North-South: The First Ten Years

Abstract

This essay serves as a brief introduction to the cumulative index of contents for the first ten years of North-South , known more formally as The Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies. This introduction reflects on the patterns that have emerged in the first decade of the Journal. The preface to a cumulative index is not the place for an exhaustive assessment of the achievements and shortcomings of a new journal in its infant years. A definitive assessment of the performance of North-South is yet to come and will be a welcome addition to the history of the development of Latin American and Caribbean Studies in Canada. It is always a challenge for a new journal, starting with no reputation and no track record, to gain acceptance at home and abroad. Since publications, at least for the academics who make up over 95% of the contributors to North-South , are important in tenure and promotion decisions, there is always a bias toward publication in established journals. It is additionally difficult when a journal has both an area studies focus and a multidisciplinary orientation. It is noteworthy that 1986, marking the tenth year of the Journal also marks the initiation of the first graduate Diploma Programme in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, at York University where the Canadian Association of Latin American and Caribbean Studies was founded in 1969. Both are signs that Latin American and Caribbean studies are coming of age in Canada. The Journal has published 130 articles and 54 book reviews in ten years. Each annual volume contains two numbers. The first three volumes contain joint numbers. The Journal has maintained a 125 page average length per number. Looking at the geographic distribution of the sources of articles, there are 45 articles without institutional affiliation. About 20 of these appear to be from Latin America or the Caribbean. Combined with the dozen