Key Points
- Ealing academic named co‑editor of European Societies
- Professor Karim Murji joins Professor Sarah Neal at helm
- Role marks “triple crown” in major sociology journals
- Journal is ESA’s flagship publication on European societies
- Appointment seen as recognition of editorial leadership
Ealing (Extra London News) 7 February 2026 – Ealing’s University of West London has announced that Professor Karim Murji has been appointed co‑editor‑in‑chief of the academic journal European Societies, alongside Professor Sarah Neal of the University of Sheffield.
Professor Murji, a professor of social policy and criminology in UWL’s School of Human and Social Sciences, has previously edited the journals Sociology and Current Sociology, according to the university’s own statement reported by Ealing.news. The appointment places him and Professor Neal in a rare position, making them the only people to have edited the flagship journals of the British, International and European Sociological Associations, the university added.
European Societies is a peer‑reviewed journal published by MIT Press and is described by the European Sociological Association as its flagship journal, focusing on sociological research related to Europe and its social dynamics. The role is widely seen within the discipline as a mark of distinction, reflecting both scholarly reputation and long‑standing service to the field of sociology.
Who is Professor Karim Murji?
European Societies is the flagship journal of the European Sociological Association and is published with the MIT Press, as stated on the journal’s official MIT Press page. It is a peer‑reviewed, general‑sociology journal that publishes research from or about Europe, including work that takes a comparative perspective on European societies in a global context.
The journal’s remit, as outlined by the European Sociological Association, covers all relevant aspects of sociological theory and empirical research, welcoming contributions from a range of methods and disciplinary approaches that substantially advance sociological knowledge. It also focuses on the specific contribution of contemporary European societies to a global world, as well as on the serious socioeconomic and socio‑political challenges they face.
What does the new role involve?
As co‑editor‑in‑chief of European Societies, Professor Murji will share responsibility for the journal’s intellectual direction, editorial standards and day‑to‑day management with Professor Sarah Neal of the University of Sheffield. The European Sociological Association has previously described the editorship of European Societies as a five‑year post that may be held by one editor or a small team, with responsibilities including commissioning articles, overseeing peer review and shaping special issues.
In the university’s statement reported by Ealing.news, Dr Jen Mayer, head of UWL’s School of Human and Social Sciences, said: “Professor Murji’s appointment recognises his experience in academic journal leadership and his service to the discipline.”
The school emphasised that the role is not only a personal honour but also a recognition of the department’s wider contribution to sociological research and publishing.
Why is this a “triple crown”?
The University of West London’s announcement, as reported by Ealing.news, describes Murji and Neal’s combined editorial record as a “triple crown” in major sociology journals. This refers to their prior editorships of the flagship journals of the British Sociological Association (Sociology), the International Sociological Association (Current Sociology) and now the European Sociological Association (European Societies).
The phrase underscores the unusual breadth of editorial responsibility across the three main sociological associations at national, international and European levels.
How is the appointment being received?
Within the university, the appointment has been framed as a significant endorsement of Professor Murji’s standing in the field. Dr Jen Mayer’s statement, carried by Ealing.news, highlights the value placed on sustained service to the discipline through editorial work, which shapes what research is published and how debates are framed.
Outside the institution, the European Sociological Association’s own materials on European Societies describe the journal as a high‑quality outlet that contributes to plurality and openness within sociology, observing high ethical standards in academic independence and double‑blind review. The association’s call for expressions of interest in editing the journal in 2020 noted that the post carries responsibility for inviting different types of papers, including full research articles, thematic overviews and book reviews, as well as coordinating special issues linked to the association’s research networks.
What does this mean for Ealing and UWL?
For the University of West London, based in Ealing, the appointment is presented as evidence of the school’s growing influence in the social sciences. The School of Human and Social Sciences has highlighted Professor Murji’s prior editorial roles and his research profile as key elements in the university’s wider strategy to strengthen its research culture and external partnerships.
For Ealing as a local area, the news adds to a broader narrative of the borough hosting a range of higher‑education and research‑led activities, from the University of West London to other local institutions and community‑based research initiatives. The appointment also offers a local‑angle hook for regional outlets such as Ealing.news, which has positioned the story as one of Ealing‑based academic success on a European stage.
What are the wider implications for sociology?
The appointment of Professor Murji and Professor Neal to European Societies comes at a time when European sociology is grappling with debates over open access, research evaluation and the internationalisation of publishing. The European Sociological Association’s earlier call for expressions of interest in the editorship noted the journal’s hybrid‑publishing model and the need to balance accessibility for readers and authors with financial and institutional constraints.
In this context, the new editorial team’s experience with major journals may shape how European Societies navigates questions of open access, methodological pluralism and the inclusion of scholars from diverse institutional and national backgrounds. The association’s emphasis on plurality and openness suggests that Murji and Neal’s leadership could influence the kinds of topics, methods and voices that appear in one of Europe’s most prominent sociology journals.
What comes next for European Societies?
Under the new co‑editorship, European Societies is expected to continue its focus on high‑quality sociological research on Europe while also responding to emerging social challenges, such as migration, inequality, climate change and political polarisation. The European Sociological Association’s earlier documentation on the journal indicates that editors are encouraged to work closely with the association’s research networks to develop special issues and thematic collections.
For Professor Murji, the role represents a continuation of his long‑standing engagement with journal editing as a form of service to the discipline. As he and Professor Neal settle into their co‑editorship, the journal’s future direction will likely reflect their shared priorities in social policy, criminology, race and inequality, as well as their broader commitment to rigorous, inclusive sociological scholarship
