INTRODUCTION

Fiker Institute is launching a Call for Abstracts for its Research Conference on June 27, 2026, in Dubai. The conference aims to gather scholars, experts, and research professionals to present and discuss original research and publish a collection of research essays as part of Fiker Institute’s research programs. Fiker Institute is an international affairs think tank based in Dubai. It seeks to advance regional scholarship and policy analysis on global politics and foster meaningful exchange between researchers and practitioners. We welcome submissions from early-career scholars, established academics, and research professionals across a range of disciplines and institutional affiliations that bring fresh perspectives and original research in relation to our theme.

THEME

Order(s) in the Middle East: Pivots & Realignments

The ongoing Iran war, in terms of both impact and scale, has set in motion unprecedented disruptions in an already unstable and volatile region, with spillover effects felt across the globe. Over the past three years alone, the Middle East has experienced major shifts in established political, economic, and security paradigms. Regional wars and new governments have reshaped the balance of power with the contours of a new status quo still emerging. How the current war plays out, and how transitions from conflict to governance in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon unfold, will form the emergent orders in the region.

President Trump’s transactional Middle East foreign policy has also proved more interventionist than what his America First promises have suggested, raising questions about the future of US involvement in the region. Broader fragmentation in the international order is also prompting a deeper reconsideration of traditional dependencies and moves towards diversifying economic and security ties, particularly for GCC states who have been drawn into a war they have diplomatically worked to avoid.

In this context, the extent to which regional multilateral institutions, including the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, can step up to shape the future realities for the Middle East will determine whether regional files remain driven by outside actors or led by regional actors themselves.

Submissions are invited across disciplines that speak to various aspects of the theme and may address the following lines of enquiry:

How is US foreign policy under Trump reshaping security orders in the Middle East, particularly as it relates to the Iran War?
What emerging powers and alliances are filling geopolitical vacuums in the region and on what terms?
How is the increasingly assertive foreign policy and mediation activity of Gulf states influencing political, security, and economic dynamics in the region?
How are Middle Eastern governments diversifying their economic, technological, defense, and security partnerships and how are they reshaping the wider geopolitical and geoeconomic orders in the region?
How can regional institutions like the League of Arab States be reformed to lead an affective multilateral agenda for the region?
Why has mediation of the region’s crises often been exported and how are the current realignments changing this dynamic?
How will competing visions for the future of the Middle East play out and with what implications?

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should be scholars, academics, or experts with demonstrated expertise on the topic of their paper as evidenced by their CV.

Abstracts must adhere to the following guidelines:

Demonstrate alignment with the conference’s theme.
Clearly outline the thesis and argument of the paper.
Word count: 500-600 words (abstract). Final papers should be 3,500-4,500 words (including references, tables, graphs, footnotes). Please note that you should only submit an abstract and full papers will not be considered in the selection process.
Abstracts should be submitted in English in a Word document format.
All submissions must be made through the submission form and be complete, including the paper abstract, CV, and optional publication samples.

PAPER SELECTION PROCESS

Fiker Institute will review abstracts for their adherence to the submission guidelines, their alignment with the theme, and the quality and originality of the proposed research. Selected applicants will be informed of the outcome and must confirm their participation in the conference and agree to the terms of acceptance, including adherence to the full paper submission deadline and requirements.

TIMELINE

27 March 2026: Call for Abstracts opens.
26 April 2026: Call for Abstracts closes; deadline for submissions is 11:59pm GST.
4 May 2026: Selected applicants will be informed.
6 May 2026: Selected applicants to confirm their participation in the conference.
7 June 2026: Submission of full papers.
10 June 2026: Circulation of papers among conference participants.
27 June 2026: Conference.
July/August 2026: Revision of papers and final submission. .

CONFERENCE

The Research Conference will be a full-day workshop on 27 June 2026, taking place at Fiker Institute’s Library in Alserkal Avenue in Dubai, UAE. Each paper will be discussed with a presentation by the author, an intervention by a discussant, and a subsequent open discussion among participants. Papers will be circulated ahead of the conference and participants are expected to read all papers ahead of the discussion to enable a fruitful and constructive exchange.

PUBLICATION & HONORARIA

Fiker Institute aims to publish all revised conference papers as a collection of research essays on the Institute’s platforms. The Institute will determine which papers are of sufficient quality to publish following the final submission. Authors of papers selected for publication will receive an honorarium of 1,825 AED. Adaptations of papers discussed which are published externally should acknowledge Fiker Institute’s Research Conference.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION

Fiker Institute will cover flights in economy class and accommodation for two nights in our partner hotel. All bookings will be made by Fiker Institute and any bookings made individually by participants will not be reimbursed. Lunch, coffee breaks, and an optional participants dinner on 27 June will be covered.

Call for Abstracts: Order(s) in the Middle East – Pivots & Realignments