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     From: Chris Chase-Dunn
     chriscd@jhuvm.hcf.jhu.edu
     To: wsn, the world-systems network
 
     A proposal for the founding of an
     electronic world-systems
     journal
 
 
     The cost of information sharing is
     dropping geometrically.  Internet-
     accessible electronic archives make it
     possible to produce and distribute an
     electronic journal essentially for free.
     Since most of the editorial work for
     academic journals is done on a pro bono
     basis, it is possible to produce a
     refereed serious journal without spending
     dollars, or by spending very few. The low
     cost of storage makes it possible to
     publish long pieces with big data
     appendices, something which hard copy
     journals usually cannot afford. Thus we
     have an opportunity created by changes in
     technology and I propose that we seize
     the time.
 
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     REVIEW, the Fernand Braudel Center
     journal is an excellent forum for world-
     systems research and theorizing. It is
     open to challenging theoretical positions
     and to various methodological approaches.
     But, as a hard copy journal, REVIEW is an
     expensive proposition and economic
     realities limit the length of issues,
     articles and appendices.
 
     Therefore, I propose a discussion on wsn
     of the idea of establishing a new
     electronic world-systems journal. My
     proposal will be as specific as possible
     in order to provide a basis for
     discussion of various issues.
 
     Editors: should be senior scholars who
     can afford to commit themselves to the
     administrative and editorial work
     necessary.
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     Editorial Board: eminences, enfants
     terrible, the usual suspects, and
     others. Selected by those who commit
     themselves to do the work.
 
     Methods: submissions are refereed by at
     least two outside reviewers. All work is
     done by e-mail to keep costs to a
     minimum. Subscriptions are free. The
     semiannual journal will be archived in
     wsystems at csf in Boulder. Users can
     retrieve whole issues or single articles.
     Copyright will remain with the authors.
 
     Title: Journal of World-Systems Research
 
 
     So what do you think? Please send
     comments to wsn@csf.colorado.edu