Editorial

Citation

Crowther, D. and Aras, G. (2013), "Editorial", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 9 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/srj.2013.36809aaa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Social Responsibility Journal, Volume 9, Issue 1

As we enter the ninth year of production of the journal then the Network itself is over ten years old and is approaching 1,000 members. And this year we will have our 12th conference, hosted by Universidade Federal Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over the years we have published the journal four times per year with ten papers in each issue. It is instructive at this time to look back to see the similarities and differences. In Vol. 1 No. 1 there were papers by authors from eight countries; in this issue there are papers by people from eight countries. A wide range of issues are covered in these papers – reflecting the broad scope of social responsibility and the concerns issued. This is equally reflected in our conferences and in my recent book (edited with Patricia Ashley), Territories of Social Responsibility: Opening the Policy and Research Agenda, my colleague Shahla Seifi and I undertake an analysis of the kinds of topics which are of concern. These have changed a little over time which reflects the increasing maturity of the subject, but remain very broad and universal in concern.

It is apparent therefore that social responsibility is a very broad subject which can be – and is – treated at a number of levels from the macro society level to the micro individual level and this is reflected in what we publish in the journal. As far as the journal is concerned then the aims and scope have been set deliberately wide in the belief that there are many aspects to the discourse of social responsibility. All are encouraged in this journal and the contents of this, and every, issue are a reflection of this. In this global village of ours it is also important that everyone is given a voice to participate in the discourse. The journal therefore encourages contributions from anyone, no matter where in the world they are located and no matter in what disciplinary background they reside. Although the language of this journal is English this is merely to provide as wide an audience as possible, in recognition that the dominant academic language in the world is English, rather than any particular belief in the primacy of this language. It is however recognised that different styles of scholarly writing are prevalent in different parts of the world and so a deliberate choice has been made in the journal not to choose any particular style. Hence the diversity of the contributions in this – and all other – issues. All contributions have been blind refereed of course but this refereeing has been undertaken in full recognition that different approaches abound as do different expectations around the world. All that matters in this journal is the quality of the contribution rather than the style of presentation. The refereeing process is designed to facilitate this.

Our aim in the production of this journal therefore is to further the discourse of social responsibility. In doing so however it is also one of changing this global village into a global community. And in a community everyone has a voice, even those dissenting – again one of the aims of this journal. There is nothing further to say at this point, from an editorial perspective, except to read the content and more importantly contribute to the debate.

David Crowther, Güler Aras