The Sky That Never Fell: The Power Dynamics of Traditional Academic Journal Publishing and the Opposition towards widespread Open Access

This dissertation examines and discusses contemporary academic journal publishing in terms of legacy/traditional and Open Access models. In examining the modern academic journal publishing arena, the existing power dynamics and the key bodies in the journal publishing system are identified and analysed. This dissertation contends that the existing power structures in place are oligarchic in nature, with the traditional academic publishing body experiencing significant advantages both commercially as well as hegemonically. This power imbalance, particularly the control and power held by larger legacy publishers is visible in their staunch wariness and opposition to Open Access, an opposing model of academic journal publishing that poses a threat to the established power and commercial monopolies held by these traditionally centered bodies. Open Access as a wider initiative shall also be examined, as it is a potentially industry wide altering mechanic, although as aforementioned one that threatens the commercial monopoly held by traditional publishers. An aspect of modern publishing that is almost exclusively found in the digital space, not only is it incredibly fast moving and developing, but there are subsequently numerous advantages and disadvantages of Open Access that shall be scrutinized as a means of determining its key features and understanding the model itself in the modern publishing arena. In focusing upon the potential threat posed to the existing legacy model of academic journal publishing, it is hoped that the actions of traditional publishing institutions shall be shown to be corrupted and self centred, a means of delaying Open Access from becoming the more utilized model of publishing academic journals. As a result of the threat to their financial monopoly and position of power within the academic journal publishing market that is perceived by these larger traditional publishing bodies, widespread adoption of Open Access faces stern and established opposition for a number of reasons, both pragmatic and philosophically. These reasons shall be engaged with through the use of case studies and modern, developing examples today