Research Development and Writing Workshop
Beirut, Lebanon | 26-27 May 2023
The Research Development and Writing Workshop held in Beirut on May 26th and 27th, 2023, was a collaborative effort between the Arab Political Science Network (APSN) and the University of Birmingham (UoB), funded by British Academy Writing Workshop Grant and the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY). Led by Dr. May Darwich, Dr. Nadine Sika, and Dr. Ammar Shamaileh, this engaging workshop brought together a diverse group of graduate students from the Arab world. The workshop's theme was Comparative Middle East Politics, and participants presented papers on a variety of topics, including elite and intra-elite politics in the Arab world, state building, political change and civil society, comparative diaspora politics, transnational conflicts, and the state and urban space.
The Research Development Workshop is part of the ongoing aspirations and commitment of APSN to provide graduate students with opportunities to receive detailed feedback and comments on their draft research paper, understand the publication process, and develop networks with colleagues with similar research interests. The workshop brought together 8 researchers from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Syria, and Jordan who presented papers in both English and Arabic. This diversity enriched the discussions and feedback and contributed to the success of the workshop.
Engaging discussions were the hallmark of the workshop, where participants presented their draft papers and received extensive feedback from discussants and peers. Each paper received feedback from a workshop leader and two assigned peer reviewers. This exercise not only aimed at enhancing the quality and depth of each participants’ work, but it also encouraged them to develop critical and analytical skills by acting as peer reviewers. This collaborative environment facilitated vibrant conversations and valuable feedback.
In addition, the workshop aimed at enhancing participants’ research skills and providing valuable insights into various aspects of academic research. The program included a plenary session on developing research questions, literature review, and research design. The session encouraged the participants to link real-world puzzles with theoretical questions and to reflect on their research projects and where it falls in existing debates in the literature and theories.
The last session of the workshop focused on providing practical tips on the process of publishing in academic journals. The co-leaders discussed selecting suitable journals, preparing manuscripts for submission, addressing revise and resubmit (R&R) comments, and managing rejections. Participants were also encouraged to consider their future career paths and the types of research they aspire to pursue.
