About the Journal
The Journal of Comparative Research in Anthropology and Sociology – Compaso (ISSN 2068 – 0317) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Department of Sociology and the Doctoral School of Sociology at the University of Bucharest. The journal provides a platform for scientific dialogue by advancing a comparative outlook that bridges empirical research and theoretical inquiry within and across the fields of anthropology and sociology.
Compaso is committed to promoting research that critically examines the co-constitution of social realities and systems of knowledge. Its comparative orientation lies at the heart of this mission, inviting contributions that analyze similarities and differences across cultural, social, historical, or epistemic contexts. The journal encourages comparative approaches that interrogate diverse methodological and theoretical frameworks, confront divergent empirical cases, or place distinct social configurations in dialogue. The journal’s comparative orientation is not limited to the juxtaposition of cases from different geographical or cultural settings, but extends to the confrontation of divergent theoretical paradigms, methodological strategies, and disciplinary perspectives. Compaso welcomes contributions that investigate how similar social processes manifest differently across contexts, and how such differences inform broader theoretical claims. It also values studies that compare diverse types of data (e.g., ethnographic, statistical, archival), epistemic traditions, or institutional settings, in order to interrogate the production and circulation of knowledge about social life. By doing so, it aims to illuminate the contingencies, entanglements, and multiplicities shaping both the phenomena under study and the conceptual tools used to make sense of them.
The journal publishes original research articles that offer rigorous empirical analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods in nature, situated within a clear theoretical framework and with an explicit comparative dimension. In addition to research articles, Compaso accepts shorter research notes that highlight emerging findings or methodological reflections, review essays that critically engage with recent literature in the field, theoretical interventions that advance comparative thinking, and book reviews relevant to its thematic and disciplinary scope.
Some issues are organized around a thematic collection, defined by a public Call for Papers. However, the journal also considers off-theme submissions that contribute to its core mission of developing comparative social analysis. Priority is given to manuscripts that go beyond descriptive comparison and instead use comparative strategies to generate explanatory insights, challenge established categories, or propose new conceptual tools.
The journal strongly encourages submissions from early-career researchers, particularly doctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars working in anthropology, sociology, and related fields. Manuscripts are evaluated through a double-blind peer review process to ensure academic rigor and constructive feedback.
Compaso does not impose any charges at any stage of the publication process. Submission, peer review, acceptance, and publication are all provided entirely free of charge. This is made possible through the voluntary efforts of the editorial team and reviewers, as well as institutional support, reflecting the journal’s commitment to non-commercial, open-access academic publishing and the equitable dissemination of scholarly work.
