Aims and scope

Geographica Helvetica, the Swiss journal of geography, publishes contributions in all fields of geography as well as in related neighbouring disciplines. It is a multi-lingual journal, accepting articles in the three main Swiss languages, German, French, and Italian, as well as in English. It invites theoretical as well as empirical contributions. The journal welcomes contributions that specifically deal with empirical questions relating to Switzerland.

The agenda of Geographica Helvetica is related to the specificity of Swiss geography as a meeting ground for different geographical traditions and languages (German, French, Italian and, more recently, a type of transnational, mainly English-speaking geography). The journal aims to become an ideal platform for the development of an informed, creative, and truly cosmopolitan geography. The journal will therefore provide space for cross-border theoretical debates around major thinkers – past and present – and the circulation of geographical ideas and concepts across Europe and beyond. The journal seeks to be a platform of debate also through innovative publication formats in its section "Interfaces", which publishes shorter interventions: reflection pieces on major thinkers as well as position papers (see manuscript types).

Geographica Helvetica is promoted and supported by the following institutions: Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), Geographic and Ethnological Society of Zurich/Geographisch-Ethnographische Gesellschaft Zürich (GEGZ), and Swiss Association of Geography/Association Suisse de Géographie (ASG).

Geographica Helvetica – cultural heritage of Switzerland

Geographica Helvetica, founded in 1899, is part of the cultural heritage of Switzerland. In order to preserve this heritage, the 108 issues of the academic journal Geographica Helvetica are currently being digitalized by the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries. The aim is to ensure that the interested public will have access to full texts of Geographica Helvetica Online. As access is arranged over the online services of the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries and the ETH Library, it is free of charge for users (http://retro.seals.ch). Both full-text research of articles and browsing of individual years are made possible. The complete online service is offered over the technical platform SEALS of the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries. SEALS is the abbreviation for Swiss Electronic Academic Library Service – a subproject of the module E-Archiving. Under the title Geographica Helvetica, all previous titles of the journal are meant: 1899/1900–1916/17: Jahresberichte der Geographisch-Ethnographischen Gesellschaft (Annual reports of the Geographic and Ethnological Society) in Zurich; 1917/18–1943/45: Mitteilungen der Geographisch-Ethnographischen Gesellschaft Zürich (Newsletters of the Geographic and Ethnological Society Zurich); 1923/24–1945: Der Schweizer Geograph – Le Géographe Suisse (The Swiss Geographer); since 1946 Geographica Helvetica.

Geographica Helvetica co-hosts Social Geography, the international journal of social geography and related disciplines in social sciences and the humanities. Geographica Helvetica publishes one "Special Edition Social Geography" per year that focuses on particular current or emerging topics in the field.

These special editions assemble contributions with strong theoretical orientations that represent state-of-the-art discussion on approaches to social geographic matters. Special account is taken of the theoretical interfaces of the related scholarly fields, including their respective philosophies of science. "Special Edition Social Geography" is international in scope and aims in particular at enhancing scholarly discourse between different thought traditions.

Antje Schlottmann and Matthew Hannah act as guest chief editors for the annual "Special Edition Social Geography". The editors welcome suggestions for thematic issues.

For further information on the former journal Social Geography, prior contributions, and special issues, please visit the journal archive: http://www.social-geography.net.