Editorial

Abstract

Militaria has indeed seen many changes since the first issue appeared in 1969. Since then, it has been a mainstay in the debate on matters relating to South African military affairs. Oscillating between a military-history and a multi-disciplinary content, Militaria has over the past 28 years, seen 105 issues and has contained some 520 multifarious articles. Despite immediate popularity in military and civilian circles (circulation increased by 50 percent in 1971 and has since been maintained at around 3000), Militaria became a quarterly and then a biannual journal, instead of appearing once every second month. This was caused by a number of related forces, not the least being financial stringency and the changing needs of the then South African Defence Force.

A number of improvements were implemented, particularly after 1992. These included the refereeing of articles, which now had to be based upon primary research; and the targeting of a larger academic audience, both locally and abroad. Following the transfer of Militaria to the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch (Military Academy) in 1997, the editorial board was expanded to include distinguished experts and Militaria is now being positioned with the ultimate goal of accreditation with the Bureau for Scientific Periodicals. This will place Militaria in the same league as subsidized journals and will be instrumental for the effective recruitment of the right-type of material for publication.