Call for Paper Submissions: LGBTQ+ Activism and the Arab Revolutions

The Arab Reform Initiative invites submissions for a series of publications focused on LGBTQ+ activism in the Arab region since the Arab Spring. This call seeks to generate insights into how LGBTQ+ movements intersect with their environments and histories, reshaping the political and cultural landscapes in Arab countries.

About the Series

The revolutionary atmosphere of the last decade has created opportunities for activists in certain Arab countries to claim their right to live their gender identity and sexual orientation freely. However, these demands have faced significant opposition from conservative audiences and certain social movements. This series aims to offer a critical perspective on these changes, presenting a diverse range of national perspectives and conceptual frameworks to discuss the interaction of LGBTQ+ movements with their immediate environments and histories.

Submission Criteria

We welcome contributions from writers and researchers from Arab countries and the diaspora. Submissions should explore the dynamics of LGBTQ+ activism within the broader context of social movements, political change, and cultural evolution in the region.

Topics of Interest

  • The impact of the Arab Spring on LGBTQ+ activism.
  • Intersectionality between LGBTQ+ movements and other social movements, including feminist and leftist groups.
  • The role of diasporic communities in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.
  • Cultural contributions of LGBTQ+ figures in the Arab region.
  • Case studies on specific national contexts and their unique challenges and successes.
  • The relationship between sexual politics and nationalist politics in the Arab world.
  • The historical evolution of LGBTQ+ movements and the creation of LGBTQ+ archives.

Bawader is the Arab Reform Initiative’s publication series of short policy papers and long opinion pieces that address and engage with timely issues related to reform in the Middle East and North Africa region. It seeks to present up-to-date data and analysis, explore challenging policy issues, and argue possible solutions for pressing problems. Its goal is to contribute to open and far-reaching debates on policy options in critical areas and at crucial moments.

Bawaders can be submitted in English, French or Arabic. All Bawaders will be translated to English and Arabic.

The length of a Bawader is usually between 2500 and 3000 words.

ARI provides a stipend of USD400 for accepted publications.

Submission Process

Please use this Bawader Series Pitching Form to provide us with some basic information and comprehensive details required by ARI’s editorial team.

Pitch Submission Deadline: September 30th

Please submit your pitch by September 30th. This is the final date to propose your ideas or concepts for consideration.

Full Paper Submission Deadline: October 20th

Once your pitch has been approved, the deadline for submitting your complete paper is October 20th. Ensure that all final drafts are submitted by this date for review.

Contact Information

For inquiries please contact: m.lakhal@arab-reform.net