My Responsibilities as a Journal Editor

Abstract

This short chapter offers a frank critique of the current academic research environment of humanities and social sciences in China, which is not exactly healthy, with some problems getting worse. The main reason for this lamentable situation is that the academic research seems to be strongly driven by a utilitarian urge with a view to achieving instant success. This is manifest in the fact that a large number of low-quality papers or monographs have been produced, the implication being that a lot of research funds along with valuable manpower and other material resources have been wasted. More disturbingly, this unhealthy tendency has also encouraged such wrongdoing as deceit and plagiarism. If this is allowed to continue, devastating consequences to the whole field of academic research in the country will inevitably follow. If we do not allow researchers to have sufficient space to pursue and concentrate on their research, and if academic performance is measured only by the number of papers published, it is not only academic research but also the whole generation of researchers will be in jeopardy. This may sound somewhat alarmist, but undeniably what is at stake is long-term development, and just like any other form of corruption that is being vigorously dealt with, what is happening in the academic community in China has become a pressing national problem.