Opinion & blog

Emerald Publishing convened leading voices to explore collaborative strategies to #DefendResearch and safeguard academic freedom at a panel in Leeds, UK on 25 September 2025.

When we introduced ourselves earlier this year, Emerald’s Open Lab committed to sharing our insights with the wider community. After all, many of us are joined in the goal of achieving sustainable and equitable open access (OA) all while serving the needs of diverse communities and stakeholders.

Read this blog that addresses our key question based on reflections on fairness through the lens of the SDGs.

Read this blog that explores whether billionaires should exist, with insights from Tawana Kupe.

Read this blog that explores the question of 'Should billionaires exist?' from multiple angles informed by degrowth scholarship.

Read this blog that explores the characteristics of the wealthiest 1% in the USA, and their potential role in shaping a more sustainable society.

Read this blog that reflects on the issue of billionaires through the lens of diversity, societal and individual value dilemmas.

Read this blog that explores whether billionaires should exist from the perspective of Shresta Rai.

Read this blog that explores the link between South Africa’s wealth gaps and the widespread effect of political lobbying from billionaires.

Read this blog about the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

Read this blog as Rosabelle Mederick shares her reflections and insights as to whether billionaires should exist.

Read this blog as Amina Umuhoza explores the role billionaires can play with leading the way towards achieving a fairer society.

Read this blog to explore Makhala Henson’s reflection on “Should billionaires exist?”.

Read this blog that explores whether billionaires should exist, from the reflections of Chipo Mataka.

Read this blog that shares insights into addressing our key question, from the reflections of Twaambo Mudenda.

Read this blog that explores Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the consequences this has for the people, plants, and wildlife of Laguna Madre.

Read this blog that delves into the research of Dr. Berch Berberoglu which explores the widening gap of wealth and incoming inequality in the United States.

Read this blog that explores the relationship between billionaires and their contributions towards climate change.

Making research Open Access (OA) is one major step in the process, but how do we know if OA research is having its intended impact? Ann Campbell and Katie Davison share the results of their investigations and some lessons for the future of OA.

Read this blog that explores whether billionaires and institutions can coexist to create positive change and therefore working towards achieving a fairer society.

Read this keynote blog as Goal Advisor Professor Wendy M. Purcell shares her insights towards addressing our critical question of, “Should billionaires exist?”, to achieve a fairer society.

Read this blog that shares further insights into our key question and explores the impact of billionaires within the context of Zimbabwe.

Read this blog that explores the importance of raising eco-billionaires in Africa through green leadership, and how this can be done with reference to the 5Ps framework.

Our Open Lab, established to explore alternative models for open access (OA), has been running for seven months and we have been immersing ourselves in the OA discourse. Truthfully, it feels like the conversation is reaching an impasse. Find out more in this blog.

In this blog, Lisa Walter and Matt Long discuss the symbolic politics of terrorist-related police fatalities.

In this blog, Lisa Walter and Matt Long discuss the symbolic politics of terrorist-related police fatalities.

In this blog, Lisa Schiff and Alice Meadows, two of the organisers of the Declaration to #DefendResearch, discuss their work and what individuals and organisations can do to support these efforts.

In December 2024, we launched The Open Lab, a dedicated Incubator unit, to explore the key questions about incentivising open access (OA), enhancing research accessibility, creating better value, the future of paid access, ensuring equity, real-world impact and creating a collectively sustainable ecosystem.

Like every independent publisher we strive to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders seeking to both consume and publish academic research content whilst also ensuring the models which provision these are viable and sustainable for our business. Therefore, we’ve recently launched our Open Lab as a dedicated Incubator unit. Find out more in this blog.

Anna Rose Wehren from Loughborough University, UK, discusses coercive control in LGBTQ+ intimate relationships.

With Peer Review Week upon us once again, we embrace the chance to look more closely at what peer review looks like at Emerald Publishing.

At Emerald Publishing, peer reviewing is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the research we publish. So, we sat down with Emerald’s Head of Research Integrity, Laura Etchells, to discuss the current state of play, the challenges ahead and what we’re putting in place to help shape the future role of peer review.

Manuel Lira showcases how space technology, such as SpaceX's Starlink, enhances quality of life by improving education and healthcare access, while emphasising the need for sustainable policies and responsible stewardship to ensure a fairer future.

Ahlam Ahmed H. Alshehri, PhD candidate at Western Sydney University in Australia, highlights how Saudi Vision 2030 enhances quality of life for women and people with disabilities through inclusive policies and social reforms. By promoting equality and improving access to resources, Vision 2030 aims to create a more equitable society for all.

Discover how Dr. Zehorit Dadon-Golan of Hemdat College and Bar Ilan University, Israel, shows that education is essential for improving quality of life and combating hate, by fostering love, peace, and respect to build a fairer society.

Dr. Saut Sagala et al. advocate for better urban planning and inclusive services, contrasting Jakarta's challenges with Vienna's successes to highlight the need for sustainability and liveability.

How can quality of life be enhanced by entrepreneurship? Benjamin Anabaraonye, from the University of Nigeria, explores this through the ‘5 C's’ – creativity, connectivity, consistency, clarity, and credibility – highlighting how these traits drive innovation and foster a fairer society.

Here, we explore what quality of life brings to our consideration of a fairer society. How might our thinking change, our priorities adapt, and our attention be guided to what really matters in creating a world that takes everyone forward when we adopt quality of life as our lens?

Dr Matt Long and Dr Amy Cortvriend discuss the instantaneous nature of social media which creates 'accidental heroes', and outline three narratives around 'Pat', a 71 year old 'accidental hero' from the recent far-right riots and anti-racist (counter) protests.

Author Eleanor Manhong Li looks into the reasons behind the underreported rape rates in China.

Jessica Whitfield, Ulster University, Belfast, discusses how volunteering with large scale arts programmes can be a tool for empowerment.

Kunio Shirahada, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and Alan Wilson, University of Strathclyde discuss if activities are effective in enhancing the well-being of seniors.

George Wright, The Big Life Group, discusses the power of volunteerism.

Adeniyi Toyin Funmilayo, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, discusses volunteering to combat plastic pollution in your community.

Professor Wendy M. Purcell discusses volunteering as a central to achieving a fairer society.

In their blog, Emma Richardson, Laura Jenkins & Dominic Willmott discuss the presence of 'rape myths' in jury deliberation, and achieving justice for complainants of rape and serious sexual offences.

Professor Wendy M. Purcell discusses liveable cities over the next 30-years and how this will determine the well-being of the world.

Marco Reggiani discusses how there have been challenges and setbacks towards sustainable urban regeneration.

Tom Coupe discusses housing affordability and how it is a global problem within a local context.

Felix Kwabena Donkor discusses climate change and extreme events in contemporary society.

Dr Taha Chaiechi discusses how a multi-collaborative governance approach is critical in creating an age-friendly and inclusive environment for the ageing population.

Mr Aloka Karunasingha and Professor Nalin Abeysekera ask how social media marketing strategies use the concept of trust to influence consumers’ online behaviour.

In their blog, Andy Hodder and Michael Gold discuss the work of Alan Fox and the influence it has on both the teaching and research of British industrial (or employment) relations.

Bettina Lange, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands / Nottingham, UK discusses how philosophy and transport don’t go together – or do they? Philosophy analyses assumptions and helps us rethink them.

Mr. Aloka Karunasingha, and Prof Nalin Abeysekera discuss how trust impacts online purchasing, social motivation, trust, and online purchase intentions and the practical implications for the fashion industry.

Kathrin Kirchner, Christine Ipsen, Anne Pedersen, Mejse Hasle Nielsen and Kasper Edwards discuss building trust between colleagues working in different locations, as well as trusting the technology we use to facilitate hybrid working.

Olufemi Omitoyin discusses how a digital divide, which is either economic (lack of internet access as a result of it being too expensive) or geographic (lack of access resulting from inadequate internet distribution within the region) has been created between Africa and the rest of the world.

Eelaferi, Collective of early career researchers; Eefje Hendriks, Laura Kmoch, Femke Mulder and Ricardo Fuentealba discuss the many issues in academia regarding diversity and inclusion.

Dr Hassan Imam, Kyoto University, Japan on how trust is fundamental to human relationships, whether between individuals at the micro level, businesses at meso level, or a vital component in developing a free, fair, and democratic society at the macro level.

At the micro level, interpersonal trust – the tapestry that holds a society together – also permeates organisations, leading to organisational trust (the meso level).

Wendy Purcell, Goal Advisor for the Fairer Society, discusses how trust is central to treating others fairly and an essential element in creating a world that leaves no one behind.

Emerald global inclusivity report: expert analysis: Dr Chioma Ohajunwa, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Emerald global inclusivity report: expert analysis: Dr Manuela Rosing Agostini, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos), Brazil

Emerald global inclusivity report: expert analysis: Ashley Richard, Associate Director, Indigenous – Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

In this blog, we hear from Prof. Nataša Rupčić on creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive peer review process

More than half of the world's children grow up in Asia, a continent of rapid economic and social change. Undoubtedly, there are many differences and inequalities in the conditions of growing up in Asia’s various countries, regions and among social groups.

Braam Lowies explores generational differences in property tenure and type with Australia as background.

Until fairly recently, it was the general expectation that each generation would be better off than their parents’ generation. That no longer seems to be the case and social mobility has gone into reverse.

Older adults – the silver generation – have much to gain from adopting technology in their daily living and wellbeing. Yet as with most electronic gadgets and digital technology, the adoption rate among this demographic group is often the lowest.

In his blog, David Costanza, The George Washington University, highlights that If we want to increase fairness and create a more inclusive society, we need to move past generations and generational thinking.

In her key editorial blog, Wendy Purcell, Goal Advisor for the Fairer Society, makes a call to action: start working now on building a fairer society for all our generations.

Researchers of Indigenous research need more opportunities to network and exchange ideas that will help advance the field, says Ana Luíza Rossato Facco

To move forward and to bloom with her true colours, Australian government needs to employ long-term, systematic, genuine and concerted efforts, partnership and planning to embrace Australia’s Indigenous heritage and cultures.

Dr. Brad Long discusses how corporate social responsibility (CSR) has the promise for reshaping how we understand the purpose of business in society.

Shirley Anne Tate, author of Decolonising Sambo, gives us her take on Black and People of Color (BPOC) futurity.

John van der Velden and Rob White discuss their book, The Extinction Curve, stewardship and the question or ownership.

Toru Yoshikawa discusses sustainability initiatives in corporate governance practices to tackle major social and environmental problems.

Ana Luíza Rossato Facco, Lecturer and PhD Candidate (Brazil) discusses why traditional communities are regarded as the best guardians of the forests of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Jeffrey Tang, PhD, and Christie-Joy Hartman, PhD discuss how stewardship and sustainability are used at James Madison University to engage students in helping solve the world's problems.

Professor Janet Haddock-Fraser, PhD considers the notion of environmental stewardship and equitable access to natural green spaces from her experiences in the UK.

Professor Theresa Rajack-Talley, Professor Patti Doyle-Bedwell, & Catherine Martin discuss stewardship and the Indigenous population at Dalhousie University

Christopher Imbsen, Director of Sustainability, World Travel & Tourism Council explores how travel & tourism can be a driver and steward of sustainable, inclusive and resilient destinations

Dr. Wendy M. Purcell PhD FRSA, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, is our goal advisor for a fairer society. In this blog she explores stewardship of human and environmental resources.

Dr Yaz Osho talks about the need to amplify academics of colour voices and the impact of universities’ colonial legacy on curricula and frame.

Heloisa Jardim, Research Manager, SHINE, Harvard discusses how our social connections are essential to us thriving.

Dr. Theo J.M. van der Voordt, Associate professor in Corporate Real Estate and Facilities Management discusses the impact of the built environment on our health and wellbeing.

John Osborne and Dr Mathew Nyashanu argue that inclusive community singing plays a pivotal role in enhancing social value, relationships, health and wellbeing.

Jerome Carson Professor of Psychology at the University of Bolton, discusses his series of over 30 papers, which show how many people overcome huge personal adversity in their lives.

Primarily using citation metrics can marginalise knowledge in developing countries. We hear from Dr Kezia H. Mkwizu and Dr Janet C Kimeto on their experience of metrics, their limitations and opportunities.

Donna Hicks, Associate of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University talks about why dignity matters in the workplace.

Dr Camila Horst Toigo – Economist and specialist in sustainable finance discusses what it means to be happy in the contemporary world.

Eileen McNeely discusse how COVID-19 has highlighted that work represents more to us than just a paycheck. Employees are leaving in unprecedented numbers, and leaders need to consider the impact of work on individuals and the work community.

Dr. Wendy M. Purcell PhD FRSA, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, is our goal advisor for a fairer society. In this blog she explores what it means to create and sustain a fairer society, and considers what it means to flourish in our lives.

Dr. Christine Ipsen, Dr. Kathrin Kirchner, and Dr. Kasper Edwards discuss how hybrid-remote work challenges trust, collaboration and fairness.

Counselling psychologist Dr Richard Majors talks candidly about racism towards Black mental health professionals and the impact racism has on mental health services for the Black community, particularly Black Males.

A perspective from Emerald Publishing by Sally Wilson, VP Publishing - There aren’t necessarily any quick fixes that will make editorial boards more diverse, but we must move forward regardless and mostly through less talk and more action.

Rania Sawalhi, Gonzalo Díaz Meneses, and Sombo Muzata share their thoughts of what is preventing diversity in editorial boards and what more can be done to make them more effective.

Women entrepreneurs are becoming the fastest-growing entrepreneurial population in the world, with women’s entrepreneurship in developing countries spearheading this growth.

The gig economy is demonstrably redefining work by increasing the number and variety of available work choices and attracting those seeking work flexibility and the opportunity to work limited hours.

The gig economy is demonstrably redefining work by increasing the number and variety of available work choices and attracting those seeking work flexibility and the opportunity to work limited hours.

If our economy and the healing power of social capital are to thrive post-COVID-19, we need to place more urgent priority on measures to promote, sustain good physical and psychological wellbeing in our working age population.

The COVID-19 pandemic and sustained climate change have significant effects on employment across the globe, especially those working in, or forced into, the informal sector.

In our recent study, we focused on workplace experiences shared by transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Their stories offer insights into the following six critical steps to ensure integrative and all-inclusive organisations.

The integration of individuals with ASD into the workplace offers numerous benefits to society as a whole, the organisations that employ them, and individuals with ASD. An important factor in creating a fairer society will be ensuring equality in the workplace for these individuals.

Nicholas Gibbs, Teacher in Policing at Leeds Trinity University and PhD student at Northumbria University discusses LinkedIn and a new generation of digital 'self-branders'.

Despite the essential role of women in the publication process in general, they remain low in representation within the scholarly community compared to men.

Given the persistent and unconscious nature of gender bias in the publication process, the underrepresentation of women is a problem that will not solve itself.

One of the bugbears of our role as journal editors is the difficulties encountered when attempting to process papers through the review system in a timely and satisfactory manner.

It is important that research is relevant to autistic persons themselves, with the potential to make improvements in their lives through a participatory approach .

Seeing the peer review process as an integral part of the academic journey made us understand that ECRs have a vital role to play in the production and verification of scientific knowledge to which peer review makes such an important contribution.

When we consider government representation, or the makeup of corporate (or editorial boards), we want the makeup of those to both represent us as individuals, but also to be as diverse as possible.

Rania Sawalhi, Ritu Srivastava and Sigmar de Mello Rode discuss what it’s like to be a researcher in a developing country and whether the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges they face.

Unless we portray female protagonists in cases, students will be less likely to appreciate and understand differences in decision-making and leadership styles of male vs. female CEOs.

Women are especially vulnerable to the social and economic consequences of the pandemic. However, it is still too early to know the long-term effects, as well as the success of mitigation measures. Dr Mariann Hardey at the University of Durham examines these issues in the context of women in academia. Drawing from existing research and her own experiences, she suggests key actions that individuals can take to address gender equality issues post-pandemic.

"If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organisation". So stated Mary Douglas in a sentence so thoroughly abused that it has achieved the status of fridge magnet aphorism.

Over 5,000 people with learning disabilities in England have already benefited from Digital Lifeline - a unique partnership project led by Good Things Foundation - a digital inclusion and social change charity with a vision for a world where everyone benefits from digital.

Dr Jaclyn Lee, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore on one of the greatest culture transformation projects undertaken in their career.

Elodie Gentina (IESEG School of Management, France) discusses the core characteristics of Generation Z.

Maximiliano Korstanje, Senior Researcher in the Department of Economics, University of Palermo, Argentina - discusses the the impact that COVID-19 has on the future of tourism

Dr Richard Teare – President, Global University for Lifelong Learning – describes what's needed to facilitate wider inclusion in lifelong learning.

Eddy Ng, the James and Elizabeth Freeman Professor of Management at Bucknell University, USA – discusses the model minority myth.

Marcia Texler Segal & Vasilikie (Vicky) Demos – discuss how the pandemic has revealed a number of gaps in the social structure, and a new deal, or social policy, is called for.

Chika Shinohara, St. Andrew’s University, Osaka, Japan – talks about the fact that, despite being time-poor and sleep-deprived, women have been standing up for their rights during the pandemic.

Seham Ghalwash – Research Manager at the School of Business at the American University in Cairo (AUC) – talks about finding opportunity in times of hardship.

COVID-19 has, for the most part, resulted in the cancellation of traditional face-to-face, large-scale networking events, with an immediate transfer to virtual/digital platforms. This could be particularly detrimental to women entrepreneurs and the networks they have established.

COVID-19, violence, division, the Israeli foreign occupation impose new challenges and serious barriers to effective women’s engagement and community participation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Meltem Ince Yenilmez - Department of Economics, Yaşar Üniversitesi, Izmir, Turkey discusses the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on women.

Rita A. Gardiner – Faculty of Education at Western University, Canada discusses Gender-based violence that is not only fueled by the global pandemic, but also fueled by the political rhetoric of some world leaders.

Andrea Duhon from Marshall University talks about her experiences of being a mathematician in the predominantly white male-dominated field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Sue Cohen – University of Bristol, UK – talks about how the hidden value of women's work is disregarded, and how a caring economy can reduce COVID-19 death rates.

Madinah Nabukeera – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda – talks about gender-based and domestic violence during the pandemic.

Dr Lara-Zuzan Golesorkhi, Grace Fortson, Katherine Harder and Trevor Riedmann talk about refugee women and community support efforts during the pandemic.