and update it if circumstances change during review, revision, or publication. Reviewers must disclose relevant interests before accepting an invitation and report any newly recognized conflict immediately. Editors and staff must disclose relevant interests before participating in manuscript handling or decision-making.

Disclosure should explain the nature of the relationship, the individual or organization involved, and its relevance to the work. A declaration that no relevant conflicts exist must be provided where applicable.

4. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must disclose financial and non-financial interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the design, conduct, interpretation, or presentation of their research.

The corresponding author must collect disclosures from all co-authors and ensure that the submitted declaration accurately represents each author’s circumstances. Every author remains responsible for the completeness and accuracy of their own disclosure.

A Conflicts of Interest statement must be included in the manuscript, normally before the References section or in the location specified by the journal’s template. The journal may request individual declarations, a disclosure form, or supporting clarification when necessary.

Where no relevant interests exist, authors may use the following statement:

“The authors declare no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest relevant to this work.”

Where interests exist, the statement should identify the author concerned and describe the relevant relationship. Declaring a conflict does not automatically result in rejection.

5. Funding and the Role of Sponsors

All financial and material support for the research and manuscript preparation must be disclosed. Authors should identify funding organizations and provide grant numbers where applicable.

Authors must explain whether funders or sponsors participated in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, or the decision to submit the work for publication. Relevant restrictions on access to data, interpretation, or publication must also be disclosed.

If funders had no involvement in these activities, this should be stated explicitly. If no specific funding was received, authors should provide an appropriate declaration.

Funding information and conflicts of interest are related but distinct disclosures. A funding statement does not replace a conflicts-of-interest statement.

6. Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

Reviewers must assess whether they can provide an independent and impartial evaluation before accepting an invitation.

Reviewers should decline assignments involving significant conflicts, including employment at the same institution as an author, close personal relationships, direct financial interests, or current or recent close collaboration. Recent collaboration normally includes joint research, shared grants, or supervisory relationships within the preceding three years. Older relationships must also be disclosed if they remain relevant.

Reviewers should inform the editor if they have previously reviewed the manuscript for another journal or contributed to its development. A previous review alone does not necessarily prevent further review; the editor will assess the circumstances.

If a conflict becomes apparent after review has begun, the reviewer must notify the editor promptly and pause the assessment until instructed. In an anonymized review process, this obligation also applies when a reviewer recognizes an author’s identity.

The editor may replace the reviewer or seek an additional independent assessment where necessary.

7. Responsibilities of Editors and Journal Staff

Editors and staff must disclose interests that could affect manuscript handling, reviewer selection, editorial decisions, or access to confidential information.

An individual with a significant conflict must withdraw from the affected editorial responsibilities. An alternative editor without a relevant conflict will oversee the manuscript.

Relevant interests must be reported to the Editor-in-Chief. If the Editor-in-Chief is involved, the matter must be referred to the publisher, which will arrange independent editorial handling.

Research expertise or an overlapping subject interest does not automatically require withdrawal. However, direct competition, personal involvement, or other circumstances that could compromise impartiality must be disclosed and assessed.

8. Submissions by Editors, Editorial Board Members, and Staff

Manuscripts authored by members of the journal’s editorial team or staff are subject to the same assessment standards as other submissions.

Such manuscripts must be handled by an independent editor without a relevant conflict of interest. The author-editor or staff member must not select reviewers, participate in editorial deliberations, or access confidential review information beyond that normally available to authors.

Where suitable independent handling cannot be arranged within the journal, an external editor may be appointed.

The author’s relationship with the journal must be disclosed. Published articles will include a statement explaining the independent handling arrangements where applicable.

9. Assessment and Management of Disclosed Interests

The journal will assess disclosed interests according to their nature, relevance, and potential effect on the integrity of the work or its evaluation.

Appropriate measures may include:

  • Publishing a clear author disclosure alongside the article.

  • Requesting additional information or clarification.

  • Assigning an independent editor or replacing a reviewer.

  • Obtaining additional peer review.

  • Pausing manuscript processing while concerns are assessed.

  • Declining a manuscript when a significant risk to research or editorial integrity cannot be adequately managed.

Decisions will be proportionate to the circumstances. Disclosure alone is not evidence of misconduct.

10. Undisclosed Interests and Post-Publication Concerns

Suspected undisclosed conflicts should be reported through the journal’s published editorial contact details, with sufficient information to assess the concern.

The journal will seek an explanation from the individuals concerned and examine the available evidence under its Allegations of Misconduct policy.

Before publication, an omitted disclosure may require clarification, amendment, reassessment, or additional review. Serious unresolved concerns may result in rejection.

After publication, the journal may issue a correction to update the disclosure. An Expression of Concern or retraction may be considered when warranted by substantial unresolved doubts or evidence that the conflict compromised the article’s reliability or the integrity of its evaluation.

An omitted disclosure does not automatically justify retraction. Action will depend on its significance and consequences for the scholarly record.

11. Journal and Publisher Independence

MUKADIMAH is published by Program Studi Pendidikan Sejarah, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara, in collaboration with Medan Resource Center.

The journal and publisher are committed to ensuring that financial, institutional, organizational, or personal interests do not improperly influence editorial decisions.

Editorial judgments must be based on scholarly merit, relevance, research integrity, and the journal’s policies. Funding, sponsorship, institutional affiliation, or relationships with the publisher must not confer preferential treatment.

Relevant relationships at the journal or publisher level will be disclosed and managed through appropriate independent oversight.

12. Records and Policy Review

The journal will maintain records of disclosures and the measures taken to manage relevant conflicts. Access to confidential records will be restricted to individuals with a legitimate editorial or investigative role.

Author disclosures and funding statements will be published with the article. Confidential reviewer or editorial information will be handled consistently with the journal’s review procedures and applicable obligations.

This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated to reflect developments in publication ethics and editorial practice.

COPE resources: