in 2022 August. joined by Dr. Zarine L. Rocha Compass of Sociology as one Editor-in-Chief leading the Review Articles Department. The Check out the articles in Compass of Sociology are commissioned works that clarify important debates and are currently being published eight subject areas. We took the opportunity to speak with Zarine about her research and goals for the review articles and journal.
Tell us about your scientific activities and how you came to study sociology?
I am a sociologist from Aotearoa New Zealand of mixed Pakeha and Gujarati descent. I originally studied Sociology at the University of Canterbury and found that it completely changed the way I saw the world – it really shaped who I am and what I want to do. I have lived and worked in Switzerland, Singapore and here in Aotearoa and have been lucky enough to work with colleagues from all over the world. I am currently a Research Associate in the Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Auckland.
I am a qualitative researcher specializing in state classifications of mixed race/mixed ethnic identity, narratives of belonging, identity, diversity and social conflict in Asia and the Pacific. I have published more than 30 articles and books on the subject, and over the years have worked in academic institutions, scientific publications and international organizations. I am also very interested in the practical applications of sociology and am currently editing a book on applied and clinical sociology in Aotearoa New Zealand.
What do you think sociological research contributes to society? Why is this important?
I believe that sociology provides us with important tools for understanding the world, and that different approaches to sociological thinking highlight our differences and commonalities. I firmly believe that sociology is for everyone; As a discipline, sociology examines the experiences of our everyday lives and helps us see the connections between history, biography and society. Sociology illuminates the intersections between issues of race, class, gender, and the ways in which sociopolitical histories of colonization and exploitation have shaped the world we live in and who we are as these complex individuals. Sociology is important in making sense of the challenges we face and finding ways to address these challenges; therefore, in this increasingly globalized world, it is very important to make sociological science more accessible and understandable.
As Editor-in-Chief of Review Articles Compass of Sociologywhat are your goals for the direction and development of the magazine?
I am glad that I have the opportunity to work Compass of Sociology, along with our amazing team of knowledgeable and dedicated associate editors. I am very interested in a sociological publication that emphasizes the multifaceted reality of sociology internationally and Compass of Sociology aims to reflect this as a truly international publication; with a team of editors from around the world, an international peer review process and authors publishing in key areas of interest worldwide.
Sociology is an incredibly diverse discipline, and it is this diversity of history, methodology, and research that makes sociology so interesting and important. I am particularly interested in research from regions that are underrepresented in sociological publishing, and I believe that there is still much work to be done in this area.
As Editor-in-Chief, I believe it is vitally important for sociologists everywhere to create accessible and reliable sociological publishing options, connecting with experts around the world to make every study as good as possible.
What inspires you as a magazine editor?
I enjoy working in academic publishing and I enjoy reading about new, interesting directions in sociology. I find it very inspiring when the magazine features authors from all over the world; to see the diversity of contexts and methodologies and how this pushes the boundaries of established sociology, making the discipline richer and more representative of the world.
More broadly, I’m inspired by the dedication and drive of our Associate Editors and the Wiley team – it’s not easy to pull everything together to make the magazine run smoothly, and every member of the team makes a huge difference. I’m also always impressed by how hard our fellow reviewers work; peer review is free, and researchers undertake this task to help future authors improve their work and contribute to shaping the discipline. I am very grateful for their time and expertise.
What are the reasons to submit new journal authors Compass of Sociology?
Compass of Sociology what sets us apart from other magazines in the field is that we are a younger magazine, publish online only, and make the most of the flexibility that comes with it. We pride ourselves on being an author-friendly publication; we know that academic publishing can be stressful and discouraging, and we firmly believe that it doesn’t have to be. At Compass of Sociologyour associate editors commission papers and work closely with authors through each stage of review and publication: we look for reasons for acceptance, ways to improve articles, balancing rigorous peer review and scholarship quality with support and accountability for authors.
I find the Review Articles section of the magazine quite unique; An excellent resource for researchers and a favorable publication venue as we publish concise, clearly written literature reviews on a wide range of topics. Compass of Sociology can be seen as a real compass in the field; first, the breadth of topics and contexts covered by the review articles, as illustrated by the journal’s eight chapters, and; secondly, we may regard the journal as universally involving all four points of the compass. We want to highlight the very valuable work done by sociologists around the world in reaching out to scholars who may not have the resources or networks to publish in such a visible journal so that different perspectives are heard.
