Appreciation, Then and Now

In May 2011, during my very first week as Editor of The Newsletter, I was approached by a researcher long associated with IIAS. He wondered if I was aware of how significant the job I had taken on really was. I was still finding my bearings, and the weight of his comment had quite an impact at the time. However, over the following 10 years, during which I had the honour of guiding The Newsletter to publication, I came to understand what he meant. I soon realised the unique position the publication had carved out for itself: non-peer reviewed, free to read, and offering an accessible-to-all style of writing. The Newsletter welcomes contributions from Asia scholars at any stage of their career or research – does not make them jump through a zillion reviewer hoops, or wait 18 months before publication – and then makes their knowledge available to any and all interested readers around the world. 

I became acutely aware of the appreciation of the hundreds of contributors to the 31 issues I edited. They often shared with me what the publication meant to them, but I’d like to take a moment to share what it meant to me. I experienced immense satisfaction in helping authors bring their ideas to life on the page, creating clarity in what, at times, can be a murky process. I felt a deep sense of connection when reaching out to scholars around the globe and discovering what they were working on. And then, often after long periods of emailing back and forth, I also enjoyed the fantastic camaraderie when we would meet face-to-face at one of the Asia conferences each year. No small part in all of this was played by my wonderful colleagues; IIAS was truly a warm home for me for those 10 years. And a special thanks to our incredible graphic designer, Paul Oram. The man has the patience of a saint. 

Now, under the guidance of my talented successors Paramita Paul and Benjamin Linder, The Newsletter is celebrating its 100th issue! I would like to congratulate everyone involved, both 'back then' and now, for this tremendous achievement. I hope the significance of this publication endures for many years to come.

Sonja Zweegers
Editor, 2011 –2021