Pitches for articles and op-eds should include:

• proposed title
• main argument
• primary references
• short biography of author

Pitches will be considered based on their quality, originality and contribution to topical ongoing discussions of the current affairs and strategic issues of the Middle East and North Africa region.

General guidelines

• Submissions are expected to take an analytical and/or policy-oriented direction, taking a question of historical or contemporary import and examining possible present and future implications. Articles should aim to make use of historical context and draw relevant parallels with trends and events throughout the region to elucidate the issue in question.
• We appreciate submissions sent as double-spaced Word documents in Arial, size eleven
• Please use endnotes rather than in-text citations
• Both analytical articles and op-eds should properly reference and only use sources of reputable and reliable origin, such as: academic books by single or multiple authors, or academic and professional journals within the discipline or area of study; specialist magazines or newspapers of agreed high repute; government reports; reports from known, reputable organizations, e.g. the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); published theses or unpublished theses held by university, faculty or departmental libraries; recorded TV or radio programs to which reputable figures within the discipline have contributed; videos that are accessible to university students and staff; primary sources such as original letters, diaries, journals, notes; the internet, if the site has a reputable author, publisher and domain name that show the site has the relevant credentials for your writing purpose. Social media resources can be referenced if they represent official government bodies or other relevant organizations.
• Articles should be no longer than 2,000 words, not including endnotes – please include references in endnotes for factual data to support your arguments.
• Op-eds should be a minimum of 800-1,000 words – please include references in endnotes for factual data to support your arguments.
• While by no means being a condition for publication, we highly value efforts to conduct research in languages other than English, particularly in Middle Eastern languages.

AI policy

• Our editorial team tests all submissions for the use of AI-generated content.
• AI does not meet Manara Magazine and the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum’s criteria for authorship and therefore, articles written with the use of generative AI in their majority will not be considereed for publication.
• AI can be used for the improvement of grammar and syntax, especially in the case of non-native English writers, but its specific version (e.g.  ChatGPT-4) and exact purpose of use must be declared as part of the submission.

Articles are reviewed by the Managing Editor, returned for edits and will be published on the set date.

Whether or not an article appears in an issue is at the collective discretion of the editorial team.

Articles selected for publication will entail an honorarium of the below amount:

• Op-eds: £50
• Analysis articles: £75