Forum for Development Studies

Aims & Scope

Forum for Development Studies was established in 1974, and soon became the leading Norwegian journal for development research.

While this position has been consolidated, Forum has gradually become an international journal, with its main constituency in the Nordic countries.

The journal is owned by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Norwegian Association for Development Research.

Forum aims to be a platform for development research broadly defined – including the social sciences, economics, history and law.

All articles are double-blind peer-reviewed.

In order to maintain the journal as a meeting place for different disciplines, we encourage authors to communicate across disciplinary boundaries.

Contributions that limit the use of exclusive terminology and frame the questions explored in ways that are accessible to the whole range of the Journal's readership will be given priority.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	1.1
2024	1.10

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	14893

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	99

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.359

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q2

h-index

Year	Value
2024	29

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Back to the Barriers? Changing Narratives in Biodiversity Conservation

  Citation: 288

  Authors: Jon, William M., James C.

• Responsibility and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

  Citation: 169

  Authors: Magdalena, Kristina

• Elephant in the Room? Problematising ‘New’ (Neoliberal) Biodiversity Conservation

  Citation: 103

  Authors: Sian

• The Tragedy of Our Legacy: How do Global Management Discourses Affect Small Scale Fisheries in the South?

  Citation: 89

  Authors: Jeppe, Paul A.M.

• The Death of an Elephant: Conservation Discourses Versus Practices in Africa

  Citation: 78

  Authors: Tor A., Hanne

• Chinese Exports to Africa: Competition, Complementarity and Cooperation between Micro-Level Actors

  Citation: 66

  Authors: Heidi Østbø

• Empowerment Through Energy? Impact of Electricity on Care Work Practices and Gender Relations

  Citation: 58

  Authors: Karina, Tanja

• Better Safe than Sorry? Indigenous Peoples, Carbon Cowboys and the Governance of REDD in the Amazon

  Citation: 52

  Authors: Mariel

• Beyond Institutions: Rethinking the Role of Leaders, Elites and Coalitions in the Institutional Formation of Developmental States and Strategies

  Citation: 52

  Authors: Adrian

• Arab Foreign Aid: Disbursement Patterns, Aid Policies and Motives

  Citation: 51

  Authors: Espen

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