Some Thoughts on Sociology Journal Publishing In The 21st Century

Abstract

The recent shift toward electronic publishing fundamentally changed the production and economics of scholarly journal production—and rapidly changing technology makes this an open-ended dynamic. Simultaneously, professional societies, faculties and university administrators, increasingly exposed to the hyper-competitive world of emerging “neo-liberalism,” are increasingly reluctant to adequate support editorial offices and contribute to journal peer review. This is creating a “crisis” for journals, illustrated here in reference to sociology. The essay concludes with some suggestions for how a regional journal like Sociological Perspectives might be able to adapt and stay relevant in the 21st century.