Soundings was established in 1995 under the editorship of Stuart Hall, Doreen Massey and Mike Rustin (whose work can be found in several of the publications available in this archive). The journal was intended as a place to think through – to take soundings on – “the relation between political thought and action, conventionally conceived, and the larger social processes which shape and limit their possibilities”. That entailed appreciating the importance of mainstream electoral and Parliamentary politics but also being clear-eyed about its limits and potential to conflict with transformative and democratic energies expressed in struggles around race, gender, sexuality, culture, place and planet. Holding true to its subtitle - “A Journal of Politics and Culture” – Soundings would include essays, photography, reportage and poetry and become an important venue for intellectual exchange, collaboration and critique.
