Hikama publishes research, policy papers and critical reviews in keeping with the specifications, formal and objective, of internationally refereed journals as follows:
- That the research material presented be original and undertaken exclusively for the journal and in its own way, and that it, or similar work, has not been published in whole or in part in any medium, in print or digital/electronic, or presented in an academic conference, other than those convened by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, or submitted to any other party.
- The researched material submitted includes the following elements, as follows:
- The title in Arabic and English, with a concise identification of scholar(s) and their affiliated academic institution(s), and their latest publications in Arabic and English.
- The abstract in Arabic and English (about 100-125 words), with keywords. The abstract presents – in short, precise and clear sentences – the main research problem, the methods used, and the results achieved.
- Definition of the research problem; the objectives of the research paper presented; its importance; a critical review of what has previously been written on the topic, including the most recent publications in the domain of research; a detailed definition of the specifications of the research hypothesis or thesis; establishing a conceptual image of the work with definition of its main indicators; describing the methodology used for research, results analysis and drawing conclusions. The research paper presented is to be accompanied by a bibliography including the most important references that the scholar used in addition to any basicreferences not indicated in the footnotes or endnotes but from which the research drew some benefit. Research data and findings in their original (foreign) languages should also be indicated in the bibliography if several sources in different languages were relied upon.
- The word count of any research paper submitted, including citations in references and explanatory foot- or endnotes, bibliographic sources list and words in charts or tables (if existing), and appendices (if existing) is to range between 6000 and 8,000 words. The journal may exceptionally opt to publish, based on its assessment, some research papers and studies that exceed this word count.
- The research material must fall within the domain of the journal's objectives and research interests.
- In addition to theoretical and applied research, Hikama is concerned with:
Monitoring developments in the public policy field in the Arab world through the publication of policy papers (3000-5000 words) focused upon in-depth diagnosis of a specific issue or problem, highlighting its dimensions and proposing to decision makers specific practicable solutions and alternatives, with recommendations and outlining the realistic viability of these solutions in light of the bigger picture within the sector or field considered by the study as well as the expected returns.
- The periodical is also keen to issue critical reviews of important books recently published in any language relevant to its specialization, with all reviews subject to the rules of Arab Center peer review and arbitration, with the word count ranging between 3000 and 4000 words. The work reviewed should be no more than three years old.
- A section for translated studies will be agreed upon with input of the journal's editorial board.
- All charts, forms, equations, graphs or tables submitted should be submitted in the application originally employed to produce them (e.g. Excel or Word). Figures, drawings and tables sent as images will not be accepted.
- Adherence to the specifications of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies for documentation of references (refer to the section on writing of footnotes and presentation of source references).
- Excerpts, transcripts or chapters of university theses that have been approved will be published only on an exceptional basis and after the scholar has revised them for publication by the journal. If this may be applicable, the researcher must indicate as much and provide complete information on the title of the thesis, the date of its defense, and the institution in which the thesis defense took place.
- Material submitted to the journal is to be accompanied by the researcher's curriculum vitae (in both Arabic and English).
- All articles are subject to confidential peer review, carried out by two reviewers who are specialized in the subject matter of the research topic, who have academic experience in the field, and who are accredited on the ACRPS list of reviewers and readers. If the two reviewers' reports differ, the submission will be referred to a third candidate for the task of review. The journal shall provide the researcher with its final decision – to publish, to publish after making specific amendments, or to decline – within two months of receipt of the research material.
- The journal adheres to an ethical charter that includes respect for confidentiality and objectivity, with non-disclosure on the part of editors, reviewers and members of the editorial board of any information regarding the research material referred to them, to anyone but the author, reviewers and the journal's editorial team (please see the
Hikama Ethical Guidelines for Publication).
- The journal shall maintain the quality of the fact-checking and editorial services it provides to the research to be published.
- Arrangements for publishing research are subject to technical requirements with no relation to the researcher's standing.
- The journal does not offer monetary compensation for research, studies and articles that it publishes, as is the standard for scientific journals around the world. The journal does not charge for access.
Footnotes and Bibliography
1 – Books
Author's name,
book title, name of translator or editor, edition (place of publication: publisher, date of publication), page number, for example:
Example: James Piscatori,
Islam in a World of Nation - States, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986), p. 116.
Subsequent footnote:
Piscatori, p. 116. (unless more than one reference by the same author is cited, in which case use name and abbreviated title: Piscatori,
Islam, p. 116.)
Bibliography entry: James Piscatori, Islam in a World of Nation-States, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.
Example: Kate Nash, Contemporary Political Sociology: Globalization, Politics and Power, Translated by Haidar Haj Ismail (Beirut: The Arab Organization for Translation, 2013), p. 123.
Subsequent footnote: Nash, p. 117 (abbreviated title if more than one reference by the same author is cited: Nash, Sociology, p. 117.)
Bibliography entry: Kate Nash, Contemporary Political Sociology: Globalization, Politics and Power, Translated by Haidar Haj Ismail, Beirut: The Arab Organization for Translation, 2013.
For a book that has been co-authored by more than three contributors:
Main Author et al., Title of Book, (Place of Publication: Publisher, Publication Date), page number.
Example: Al-Sayed Yassin et al., Content Analysis of Arab National Thought, fourth edition (Beirut: Center for Arab Unity Studies, 1991), p. 109.
Subsequent Footnote: Yassin et al, p.109.
Bibliography entry: Al-Sayed Yassin et al., Content Analysis of Arab National Thought, fourth edition, Beirut: Center for Arab Unity Studies, 1991.
2 – Periodicals
Author's name, "Title of Article",
Title of Journal, volume and / or issue number (year of publication), page number.
Example: Shahram Chubin, "Iran's Power in Context," Survival 51, no.1 (2009): 165.
Bibliography entry: Shahram Chubin, "Iran's Power in Context." Survival 51, no. 1 (2009): 165-190. 3.
3 – Newspaper Articles
Should be referenced in the footnotes only, not in the bibliography, for example:
Ian Black, "Assad Urges the United States to Renew Diplomatic Links with Damascus", The Guardian, 17/2/2009.
4– Online Publications
When quoting from articles published on websites, all information must be mentioned using the same order and phrasing as follows: the name of author (if applicable), "title of the article or report," name of the series (if any), name of the website, date of publication (If any), accessed on 9/8/2016, at: http: // www ...
The link must be mentioned in full, or written in short using a link shortener:
"Syria: What are the terms of the agreement to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib?", BBC Arabic, 9/18/2018, accessed on 10/3/2020, at: https://bbc.in/2PYORjF.
"Knesset Elections: The Dilemma Continues," Situation Assessment, the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, 11/03/2019, accessed on 20/04/2019, at: https://bit.ly/2XKp1ou.
