Publishing with Social Dynamics

ASAA 2022 Pre-Conference Workshop Proposal 

Publishing with Social Dynamics: A Workshop for Emerging Academics  

Submitted by:  

Editors-in-Chief of Social Dynamics: A Journal of African Studies 

Christopher Ouma, University of Cape Town 

Bernard Dubbeld, Stellenbosch University  

Lauren Paremoer, University of Cape Town 

About Social Dynamics: A Journal of African Studies  

Social Dynamics strives to publish conceptually-informed research on Africa that addresses an interdisciplinary audience. It is the journal of the Centre for African Studies at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. It has been published since 1975, and is committed to advancing interdisciplinary academic research, fostering debate and engaging current issues pertaining to the African continent. Articles cover the full range of humanities and social sciences including anthropology, archaeology, economics, education, history, literary and language studies, music, politics, psychology, sociology and visual arts. 

Format 

alf-day workshop, hybrid format, in-person where possible. 

Focus of workshop 

This workshop will bring together emerging academics interested in securing their first academic publication with the editors-in-chief and editorial board members of Social Dynamics: A Journal of African Studies (Social Dynamics).  The workshop is aimed at up to 20 emerging scholars who will be attending ASAA 2022, who do not have an extensive record of publications, and who have completed their conference papers prior to the conference on themes that fall within the journal's scope.  

Expectations of participants  

The workshop participants will be strongly encouraged to submit the finalised versions of their papers to Social Dynamics for publication, though participation in the workshop is not a guarantee that papers will be published and workshop participants' will still have to go through the formal peer review process once submitted to Social Dynamics. Where papers are eventually published in other academic outlets, we request that the authors include an acknowledgement of the contribution that the workshop has made in developing the paper for publication. Participants will be expected to cover their own costs.  

Structure of workshop 

During the workshop we will: 

• Briefly introduce the aims, scope and submission requirements of the journal.  

• Create breakout groups where participants will work closely with a designated resource person, who has read their paper and commented on it prior to the workshop, to discuss how the paper can further be developed to facilitate publication in Social Dynamics, to devise a timeline for submission to the journal, and to agree on any further mentorship or feedback beyond the workshop. 
  
   
• A plenary session during which participants share the major obstacles they have faced in trying to secure their first publication, together with a reflection on the extent to which this workshop assisted in addressing some of these issues and guidance as to how the journal could better serve as a platform for first-time authors to disseminate their intellectual work.  

Resource Persons (Editors and Editorial Board Members) 

1. Christopher Ouma, Centre for African Studies and Department of English Literary Studies, University of Cape Town 
2. Bernard Dubbeld, Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, University of Stellenbosch  
3. Lauren Paremoer, Department of Political Studies, University of Cape Town 
4. George Hull, Department of Philosophy, University of Cape Town 
5. Horman Chitonge, Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town 
6. Desmond Painter, Department of Psychology, University of Stellenbosch  
7. Zethu Matebeni, SARChi Chair in Sexualities, Genders and Queer Studies, University of Fort Hare  
8. Lize Van Robbroeck, Visual Arts Department, University of Stellenbosch  
9. Louise Green, Department of English, University of Stellenbosch  
10. Tanja Bosch, Centre for Film and Media Studies, University of Cape Town   

Who can apply? 

The workshop is open to scholars who are presenting a paper at ASAA 2022 who are not more than 3 years after the completion of their PhDs and have not previously published a paper in Social Dynamics. 

We especially encourage those who have never published in a peer-reviewed journal to apply. 

Process 

Participants to submit 150-200 word abstracts by 14 February 2021, together with CVs 

Those selected for the workshop will be informed by 28 February 2021 and be required to submit paper drafts of 6000-9000 words (including notes and references by 31 March 2022. 

For questions and inquiries, contact editors: socialdynamicsjournal@gmail.com