About the Journal

The Journal of Global Buddhism has been established to promote the study of the globalization of Buddhism, both historical and contemporary, and its transnational and transcontinental interrelatedness. We publish research articles, special issues (special focus sections), discussions, critical notes, review essays and book reviews, as detailed in our Author Guidelines.

The JGB is published entirely online. In all other respects, it functions as a traditional scholarly journal.

The Journal of Global Buddhism interprets "global" in a broad geographic and sociological sense, but with a particular focus on developments in industrialized, non-Asian countries. The primary subjects considered by the journal include:

  1. Historical Studies
  2. Transnational Studies
  3. Issues in the Development of Buddhist Traditions
  4. Case Studies and Biographical Studies
  5. Survey Results and Their Interpretation
  6. Research Bibliographies
  7. Theoretical and Methodological Studies

Historical Studies

Major historical investigations of Buddhist development with a focus on Western countries; developments within individual Buddhist traditions concentrating on historical trends in Western Buddhism.

Transnational Studies

Comparative studies in the development of Western Buddhism; area studies and their interconnectedness; concerns for de-territorialization of locality.

Issues in the Development of Buddhist Traditions

Investigation of membership determination; ethnicity; Buddhist practice(s); democratization; adaptation and acculturation; ecumenical movements; future trends.

Case Studies and Biographical Studies

Investigations of individual Buddhist groups(s); multiple studies of Buddhist communities within Buddhist traditions and sectarian divisions; studies of leading figures in modern Buddhism, reflecting both Asian immigrant and Western convert communities; studies of leading figures in modern Buddhism, reflecting both Asian immigrant and Western convert communities.

Survey Results and Their Interpretation

Empirical findings resulting from individual investigations; results from journal-sponsored surveys.

Research Bibliographies

Inclusive, broadly based, comprehensive bibliographies; case-specific tradition-based bibliographies; country-specific bibliographies; issue-oriented bibliographies.

Theoretical and Methodological Studies

Transcultural transplantation of Buddhist traditions: models and systematizations; images, projections, and idealizations of Buddhism; politics of representation; the impact of globalization; examination of approaches to the study of global Buddhism, such as diaspora studies.