Championing intellectual pluralism

Purpose This editorial seeks to argue for intellectual pluralism and adventurous enquiry in an era of status badging of publication venues and institutions and to review AAAJ 's role, strategies and international recognition in this context. Design/methodology/approach The paper is an editorial review and argument. Findings The paper acknowledges pressures towards a North American inspired unitary neo‐classical economic view of the accounting world and related badging of higher education institutions and research publications globally. It identifies the community of accounting scholars including AAAJ with wider and more pluralist philosophies and research agendas. Research limitations/implications The paper offers scope and associated recognition for researchers prepared to take up and address a wide array of theoretical perspectives and research issues of global significance. Originality/value The paper provides important empirical data and research network information to scholars in the interdisciplinary accounting field of research.