Ethical publishing as resistance: Reflections from plaNext and the politics of knowledge and space

Abstract

This article reflects on ten years of editorial experience with plaNext – Next Generation Planning, examining how ethical publishing can function as a form of resistance within structures shaped by inequality, colonial legacies, and systemic exclusions. Drawing on personal and collective experiences, the author explores the journal’s commitment to academic freedom, epistemic justice, decolonisation, and inclusivity. The article discusses the development of plaNext’s voluntary and equity-driven publishing model, the introduction of half-blind peer review, and the creation of a justice-based ethical policy. It analyses the dilemmas faced when navigating politically sensitive submissions, the challenges of sustaining ethical commitments within institutional constraints, and the tensions arising from demands for indexing and professionalisation. Ultimately, the article positions ethical publishing as an active, principled stance—one that seeks to challenge dominant academic norms, support marginalized voices, and reimagine scholarly communication as a space of accountability, solidarity, and transformative knowledge production.