GEOFORUM

Scope & Guideline

Connecting Research to Contemporary Socio-Political Challenges

Introduction

Welcome to the GEOFORUM 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 GEOFORUM, 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
ISSN0016-7185
PublisherPERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1970 to 2024
AbbreviationGEOFORUM / Geoforum
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressTHE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

GEOFORUM serves as a scholarly platform that emphasizes critical geographical research, focusing on the dynamic interactions between societies, environments, and economies. The journal aims to address complex social and political issues through innovative theoretical frameworks and empirical studies.
  1. Critical Political Ecology:
    The journal emphasizes political ecology as a lens to analyze the relationships between ecological issues and socio-political dynamics, particularly how power structures influence environmental governance and resource management.
  2. Urban Studies and Social Justice:
    GEOFORUM investigates urbanization processes, focusing on social justice issues, spatial inequalities, and the impacts of neoliberal policies on urban communities.
  3. Geopolitics and Globalization:
    The journal explores the geopolitical dimensions of global issues, including migration, environmental change, and economic transformations, emphasizing the interconnectedness of local and global contexts.
  4. Indigenous Rights and Environmental Justice:
    A core area of focus includes the intersection of indigenous rights, environmental justice, and resistance against extractive industries, providing platforms for marginalized voices.
  5. Technological Impacts on Society:
    Research on how digital technologies and innovation shape social practices, governance, and economic systems, particularly in relation to environmental sustainability and community engagement.
  6. Feminist and Decolonial Perspectives:
    The journal aims to integrate feminist and decolonial perspectives into geographical research, examining how gender and colonial histories affect spatial practices and environmental policies.
GEOFORUM is at the forefront of addressing contemporary geographical issues, with several themes gaining prominence in recent publications. This section outlines the emerging scopes that reflect the evolving nature of geographical research.
  1. Climate Justice and Environmental Activism:
    There is a significant increase in research addressing climate justice, particularly how marginalized communities are impacted by climate change and how they organize for environmental activism and policy change.
  2. Digital Geographies and Platform Capitalism:
    Emerging themes related to digital geographies and the implications of platform capitalism are gaining traction, focusing on how technology reshapes social interactions, labor markets, and urban spaces.
  3. Intersectionality in Geography:
    A growing emphasis on intersectional analyses that consider how various social categories (such as race, gender, and class) intersect to influence individuals' experiences and access to resources.
  4. Ecological Restoration and Rights of Nature:
    Research themes focusing on ecological restoration initiatives and the legal recognition of the rights of nature are increasingly prevalent, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to environmental governance.
  5. Transnational Migration and Its Impacts:
    The study of transnational migration, particularly in the context of global crises, is emerging as a critical area of focus, examining how migration affects socio-economic dynamics and cultural identities.
  6. Agricultural Innovations and Food Sovereignty:
    There is a growing interest in research that explores agricultural innovations, food sovereignty, and the politics of food systems, particularly in relation to sustainable practices and local resilience.

Declining or Waning

While GEOFORUM continues to be a leading journal in geographical studies, certain themes appear to be losing prominence in recent publications. This section highlights those areas that have seen a decline in focus over the past few years.
  1. Traditional Economic Geography:
    There is a noticeable decrease in research centered on traditional economic geography, particularly studies focused solely on industrial location theories and classical economic models, as the journal shifts towards more interdisciplinary and critical approaches.
  2. Purely Descriptive Case Studies:
    Papers that offer purely descriptive case studies without critical analysis or theoretical engagement seem to be less frequent, as the journal prioritizes contributions that provide deeper insights and challenge existing paradigms.
  3. Conventional Environmental Management Approaches:
    Research emphasizing conventional environmental management strategies without integrating social justice or equity considerations appears to be waning, reflecting a broader shift towards more holistic and inclusive environmental governance frameworks.
  4. Static Geographical Models:
    The use of static models in geographical analysis is declining, with a growing preference for dynamic and complex systems approaches that reflect the fluid nature of socio-environmental interactions.
  5. Individualist Narratives:
    There is a reduction in papers focused on individualistic narratives of environmentalism, as the journal increasingly emphasizes collective action and community-driven approaches to sustainability.

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