What We Publish

The Institute accepts submissions in the following categories.

Policy Briefs (1,500–2,500 words): Focused, analytical pieces that examine a specific policy question, governance challenge, or security development within the MENA region. Policy briefs should present a clearly defined argument supported by evidence, and should conclude with implications for stakeholders, governments, or institutions.

Analytical Essays (2,500–5,000 words): Longer-form assessments of regional trends, political dynamics, economic conditions, or diplomatic developments. These pieces should draw on primary sources, credible reporting, and subject-matter expertise. Analytical essays are expected to go beyond surface-level reporting and provide contextual depth.

Research Papers (5,000–8,000 words): In-depth studies grounded in original research, data analysis, or extensive fieldwork. Research papers should include source citations in Chicago Manual of Style footnote format and may include tables, maps, or figures where appropriate.

Commentary (800–1,500 words): Shorter opinion-driven pieces responding to a current event, policy decision, or emerging trend. Commentary should offer a distinct analytical perspective and avoid generalisations. These pieces must still cite sources for factual claims.

Submission Requirements

All submissions must be original work. Manuscripts that have been published elsewhere, in any language, or that are simultaneously under review at another publication, will not be considered.

Submissions should be sent as a Microsoft Word (.docx) attachment to admin@menastability.org with the subject line: Submission: [Title of Piece].

Each submission must include the manuscript in .docx format, a 100-word abstract summarising the central argument, three to five keywords, and a brief author biography of no more than 75 words including name, institutional affiliation (if applicable), and relevant area of expertise.

Style and Formatting

Manuscripts should be written in clear, accessible prose suitable for an informed general audience. We do not publish material written in dense academic jargon or structured as journal articles with extensive literature reviews. Writing should be direct, evidence-based, and grounded in concrete analysis.

Citations should follow the Chicago Manual of Style footnote format. All factual claims, statistics, and quoted material must be sourced. Tables, charts, or maps may accompany longer submissions but should be submitted as separate files.

We accept submissions in English or Arabic. Submissions in Arabic will be reviewed by our Arabic-language editorial team.

What We Do Not Publish

The Institute does not publish op-eds with no analytical grounding, advocacy or activist material, promotional content, material generated wholly or substantially by AI tools, or previously published work in any language. We also do not publish material containing hate speech, incitement, or partisan political advocacy targeting domestic electoral politics.

Review Process

Our editorial team reviews all submissions. For policy briefs and commentary, authors can expect an initial response within ten business days. Analytical essays and research papers may require up to four weeks for review.

Accepted submissions may undergo editorial revision for clarity, structure, and style. Authors will have the opportunity to review and approve final edits before publication.

The Institute reserves the right to decline any submission without providing detailed feedback. Due to volume, we are unable to offer individualised critiques of pieces that are not accepted.

Republication and Rights

Authors retain copyright of their work. By submitting to the Institute for MENA Stability, authors grant us first publication rights and the right to distribute the work across our website, social media channels, and partner platforms with full attribution.

Authors may republish their work elsewhere after a 30-day exclusivity window following publication, provided that the Institute for MENA Stability is credited as the original publisher with a link to the original article.

Contact

For questions about the submission process, or to discuss a pitch before writing, please contact admin@menastability.org.

Thematic Scope

We are particularly interested in submissions addressing regional security and conflict dynamics, governance and institutional capacity, economic development and resource politics, the role of ideology (including religious and sectarian dimensions) in state behaviour, diplomacy and mediation, neo-colonial influence structures in MENA and adjacent regions such as Africa and Central Asia, and the intersection of great-power competition with regional stability.