How the Global South is reshaping scholarly communication

Area of Science:

• Scholarly communication
• Open science
• Academic publishing

Background:

• The Global South is increasingly recognized for innovative approaches to scholarly publishing.
• Traditional publishing models often present barriers to equitable knowledge dissemination.
• There is a growing need for inclusive and community-driven academic platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore innovative scholarly publishing initiatives from the Global South.
• To highlight platforms that are free for both readers and authors.
• To advocate for a more equitable and just academic publishing ecosystem.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of various initiatives from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
• Analysis of platforms promoting multilingualism, public funding, and non-profit governance.
• Review of community-driven models for knowledge dissemination.

Main Results:

• Identification of numerous platforms in the Global South that are free for readers and authors.
• Observation of a strong emphasis on multilingualism and scholarly-led governance.
• Evidence of successful implementation of non-profit and community-driven publishing models.

Conclusions:

• The Global South's publishing initiatives offer a viable blueprint for a fairer academic ecosystem.
• These models demonstrate the potential for equitable knowledge dissemination.
• Adoption of these principles can foster greater inclusivity in scholarly communication.