Vol. 17 No. 1 (2018)

In the autumn of 1985, Wilson Manyfingers, Joseph E. Fallon, Dr. Ramendu S. Dewan, and the Editor in Chief inaugurated the Fourth World Journal with the publication of their five articles. These articles introduced Fourth World Scholarship, offering unique perspectives and analyses on governance, wars, forced assimilation, genocide, and the hopeful pursuit of political independence. The authors provided rich "inside-out" analyses, a style not commonly found elsewhere, thus beginning a tradition of specific, targeted scholarship from Fourth World peoples.

Historically, such articles and analyses rarely saw publication or became available for critical review by scholars, political leaders, activists, and grassroots communities. The Fourth World Journal has continued this tradition, publishing over eighty-eight insightful, information-filled essays, investigative pieces, and peer-reviewed research articles across 17 volumes. The journal has featured authors from all six continents, examining the cultural, historical, social, economic, and political lives of Fourth World nations, some widely recognized and many lesser-known. What unites these contributions is a steadfast commitment to understanding and appreciating the diverse knowledge systems and customs as they apply to the realities of Fourth World peoples.

The challenges faced by over 5,000 Fourth World nations are often overshadowed by conventional scholarly journals, which are largely founded on 19th-century European disciplines like psychology, allopathic medicine, history, economics, politics and diplomacy, commerce, and various sciences. When the Fourth World Journal began publishing, many conventional scholars criticized its content and conclusions for not conforming to "conventional wisdom." Indeed, many authors sought publication with the Fourth World Journal because academic and other commercial journals were unwilling to publish their work. One author, for instance, recounted how a conventional journal rejected his article because it exposed a cover-up by academics concerning the Philippine government staging "cave dwelling" peoples in the jungle. This investigation, proving accurate, challenged the academic careers built on this fabricated discovery, yet institutional momentum allowed those involved to continue to prosper.

Today, students and faculty at over 300 universities and colleges worldwide, alongside community leaders, grassroots people, and political activists, read the Fourth World Journal, setting a new pace for 21st-century scholarship. The journal takes pride in knowing that its Fourth World analysis is now an integral part of global and local dialogue. It is with great pleasure that the Editor in Chief offers the 17th volume, 1st issue of the Fourth World Journal for the Summer of 2018