Al-Raida Journal
Al-Raida first appeared in May 1976, three years after the founding of the Arab Institute for Women (formerly, the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World) at the Lebanese American University in Beirut. It started off as a thin newsletter of only a dozen stenciled pages, with the modest purpose of reporting on the activities of the Institute. With time, however, Al-Raida grew in size and scope and today is a bi-annual, interdisciplinary journal that publishes a wide range of material including but not limited to academic research, journalistic articles, poetry and prose, conference reports, activist testimonials, and practitioner reviews with attention to gender in the Middle East and its diasporas. Al-Raida is non-thematic, and accepts submissions on a rolling basis.
Submission Preperation Checklist
As part of the submission process, authors are required to confirm compliance with all of the following items. Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines may be returned to the authors.
- The submission has not been previously published, nor is it under consideration by another journal.
- The submission must follow the APA style guide (7th edition).
- The submission file should be in Microsoft Word format.
- The text should be single-spaced, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and include all illustrations, figures, and tables at the appropriate points rather than at the end.
- The text should adhere to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines below.
Author Guidelines
All submissions undergo a screening process and are initially reviewed by the Editor of Al-Raida to ensure adherence to the journal’s submission guidelines. Accepted manuscripts will be edited in accordance with the journal’s standards. Contributors will be given designated timeframes to revise content and style as recommended by the Editor.
The Editor reserves the right to reject an article at any stage of the editorial process.
Articles submitted for publication should be sent directly to al-raida@lau.edu.lb.
Academic Submissions
All academic submissions must include the following:
- 6,000-8,000 words (including notes and references)
- An abstract of 200-300 words
- 5-6 keywords
- A title page that includes: the title, author’s name, affiliation, full contact details, and a brief biographical statement (up to 40 words)
The Editor of Al-Raida will inform authors within two weeks of submission whether their manuscripts will progress to review.
Peer Review Policy
At present, all Al-Raida submissions are evaluated by at least one reviewer. Where needed, submissions may undergo further evaluation by up to two blind reviewers. Acceptance for publication will then be subject to modifications suggested by the reviewers and the Editor. In the case of disagreement between two reviewers, a third reviewer will be consulted for a final decision.
Non-Academic Submissions
Non-academic submissions – including creative pieces, activist reflections, viewpoints, interviews, short stories, poems, photographic essays, and conference reports – must include the following:
- 1,500-4,500 words (flexible, depending on submission type and subject to Editor’s approval)
- An abstract of 300 words (except for poetry and fiction)
- 5-6 keywords
- A title page that includes: the title, author’s name, affiliation, full contact details, and a brief biographical statement (up to 40 words)
The Editor of Al-Raida will inform authors within two weeks of submission whether their manuscripts have been accepted for further review. Final acceptance for publication is subject to modifications as recommended by the Editor.