From “Dar-es-Salaam” to “Brill”: Beyond the North-South Polarity in Publishing Scientific Journals

Abstract

Abstract The African Review (TARE) was founded in March 1971 by the Department of Political Science of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), focusing primarily on decolonising the interpretation of significant events in African politics, monopolised by foreign experts. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the journal slightly shifted to publish contemporary issues of globalisation, development, and African affairs aiming at addressing the North-South knowledge divide. As a journal in the South, it has for many years suffered from the challenges of ineffective systems of management, processing, production and distribution. Attempting to address these challenges, in June 2019, the UDSM signed an agreement with Brill to publish TARE. In the agreement, Brill provides the journal with infrastructural systems and undertakes the final production and distribution of the journal. The UDSM, on the other hand, retains ownership of the journal copyright and performs all the editorial activities. This agreement has significantly institutionalised and improved the journal’s quality, management, processing, production, distribution and international visibility. This paper holds that the future of journals from the Global South hinges on collaboration with established publishers. The experience of TARE indicates that when a journal retains ownership and decision-making powers in a collaboration, it exhibits high potential for success.