“Nondiscursive” Requirements in Academic Publishing, Material Resources of Periphery Scholars, and the Politics of Knowledge Production

TLDR

Academic publishing’s nondiscursive conventions can exclude scholars, and meeting these requirements depends on material resources. The article aims to propose steps toward a more democratic and mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge. It outlines potential steps to achieve a more democratic and mutually beneficial knowledge exchange. The author’s experience demonstrates that nondiscursive publishing requirements exclude Third‑World scholars, marginalize their scholarship, and impoverish global knowledge production.

Abstract

Although some consideration has been given to the manner in which academic discourse is culture-bound, how the “nondiscursive” conventions and requirements of academic publishing can serve exclusionary functions has not been adequately explored. Meeting the latter requirements is contingent upon the availability of certain material resources. Reflecting on personal experience in trying to meet such requirements from an under-developed region, the author shows the manner in which they serve to exclude Third World scholars from the academic publication process. Though this detachment from Western academic literacy enables the development of an alternative academic culture, it can also lead to the marginalization of Third World scholarship. The exclusion of Third World scholars impoverishes the production of knowledge not only in the Third World, but internationally. Therefore the article finally considers steps that may be taken to ensure a more democratic and mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge.