The editors of Open Divide: Critical Studies on Open Access (2018), Joachim Schöpfel and Ulrich Herb, together with Niels-Oliver Walkowski, are preparing an updated edition. Instead of a traditional anthology, they are launching a twelve-month online lecture series, culminating in a new Open Access publication.
Since 2018, Open Access has evolved significantly, with developments such as Plan S, the rise of Diamond Open Access, increasing political support, ongoing commercialization, and persistent dominance of private entities in scholarly publishing. The series will critically examine these changes, addressing key questions on competition, access, governance, epistemic injustices, and the impact of Open Access on scientific integrity and reputation. Starting in April 2025, the lecture series will feature recorded presentations, providing a platform for critical perspectives on Open Access. The resulting contributions will be published as an Open Access book, continuing Open Divide’s mission to foster debate on unresolved controversies in scholarly communication.
