How 'international' are sociology journals? Analysis of stated aims and editorial board networks

Brown, Elizabeth; Vega Castillo, Maria Antonieta; Hordósy, Rita

Abstract

This article analyses leading international sociology journals regarding the global relations as observed within their aims and editorial boards. As such, it explores the geographies and power relations of knowledge production in the context of sociology as a discipline. First, it analyses the aims of journals as outlined via their respective websites, focusing on whether and how any global or international focus appears. Second, it explores the current country affiliation of journal editorial boards to provide an overview of the broader scholarly community. Third, it looks at the network of gatekeepers, exploring editorial board interlocking. The results show a discipline dominated by the global centre, where editorial board interlocking heightens the agenda-setting power of a few academics affiliated predominantly in western contexts.

Citation

Brown, E., Vega Castillo, M. A., & Hordósy, R. (2025). How 'international' are sociology journals? Analysis of stated aims and editorial board networks. Sociological Research Online, https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804241281455

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 12, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 7, 2025
• Publication Date: Jan 7, 2025
• Deposit Date: Sep 19, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 13, 2025
• Journal: Sociological Research Online
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-7804
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804241281455
• Keywords: Sociology journals; Academic publishing; Social network analysis; Editorial board interlocking; Scientometrics; Internationalisation in publishing
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/39723767
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13607804241281455