Is the International Communications Association’s Scholarly Practice Centered around the West? - A Multimodal Data Analysis of Publication, Citation, and Funding Networks across ICA Journal Articles

Journals published by the International Communications Association (ICA), including the Journal of Communications, play an important role in the field of communications research. Like scientific journals in many other disciplines, ICA journals tend to be dominated by publications from researchers based at American and British institutions. Using a novel multi-modal dataset that includes funding, funding networks, and open-access publishing, the study seeks to understand the factors that impact the dominance of US/UK-affiliated institutions. By analyzing 9,437 publications from six prominent journals of the ICA, this study reveals significant Western dominance, with US institutions and scholars leading in publication volume, citation rates, and funding resources. The study identifies a reinforcing cycle wherein Western funding and infrastructure consolidate influence in global academic dialogues. Notably, while this Western &quotmonopoly of knowledge&quot is reinforced by access to resources and publication platforms, a recent decrease in Western citation dominance suggests a shift. The study concludes by advocating for enhanced support for non-Western scholars to foster diverse perspectives within global communication research.