20 years of open access: colonialism and the search for equity
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2025-12-17
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Diniz, Eduardo Henrique
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Open Access (OA) refers to unrestricted digital availability of scholarly outputs through journal platforms and institutional repositories. Initially envisioned to lower publication costs and promote equitable access to research, OA has evolved as a movement alongside the digital transformation of scholarly communication. Over time, however, its promise of cost reduction and increased inclusivity has been challenged by a shift in the publishing model—from charging readers to charging authors. This research investigates how OA turned from an idealistic movement to a business model, based on a digital colonial logic of asset appropriation and profit extraction, with the scientific article as a digital artefact, with digital tracking footprints and commodification. Drawing upon a decolonisation lens to denaturalise the discourse, and leveraging a mixed-methods approach, the study comprises three phases: (1) discourse analysis from foundational OA declarations and documents to identify causes/consequences of the turning from a movement to business model; (2) volumetric comparison of OpenAlex platform data comparing the flow of knowledge, through scientific articles, and resources, through article processing charges, from Global South (GS) authors to Global North publishers; (3) semi-structured interviews with critical actors in relevant positions to discuss future perspectives. The research identifies that colonialism has existed since the roots of the OA movement and evolved in consecutive eras: Exploration, Expansion, and Exploitation. Key contributions include multiple case studies of GS countries based on open data, avoiding commercial publisher bias and offering citation-based journal ranking analysis for these countries in the Information Systems (IS) field. Furthermore, this research proposes innovative strategies to address these challenges and develop practical, sustainable solutions that enhance accessibility for relevant stakeholders based on the main themes of equity, collaboration, funding, evaluation, and policies. In addition, it calls for action through an anticolonial agenda, especially for Global South stakeholders, about what to do, aiming to foster greater accessibility, affordability, and equity.