Balkanistic Forum

Scope & Guideline

Navigating the Nuances of Balkan History and Culture

Introduction

Welcome to the Balkanistic Forum information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Balkanistic Forum, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageMulti-Language
ISSN1310-3970
PublisherUniv Publishing House Neofit Rilski
Support Open AccessNo
CountryBulgaria
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2015 to 2023
AbbreviationBALKAN FORUM / Balk. Forum
Frequency3 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressUL IVAN MIKHAILOV 66, Room 348, BLAGOEVGRAD 2700, BULGARIA

Aims and Scopes

The Balkanistic Forum is dedicated to the exploration of historical, cultural, and social dynamics within the Balkans and Southeast Europe. It aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and scholarly exchange, focusing on the region's complex legacies, identities, and transformations over time.
  1. Historical Analysis of the Balkans:
    The journal emphasizes the historical narratives of the Balkans, exploring various dimensions such as political, social, and cultural histories, particularly through the lens of post-communist transitions.
  2. Cultural Studies and Ethnography:
    It integrates cultural studies and ethnographic approaches, examining how local cultures, traditions, and identities have evolved and interacted across national boundaries.
  3. Gender Studies and Feminist Perspectives:
    The journal highlights gender studies, focusing on the roles and representations of women in historical and contemporary contexts, and their contributions to societal changes.
  4. Postcolonial and Transnational Perspectives:
    It addresses postcolonial themes and transnational influences, particularly in relation to the Balkans' interactions with broader European and global trends.
  5. Social Issues and Welfare:
    The publication investigates social issues, including welfare systems, healthcare, and the impact of political ideologies on marginalized communities within the region.
  6. Language and Communication:
    The journal explores language dynamics, including issues of linguistic identity, language politics, and the role of language in shaping cultural narratives.
Recent publications in the Balkanistic Forum have highlighted several emerging trends that reflect the evolving interests of researchers and the socio-political landscape of the Balkans.
  1. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Social Issues:
    There is a growing trend towards interdisciplinary research that combines history, sociology, and cultural studies to address complex social issues in the region.
  2. Focus on Marginalized Communities:
    Increasing attention is given to the experiences and histories of marginalized communities, including ethnic minorities and women, reflecting a broader societal acknowledgment of diversity.
  3. Contemporary Political Discourse:
    Emerging themes include analysis of contemporary political discourse, particularly in relation to nationalism, identity, and the impact of recent geopolitical changes.
  4. Digital Humanities and Archival Studies:
    The integration of digital humanities approaches, particularly in archival research and the use of digital tools to analyze historical data, is becoming more prevalent.
  5. Environmental and Ecological Perspectives:
    There is a rising interest in environmental issues and the historical impact of socio-political changes on ecological landscapes in the Balkans.

Declining or Waning

While the Balkanistic Forum has maintained a robust focus on various themes, some areas have shown a decline in prominence over recent publications. This shift may reflect changing scholarly interests or broader socio-political developments.
  1. Traditional National Histories:
    There has been a noticeable decline in papers focusing solely on traditional national histories, indicating a shift towards more transnational and comparative approaches.
  2. Solely Historical Narratives without Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    Papers that focus exclusively on historical narratives without integrating cultural, social, or political analysis are becoming less common, suggesting a move towards more interdisciplinary scholarship.
  3. Focus on Soviet-era Studies:
    The specific focus on Soviet-era studies appears to be less prominent, possibly due to a broader interest in contemporary issues and post-communist transitions.
  4. Conventional Gender Roles:
    Explorations of conventional gender roles in historical contexts are waning, replaced by more nuanced analyses that consider intersectionality and contemporary gender dynamics.
  5. Localism without Broader Context:
    There is a decreasing emphasis on localized studies that do not connect to broader regional or global contexts, reflecting an evolving understanding of the Balkans' place in the world.

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