INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AFRICAN HISTORICAL STUDIES

Scope & Guideline

Engaging with Africa's Past to Inform the Present

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AFRICAN HISTORICAL STUDIES with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageMulti-Language
ISSN0361-7882
PublisherAFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Converge1976, from 1979 to 1981, from 1985 to 1989, from 1999 to 2023
AbbreviationINT J AFR HIST STUD / Int. J. Afr. Hist. Stud.
Frequency3 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressBOSTON UNIVERSITY 270 BAY STATE ROAD, BOSTON, MA 02215

Aims and Scopes

The INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AFRICAN HISTORICAL STUDIES serves as a critical platform for exploring the diverse historical narratives of the African continent. It emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, facilitating a deeper understanding of Africa's past through a variety of lenses, including social, political, economic, and cultural perspectives.
  1. Interdisciplinary Historical Inquiry:
    The journal encourages the integration of various disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, and political science to provide a comprehensive understanding of African history.
  2. Postcolonial and Decolonial Perspectives:
    A significant focus on postcolonial critiques and decolonial methodologies highlights the complexities of colonial legacies and their impacts on contemporary African societies.
  3. Social Justice and Human Rights:
    Research often addresses themes of social justice, human rights, and the historical contexts surrounding these issues within African nations.
  4. Cultural Studies and Identity:
    Exploration of cultural identities, practices, and transformations, particularly in relation to colonial and postcolonial frameworks.
  5. Political History and Governance:
    A focus on governance structures, political movements, and the historical evolution of statecraft across different African regions.
  6. Environmental History:
    Increasing emphasis on the interplay between environment and society, examining how historical ecological changes have shaped human experiences in Africa.
Recent publications in the journal indicate a shift towards several trending and emerging themes within African historical studies. These themes reflect contemporary issues and scholarly interests that are gaining traction.
  1. Gender and Sexuality Studies:
    There is an increasing focus on gender dynamics, LGBTQ+ histories, and feminist perspectives, showcasing the evolving roles of gender in shaping historical narratives across Africa.
  2. Environmental and Climate Histories:
    Emerging themes in environmental history highlight the impact of climate change and ecological transformations on social and political developments in Africa.
  3. Diaspora and Migration Studies:
    Research exploring the African diaspora, migration patterns, and transnational connections has gained prominence, reflecting the global movement of peoples and ideas.
  4. Digital Humanities and Archival Studies:
    The integration of digital methodologies in historical research is trending, with scholars utilizing digital tools to analyze and present historical data in innovative ways.
  5. Activism and Social Movements:
    An uptick in studies analyzing contemporary activism, social movements, and their historical roots indicates a growing interest in the intersection of history and current socio-political struggles.

Declining or Waning

While the journal continues to evolve, certain themes have shown a decline in frequency or prominence over recent years. This section highlights these waning areas of focus.
  1. Traditional Economic Histories:
    There has been a noticeable reduction in publications centered solely on traditional economic histories, as the journal shifts towards more interdisciplinary and contemporary analyses.
  2. Military History in Isolation:
    Military history topics that do not connect to broader socio-political themes appear less frequently, indicating a waning interest in isolated military narratives without contextual analysis.
  3. Eurocentric Historical Narratives:
    As the journal embraces postcolonial perspectives, there is a diminishing emphasis on Eurocentric historical interpretations that lack African-centered viewpoints.
  4. Localized Studies without Global Context:
    Research focusing solely on localized historical events without connecting to broader African or global contexts has seen a decline, reflecting a move towards more interconnected analyses.

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