The journal was established as the official publication of ASIAC, the Italian Association for Studies on Central Asia and the Caucasus, which has become a landmark organisation for area studies on Central Asia and the Caucasus. The aim of the journal is to contribute to the international academic literature and to the main research trends developed by scholars working on these areas, as well as to serve as a reference publication for academic debate on the two regions. The journal is also the first academic publication in Italy specifically dedicated to Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Although the journal was established as the official publication of ASIAC, its editorial governance is independent from the Association and from any affiliated institutions. ASIAC does not intervene in reviewer selection, editorial assessment, acceptance decisions, rejection decisions, or publication outcomes. All editorial decisions are made on the basis of scholarly merit alone, without regard to the authors’ nationality, institutional affiliation, political views, or personal background.

The journal is published annually by Firenze University Press according to a fixed publication schedule. Its ISSN is 3035-0484. The journal publishes articles in English and Italian. To ensure international accessibility, all articles include titles, abstracts, and keywords in English, regardless of the language of the full text. The journal makes its content available online through the publisher’s platform.

ASIAC

ASIAC promotes knowledge exchange on Central Asia and the Caucasus. The association is addressed to scholars, universities, and other cultural institutions, and promotes meetings among researchers as well as the coordination of research activities on Central Asia and the Caucasus. ASIAC is also open to exchange with practitioners, humanitarian workers, and economic actors working in the region; ministries and other government agencies involved in cultural, political, or diplomatic activities; and media organisations interested in expert opinions and background information on current events.

Focus and Scope

In line with the multidisciplinarity of area studies, the journal publishes contributions from numerous research traditions across the humanities and social sciences. It includes research articles from disciplines such as history, archaeology, philology, linguistics, literary studies, politics and international studies, sociology, anthropology, and human geography, among others.

The journal welcomes both theoretical and empirical work and encourages diverse methodological and disciplinary approaches that advance academic understanding of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Submissions may address one or both regions, their historical and contemporary connections, their domestic and international dynamics, or their wider cultural, social, political, linguistic, and economic significance.

Submission and Peer-Review Policy

The journal publishes original research articles submitted through open calls, direct submissions, and selected papers developed from ASIAC’s annual conferences and related events. Conference presentation, invitation, or participation in ASIAC activities does not guarantee publication. All manuscripts, regardless of origin, undergo the same editorial screening and double-blind peer-review process.

All submissions are first assessed by the editorial team for relevance to the journal’s scope, originality, scholarly quality, and compliance with the journal’s ethical and formal requirements. Manuscripts that pass this initial assessment are sent for double-blind peer review. Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent experts selected by the editorial team for their subject expertise and absence of conflicts of interest.

Reviewers are asked to provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback. Final editorial decisions are made on the basis of the reviewers’ recommendations, the academic standards of the journal, and the manuscript’s contribution to scholarship on Central Asia and the Caucasus. Authors are informed of the outcome of the review process and, where revisions are requested, are expected to respond carefully to reviewers’ comments.

For details on how to participate in ASIAC’s activities, visit the Association’s website or write to info@asiac.net.

Sections

The journal features a single section that publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed research articles on Central Asia and the Caucasus. It welcomes both theoretical and empirical contributions that advance scholarly understanding of the two regions and contribute to ongoing academic debates.

Each annual issue may include thematic clusters, but all articles are part of the same continuous section and are subject to the same peer-review standards. Thematic clusters follow the same editorial and peer-review procedures as all other articles. Guest editors, where involved, do not make final decisions on their own submissions or on submissions where a conflict of interest exists.

Funding and Ethics

To ensure transparency, authors are required to specify all sources of funding and to comply with ethical research standards in their submissions. Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that may have influenced the research or its presentation.

All authors must confirm that they meet the journal’s authorship definition and ethical criteria during submission. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all listed authors have made a substantial contribution to the research, have approved the final version of the manuscript, and agree to be accountable for the integrity of the work.

Where research involves human participants, interviews, personal data, archival restrictions, sensitive material, or fieldwork in vulnerable contexts, authors must confirm that they have obtained the necessary ethical approval, consent, or permissions, where applicable. Authors are also expected to ensure the accuracy of their data, citations, translations, and source material.

The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines and expects authors, editors, and reviewers to follow its Core Practices.

Corrections and Retractions

In accordance with COPE guidelines, the journal and publisher treat errors and ethical issues seriously. All articles are proof-checked by authors prior to publication. If a significant error is discovered after publication, the journal will determine whether a Correction, Retraction, Expression of Concern, or Editorial Note is required.

Post-publication changes are made only under exceptional circumstances and in ways that protect the integrity and traceability of the scholarly record. Corrections, retractions, and editorial notices are published transparently and linked to the original article wherever possible.

Misconduct and Complaints

Allegations of misconduct are treated seriously, regardless of whether those involved are internal or external to the journal, and regardless of whether the submission in question is pre- or post-publication. If an allegation of misconduct is made to the journal, it must be immediately passed on to the publisher, who will follow the relevant COPE guidelines.

If the matter involves allegations against a member of the journal or publishing team, an independent and objective individual, or group of individuals, may be asked to lead the investigation. Where misconduct is proven or strongly suspected, the journal may report the issue to the author’s institution, which may conduct its own investigation.

This applies to both research misconduct, including research conducted without necessary ethical approval or consent, fabrication or falsification of data, and misuse of sources, and publication misconduct, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, authorship manipulation, citation manipulation, and manipulation of the peer-review process.

If an investigation concludes that misconduct or a material error has occurred, the author and their institution will be notified. If the publication record needs to be corrected, the journal’s correction and retraction policy will be followed.

Authors who wish to lodge a complaint against an editorial decision, or against the editorial process more generally, should first contact the Editor-in-Chief of the journal, explaining the complaint and requesting a reasoned response. If the response is not satisfactory, the author may raise the matter with the publisher, who will assess the complaint and determine whether further investigation is required. Complaints will be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Generative AI Policy

To promote transparency and integrity, authors must disclose any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of their manuscripts, data analysis, translation, image creation, or other research-related tasks. The journal follows the recommendations of STM and COPE on the responsible use of AI tools.

AI systems cannot be listed as authors. Authorship requires accountability, responsibility, and the capacity to approve the final version of the work, which AI systems cannot provide. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of any AI-assisted content included in their submissions.

Authors must ensure that the use of AI tools does not compromise confidentiality, copyright, data protection, research ethics, or the accuracy of scholarly claims. The editorial team may request further information about the use of AI-assisted technologies where necessary.