Development Southern Africa

Scope & Guideline

Navigating the Complexities of Geography and Development

Introduction

Welcome to the Development Southern Africa 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 Development Southern Africa, 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.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0376-835x
PublisherROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1984 to 2024
AbbreviationDEV SO AFR / Dev. South. Afr.
Frequency6 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

Development Southern Africa is dedicated to advancing research that addresses socio-economic issues within the Southern African context, focusing on development challenges, policies, and practices. The journal emphasizes empirical studies, theoretical frameworks, and innovative methodologies that contribute to the understanding of development dynamics in the region.
  1. Socio-economic development studies:
    The journal publishes research that investigates various aspects of socio-economic development, including poverty alleviation, employment generation, and the impact of government policies on local communities.
  2. Environmental sustainability and climate change:
    Research focusing on the intersection of development and environmental sustainability is a core area, examining how climate change affects livelihoods and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies.
  3. Urban and rural development:
    The journal explores issues related to urbanization, rural livelihoods, and the role of agriculture in economic development, highlighting the challenges faced by communities across different settings.
  4. Health and education:
    The impacts of health and education on socio-economic outcomes are frequently addressed, with studies assessing access, quality, and the role of these sectors in promoting development.
  5. Governance and policy analysis:
    Development Southern Africa emphasizes the analysis of governance structures and policy frameworks, including participatory approaches and the implications of policy decisions on marginalized communities.
  6. Entrepreneurship and innovation:
    The journal explores entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic growth, focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their role in the development landscape of Southern Africa.
Recent publications in Development Southern Africa have highlighted several emerging themes that reflect the evolving socio-economic landscape of the region. These trends indicate a shift towards addressing contemporary challenges and innovative solutions in development practice.
  1. Impact of COVID-19 on socio-economic systems:
    A significant increase in studies addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors, including tourism, health, and education, reflects the urgency to understand and recover from the crisis.
  2. Sustainable urban development:
    Emerging research focuses on sustainable urban practices, including urban agriculture and waste management, emphasizing the need for resilience in rapidly urbanizing areas.
  3. Green energy and climate resilience:
    There is a growing emphasis on the transition to green energy and the implications for climate resilience, with studies exploring community-based approaches to energy access.
  4. Youth employment and empowerment:
    Research on youth employability programs and empowerment strategies is increasingly prominent, highlighting the need to address youth unemployment and its socio-economic implications.
  5. Informal economy dynamics:
    The dynamics of the informal economy, including the role of informal enterprises in economic recovery and development, are gaining attention as critical components of the broader economic landscape.
  6. Community engagement and participatory development:
    There is a noticeable trend towards participatory approaches in development, emphasizing community involvement in decision-making processes and local development initiatives.

Declining or Waning

While Development Southern Africa continues to address a wide range of development issues, certain themes have become less prominent in recent publications. The following areas reflect a waning interest, possibly indicating shifts in research focus or changing priorities in the socio-economic landscape.
  1. Traditional agricultural practices:
    Research on conventional agricultural practices has declined, perhaps in favor of studies focusing on sustainable agriculture and urban agriculture, reflecting a shift towards more contemporary issues.
  2. Macro-economic analysis:
    There appears to be a reduced emphasis on broad macro-economic analysis, as the journal increasingly prioritizes micro-level studies that examine local economic impacts and community-level interventions.
  3. Historical development studies:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in publications focused on historical perspectives of development, which may suggest a growing preference for current and forward-looking analyses.
  4. Gender-specific studies in isolation:
    While gender issues remain relevant, there is a decline in studies that solely focus on gender without integrating broader socio-economic contexts, indicating a shift towards intersectional approaches.
  5. Quantitative analysis without qualitative insights:
    The prevalence of purely quantitative studies seems to be waning, as there is a growing recognition of the importance of qualitative insights to complement and enrich empirical findings.

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