Afrika Spectrum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Afrika Spectrum is an interdisciplinary fully refereed journal, concentrating on the analysis of current issues of development in Africa south of the Sahara. It is the only German academic journal exclusively devoted to Africa. Afrika Spectrum is published three times a year. Languages of publication are German, English, and French.
[edit] Editor
Afrika Spectrum, first published in 1966, is published by the GIGA Institute of African Affairs. The journal, which is published three times a year, is part of the GIGA Journal Family of the GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies (Hamburg). The editorial board of Afrika Spectrum is directed by Dirk Kohnert.
The GIGA Journal Family is funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) as a pilot project in Open-Access publishing. Within the next two years Afrika Spectrum and the other socio-scientific journals of the GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies (Hamburg) will be transformed into Open-Access journals. Complementarily all journals will continue as print versions.
[edit] Journal concept
Afrika Spectrum focuses on social science dealing with Africa and is dedicated to promote a deeper understanding of African peoples and cultures. It provides profound analyses of current issues of political, social and economic life, culture and development in Africa south of the Sahara. However it aims not just at academics and students, but also at general readers and practitioners with a concern for contemporary Africa. Since 2003 the journal collaborates closely with the Association of Africanists in Germany (Vereinigung für Afrikawissenschaften in Deutschland, VAD).
The journal provides a unique possibility in the German speaking hemisphere, for authors and readers alike, to publish and discuss their findings in their mother tongue. Nonetheless, contributions in English or French, notably from African countries, are also welcome. Meanwhile English contributions constitute more than half of all contributions on average. Regularly articles included are on varied topics, but the journal also publishes special issues devoted to specific subjects, such as Islam in Africa, the CFA-zone, friendship, or African political parties. Also included are historical studies that illuminate current events in the continent. In addition, the journal carries debates, short contributions and book reviews. Abstracts in English and French, key words for each article, and an annual authors, country and subject index are provided as well. To ensure the quality of the journal, all essays are evaluated in a double blind peer review process. Afrika Spectrum is indexed by internationally renowned indices such as Thomson’s Social Science Citation Index (ISI/SSCI), Congressional Information Service (CIS), the Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS), African Studies Abstracts (ASA), Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, Elsevier’s SCOPUS, and the International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS).
