[Air-L] Call for Contributions – Digital Humanities in Middle East Studies for RoMES Special Issue

[Review of Middle East Studies]

Dear Air-L Community,

The Review of Middle East Studies
<https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/review-of-middle-east-studies> (
RoMES) invites contributions to an upcoming special issue on Digital
Humanities in Middle East Studies. In light of the growing impact of
technology on the study of language, history, and culture, this special
issue aims to chart the current and emerging contours of digital
humanities in Middle East Studies. We are delighted to have Laila Shereen
Sakr (University of California, Santa Barbara) as guest editor for this
issue.

We welcome submissions from across the diverse landscape of digital
humanities work in Middle East studies, including but not limited to:
computational and AI methods (such as text mining, data visualization,
natural language processing (NLP), LLMs and generative models applied to
regional sources); algorithmic empire and digital colonialism, militarized
AI and the political economy of tech, Middle Eastern futures and futurity,
social media and digital public spheres; critical approaches to data
ethics, privacy, and algorithmic accountability; feminist and decolonial
perspectives; digital archives and libraries; mapping and
spatial humanities; as well as media, arts, and cultural digital humanities.

This issue will focus on contributions demonstrating the unique
opportunities and distinct challenges that emerge when the linguistic,
cultural, and archival work of Middle East Studies
meets digital technology. This issue aims to provide theoretical grounding
and guidance for scholars interested in developing digital
humanities projects for their research or teaching while fostering broader
conversations about the future of Middle Eastern studies in the digital age.

Contributions may take several forms:

   - DH Interventions- Explorations of how digital humanities reshapes our
   understanding of key questions in Middle East Studies - what new
   intellectual terrain does DH open up, and what are the stakes of these
   shifts for the field?
   - State of the Field Reflections- Analytical pieces that survey current
   trends, assess methodological approaches, or provide frameworks for
   understanding digital humanities within Middle East studies. These
   pieces may trace key conversations, collaborations, and areas of innovation
   across languages, regions, or disciplines.
   - Pedagogical Applications- Articles focusing on the use of digital
   humanities projects in Middle East studies classrooms and/or course design,
   and getting started guides.
   - Project Showcases- Examinations of how digital humanities projects
   generate new historical, cultural, or linguistic insights, emphasizing
   their broader implications for the field.

We recognize digital humanities work's innovative and collaborative nature
and welcome co-authored submissions and interdisciplinary approaches.
Timeline

   -

   Abstract Deadline: Jan 12, 2026
   -

   Full Manuscript Submission for Invited Contributions: May 15, 2026
   -

   Peer-Review Process: Summer through early fall of 2026
   -

   Final Revised Manuscripts Due: November 2026
   -

   Target Publication Date: Spring 2027


Submission Guidelines

Please email abstracts to romes at mesana.org by January 12, 2026. Abstracts
should be 350-500 words and include:

   -

   Proposed title
   -

   Author name(s) and affiliation(s)
   -

   Brief description of the proposed contribution
   -

   How it fits within the special issue themes

If you have questions about the scope of the issue, potential
contributions, or the submission process, please contact: Review of Middle
East Studies Editorial Team romes at mesana.org.

Hoda Yousef, Editor of Review of Middle East Studies
Laila Shereen Sakr, Guest Editor of Review of Middle East Studies
Laila Hussein Moustafa, Associate Editor of Review of Middle East Studies

-- 
Ghayde Ghraowi, Managing Editor
romes at m <Romes at cmc.edu>esana.org
journals.cambridge.org/rms