ASIAC

ASIAC promotes knowledge exchange on Central Asia and the Caucasus. The association is targeted at scholars, universities, and other cultural institutions, and promotes meetings among researchers and the coordination of research activities on Central Asia and the Caucasus. ASIAC is 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, as well as media organisations interested in opinions and background information on current events.

Focus and scope

In line with the multidisciplinarity of area studies, the journal will publish contributions from numerous research traditions that span the humanities and social sciences. It will therefore include research papers 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.

Submission and peer-review policy

The journal primarily promotes and advances academic debates on Central Asia and the Caucasus stemming from ASIAC's annual conference and related events. Hence, the journal primarily publishes invited contributions, including papers presented at ASIAC’s conferences following dedicated open calls.

All submissions undergo 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 feedback. Final editorial decisions are made based on reviewers’ recommendations and the academic standards of the journal.

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.

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.
All authors must confirm that they meet the journal’s authorship definition and ethical criteria during submission.

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

Corrections and Retractions

In accordance with COPE guidelines, the publisher handles different kinds of errors or ethical issues with utmost seriousness.
All articles are proof-checked by authors prior to publication. If a significant error is discovered post-publication, the journal will determine whether a Correction, Retraction, or Editorial Note is required.

Post-publication changes are only made under exceptional circumstances, ensuring the integrity and traceability of the scholarly record.

Misconduct and Complaints

Allegations of misconduct will be taken with utmost seriousness, regardless of whether those involved are internal or external to the journal, or 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 guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) on how to address the nature of the problem. Should the matter involve allegations against a member of the journal or publishing team, an independent and objective individual(s) may be sought to lead the investigation. Where misconduct is proven or strongly suspected, the journal has an obligation to report the issue to the author's institution, who may conduct their own investigation. This applies to both research misconduct (e.g. completing research without ethical approval and consent, fabricating or falsifying data etc) and publication misconduct (e.g. manipulating the peer review process, plagiarism etc). Should an investigation conclude that misconduct or misinformation has occurred then the author, along with their institution, will be notified. Should the publication record need to be corrected, the journal's correction policy will be followed.

Should an author wish to lodge a complaint against an editorial decision, or the editorial process in general, they should first approach the Editor-in-Chief of the journal, explaining their complaint and ask for a reasoned response. Should this not be adequate, the author should raise the matter with the publisher, who will investigate the nature of the complaint and act as arbiter on whether the complaint should be upheld and investigated further. This will follow guidelines set out by COPE.

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, or image creation.
The journal follows the recommendations of STM and COPE on the responsible use of AI tools. AI systems cannot be listed as authors, and authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy and originality of AI-assisted content.