The Review of Middle East Studies (RoMES) is the Middle East Studies Association's online journal of review, published twice a year. RoMES publishes roundtables, essays and articles, reports on emerging topics and research issues, columns on pedagogy, and reviews of books, films, music, software, and exhibitions relevant to Middle East studies. RoMES examines the state of the craft in modern and pre-modern Middle East studies, spanning anthropology, art and architecture, geography, Islamic studies, history, literature, performance, and political studies. The focus of RoMES is on innovative approaches to scholarship, research methods, and pedagogical practice that serve the broader Middle East studies community.

RoMES focuses on analytical and reflective pieces that critically assess the state of scholarship, methods, and pedagogy in Middle East studies, as well as reviews of books, films, exhibitions, and other scholarly works. Original research pieces that present new empirical findings or original historical/ethnographic research are considered for special issues or roundtables or when they advance methodological, pedagogical, or broader scholarly discussions in the field.

We welcome proposals and submissions for the following:

• Roundtables and Special Issues: Thematic collections or discussions bringing together practitioners on shared methodological, pedagogical, or emergent scholarly questions

• Reflective Essays: Analysis of scholarly trends, methodological innovations, and the state of various subfields

• Field Reports: Reflections on research experiences, emerging topics, and contemporary dynamics in the region

• Reviews and Review Essays: Critical assessments of new books, films, music, and exhibitions

• Pedagogical Perspectives: Discussions about teaching, curriculum development, and educational innovations

• Curator’s Corner: Discussions and commentaries on projects and programming within the field such as film, lecture, and publishing series, public-facing scholarship, and Digital Humanities initiatives

• Interviews and Tributes: Conversations with prominent scholars about their careers, work, and reflections on the field, as well as tributes to colleagues that celebrate their scholarly legacy and contributions to Middle East studies.

Submission Inquiries: Given our specialized focus, we encourage authors to query the editorial team before submitting materials to ensure alignment with RoMES' mission and scope.

Book Reviews: 

RoMES reviews an array of published material relevant to the wider audience of Middle East scholars, including research monographs, edited volumes, fiction, films, music, software, websites, and exhibitions. We especially encourage requests to submit review essays.

Reviews should be thoughtful and engaging critiques that explain the basic argument of a book, assess its strengths and weaknesses, and place the work within the scholarly literature on the topic.

All reviews are assigned and approved by an Associate Editor. RoMES does not accept unsolicited reviews.

Once you have accepted an Associate Editor’s invitation to write a review, you will be contacted by e-mail by the Managing Editor with an official invitation and a request for a mailing address to which you would like your review book sent. This invitation will include a specific date by which your review is due to your Associate Editor. RoMES’s standard deadline for reviews is 10 weeks from the date of the official invitation.

Article Types Accepted

• Article*
• Special Focus Foundtable*
• Critical Essay*
• Pedagogical Perspective*
• Curator's Corner*
• Field Retrospective*
• Interim Report from the Field*
• Middle East Studies in Action
• Review Essay (book or film)*
• Briefly Noted
• Review (book or film)