Introduction: The space of aquapelago

Some academic discussions fizzle out, others continue. Two reasonable measures of the positive result of any debate might be the longevity of the discussion and the degree of scholarly engagement of and in the ensuing dialogues. Stratford, Baldacchino and McMahon et al 's (2011) envisioning and initiation of the archipelago as a locale of methodological and theoretical exploration led to their call for 'Archipelago Studies'. This call to task was a rumination on and identification of several of the contradictions present in a critical moderation of the Island studies field so far. Where land and sea and island and continent/mainland had been identified, the island and island connection had not. This gap was taken up with gusto by island researchers, especially those writing for Shima. Some academic discussions fizzle out, others continue. Two reasonable measures of the positive result of any debate might be the longevity of the discussion and the degree of scholarly engagement of and in the ensuing dialogues. Stratford,Baldacchino and McMahon et al 's (2011) envisioning and initiation of the archipelago as a locale of methodological and theoretical exploration led to their call for'Archipelago Studies'.This call to task was a rumination on and identification of several of the contradictions present in a critical moderation of the Island studies field so far. Where land and sea and island and continent/mainland had been identified,the island and island connection had not. This gap was taken up with gusto by island researchers, especially those writing for Shima.