Paul Trout
English
MSU
At the time when journals are folding weekly and libraries are cutting periodical subscriptions, Brock University (St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada) is publishing a new interdisciplinary journal that offers thought-provoking essays on a broad range of topics in the liberal arts, social and human sciences, and even the biological and physical sciences.
Optimism like this deserves a pat on the back and a little encouragement.
The inaugural issue of Brock Review came out this fall. It contains an essay on how political scientists use Kuhn's paradigm theory as an explanatory heuristic, an essay comparing Canadian and U.S. Health care systems, another on political protest on the Niagara frontier, and finally a piece on Aristotle's wooden statue of Hermes (fact or fiction?).
Each issue also contains book reviews and a section labeled "Frontiers Essay," where important books are given extended treatment revealing their relevance to other disciplines.
Volume 1, number 1 (1992) also contains a "Mini-Symposium" on Fukuyama's The End of History, consisting of a review article followed by two comment pieces. Although somewhat tightly bound, the inaugural issue has a handsome, semi-glossy cover and is easy to read. It contains 109 pages in a 9" by 6" format.
The editor, Mohammed Dore, wants this journal to transcend the traditional disciplinary boundaries and to raise unresolved questions affecting more than one area of study. As he writes in his Editorial Policy statement, "While not necessarily challenging the legitimacy of these domains of inquiry, we hope that authors of this journal will seek a synthesis of knowledge as a long term objective through exposure and debate across the established lines. We believe that one can work towards this objective if authors avoid jargon that is too specific to a particular discipline." Hallelujah!
Brock Review is a refereed journal, and will appear twice a year. Subscriptions are $10.00 for individuals and $15.00 for institutions. The end page contains submission guidelines. Happily, it does not charge a submission fee (although contributors are required to subscribe).
For a copy of the inaugural issue, or to subscribe, write to:
Mohammed Dore, Brock Review
Brock University
St. Catharines
Ontario, Canada L2S 3A1