Withdrawal Policy

Social Thought and Policy Review (Soc. Thought Policy Rev.) recognizes that authors may occasionally need to withdraw a submitted manuscript. This policy ensures that withdrawals are handled transparently and ethically to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

1. Acceptable Reasons for Withdrawal

Manuscripts may be withdrawn under the following circumstances:

  • Discovery of substantial errors or inaccuracies in the work.

  • Ethical concerns or conflicts of interest identified after submission.

  • The decision to submit to another journal (only permissible before peer review begins).

2. Stages and Conditions

a. Before Peer Review

  • Authors may withdraw without penalty before the peer review process begins.

  • The corresponding author must send a formal withdrawal request to the editorial office.

b. During Peer Review

  • Withdrawal during active review is discouraged but may be allowed with valid justification.

  • Approval rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

c. After Acceptance

  • Withdrawal after acceptance is strongly discouraged and will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (e.g., confirmed ethical violations).

  • Article Processing Charges (APCs), if paid, are non-refundable at this stage.

d. After Publication

  • Withdrawal after publication is treated as a retraction and follows the journal’s Retraction Policy in accordance with COPE guidelines.

3. Author Responsibilities

  • All co-authors must agree to the withdrawal request.

  • Manuscripts must not be submitted to another journal until withdrawal is officially confirmed in writing by the editorial office.

4. Penalties for Unethical Withdrawal

  • Withdrawing a manuscript without notifying the journal, especially to submit elsewhere, may result in:

    • A ban on future submissions for a specified period.

    • Notification to the authors’ affiliated institutions.