Callfor For Papers

THEMATIC ISSUE THE MIDDLE EAST – ASIA-PACIFIC RELATIONS 

Introduction

The Middle East1 with its strategic location, energy resources, longstanding conflicts, and cultural and religious significance, holds a non-negligible place in world politics. Its economic potential, which extends beyond its energy resources due to its geo-economic importance, attracts the attention of many non-regional states for long-term cooperation and potential confrontations. In that regard, it is one of the hot spots for region-to-region interaction at the bilateral and multilateral levels. With its growing value in world economy and politics, Asia-Pacific2 is one of the candidates that has the potential to develop region-to-region relations with the Middle East. The interconnectedness of the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions in terms of global trade, energy dependency, strategic alliances, and historical and religious ties necessitates an examination of region-to-region relations with a wider perspective. 

This thematic issue aims to contribute  a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics of relations between the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. The issue approaches the region-to-region relationship from a wider perspective, which reveals potential cooperation and confrontation areas, providing an intriguing field for scholarly exploration. Despite focusing predominantly on political aspects, it also opens to the contributions focusing on cultural and economic aspects of interregional relations at both bilateral and multilateral levels. In addition to prioritising the region-to-region relationship, the issue also welcomes studies focusing on bilateral relations between countries of the two regions.

Scope and Themes

The issue invites researchers to contribute original research articles that review various aspects of The Middle East – Asia-Pacific relations in world politics. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Historical roots and development of region-to-region relations
  • Bilateral trade relations and investment flows
  • Energy diplomacy (carbon-based and renewable energy sources)
  • Effects of trade route projects (BRI, IMEC) on region-to-region relations
  • Role of Asia-Pacific powers in conflict resolution in the Middle East
  • Foreign policy agendas of states of two regions towards each other
  • Effects of big power rivalry on shaping Middle East and Asia-Pacific relations
  • Public diplomacy strategies of the Middle East and Asia-Pacific countries toward each other
  • Role of regional organisations in shaping region-to-region relations
  • Religious interconnections between societies of two regions
  • Role of region-to-region relations in the technological transformation of the Middle East
  • Connections between non-state actors of the Middle East and Asia-Pacific
  • Effects of climate change on region-to-region relations
  • Role of women, minorities, migrant workers, political parties, and NGOs in shaping region-to-region relations

Submission Guidelines

  • The issue is open for original research articles contributing novel insights and empirical evidence to the literature.
  • Papers should be written in Turkish, English, or Arabic at a considerable academic level. 
  • All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process.
  • The issue is also accepting literature reviews.
  • Despite not being obligatory, the authors are encouraged to submit the abstract to the guest editor to consider their anticipated paper’s consistency with the thematic issue.
  • Manuscripts should adhere to the journal’s formatting. (https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ortetut/writing-rules)
  • Manuscripts must be submitted through the DergiPark portal. (https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ortetut)

Important Dates

  • Full Paper Submission Deadline: 15 October 2024
  • Anticipated Publication Date: December 2024

Thematic Issue Editors

  • Kadir Temiz, Istanbul Medeniyet University
  • Burcu Ermeydan, Marmara University

Contact

For any inquiries and submission details, please contact the guest editor Burcu Ermeydan through email: bermeydan@gmail.com

About the Journal

The Journal of Middle Eastern Studies is an international, peer-reviewed, and academic journal published by the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM) twice a year in June, and December in Turkish, English, and Arabic.

The Journal of Middle Eastern Studies is indexed by Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), EBSCO Host, Index Islamicus, Index Copernicus, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBBS), Worldwide Political Science Abstracts (WPSA), Google Scholar, MIAR, Asos Index, Ideal Online, WorldCat, CEEOL, ROAD, EZB, BASE, SCIPIO, J-Gate, JournalTOCs, and the Theology Citation Index.

1  According to our understanding, the geographical delimitation of the Middle East covers Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE, Türkiye, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia.

2  With Asia-Pacific, we refer to a wide range of countries spanning East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Taiwan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Vietnam, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Events