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Gatekeeping African studies: what does “editormetrics” indicate about journal governance?

Author

Listed:
  • Sandro Mendonça

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL)
    University of Lisbon
    University of Sussex)

  • João Pereira

    (University of Lisbon)

  • Manuel Ennes Ferreira

    (University of Lisbon)

Abstract

This paper probes the internal governance of research journals by focusing on the editorial boards of leading African studies academic journals. We submit editorships to systematic scrutiny through a number of perspectives: geography, gender, institutional affiliation, research performance, entry/exit, etc. Overall, leading journals in the area of African studies are found to be less inclusive than expected: under a quarter of the editors are Africa-based scholars while women are even scarcer. Observations on editorial inflation, repeat editors, interlocking editorships and differentiated journal positionings are also made possible by taking a quantitative approach to editorial evidence. What we refer as “editormetrics” thus suggests the need for further debate regarding the managerial rules and roles of journals. This perspective may, and perhaps should, inform other evidence-based appraisals of the journal “industry” and the research policy scene at large.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandro Mendonça & João Pereira & Manuel Ennes Ferreira, 2018. "Gatekeeping African studies: what does “editormetrics” indicate about journal governance?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(3), pages 1513-1534, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:117:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-018-2909-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-018-2909-1
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Editorships; Editormetrics; Research governance; Editorial inflation; Interlocking editorships; African studies; Global south;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • O39 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Other

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