Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life, the first socio-scientific journal to focus on contemporary issues of Muslim life, will be launched by Springer in 2007. It will provide an active forum for the discussion of new ideas, fieldwork experiences, challenging views, and methodological and theoretical approaches to Muslim life. The editorial board reflects the cross-cultural, interdisciplinary approach of this peer-reviewed journal.
Currently, there is no specific journal that offers a platform for discussion on contemporary aspects of Islam and Muslims. Closing this gap, Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life will focus on topical issues. Articles will explore the relationship between Islam and its contemporary cultural, material, economic, political, religious, and gender-based expressions from different socio-scientific perspectives taken from anthropology, sociology, ethnomusicology, arts, film studies, economics, human rights, education, politics, international relations, international law, diaspora minority studies, demography, and ethics.
Founding Editor Dr. Gabriele Marranci from the University of Aberdeen, UK, commented, "I have long observed that although the social scientific research on Muslims and Islam was lively and increasing, it was spread among variegate academic publications and lacking a visible forum. Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life will provide this unique academic forum to explore innovative approaches to the study of Muslim cultures. I am delighted to work with Springer, because it has the reach and experience to increase awareness of the journal in an increasingly globalized world."
Alexander Schimmelpenninck, Vice President Publishing, Human Sciences, at Springer said, "Most journals in Islamic studies prefer the historical and comparative approach over social scientific research and topics. Springer decided to fill the gap by founding a journal that focuses on contemporary issues surrounding Islam and Muslims. Through our online information platform, SpringerLink, Contemporary Islam can be accessed globally from day one."
Contemporary Islam, to be published three times a year, will be available electronically and in print. All articles will be published online via Online FirstTM, a feature that allows authors to bring their work to the attention of their peers at a very early stage of the publication process. In addition, all authors, via the Springer Open Choice program, have the option of publishing their articles using the open access publishing model.
Springer is the second-largest publisher worldwide in the science, technology, and medicine (STM) sector. Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media, one of the world's leading suppliers of scientific and specialist literature. The group owns 70 publishing houses, together publishing a total of 1,450 journals and more than 5,000 new books a year. The group operates in over 20 countries in Europe, the USA, and Asia, and has some 5,000 employees. In 2005, it generated annual sales of around EUR 838 million.