Aims & Scope

Regional Studies Journal (RSJ) is a peer‑reviewed academic journal published by the Center for Regional Studies at the University of Mosul. Established in 2004, RSJ is an open‑access journal dedicated to disseminating original scholarly research in the fields of humanities and social sciences with a particular focus on regional studies. The journal places special emphasis on Iraq, its neighboring countries, and the Middle East, while remaining open to regional and international issues that affect or are influenced by the region.

The journal’s objectives are as follows:

1.     Supporting original scientific research: RSJ aims to support and publish original scientific studies that contribute to the advancement of knowledge and critical understanding of historical, political, legal, economic, social, linguistic, and strategic issues with regional and international dimensions.

2.     Promoting regional and comparative studies: The journal seeks to promote regional and comparative research addressing interactions among states, societies, institutions, and regional and international actors, thereby enhancing understanding of political, economic, social, and security transformations in the region.

3.     Linking research to policy‑making: RSJ encourages studies that connect academic knowledge with public policy issues, offering evidence‑based analyses that can inform policy development and support decision‑making at national, regional, and international levels.

4.     Encouraging interdisciplinary research: The journal welcomes interdisciplinary studies that employ multiple disciplines or methodologies to analyze complex regional issues, particularly those intersecting political, historical, economic, legal, social, security, environmental, and technological dimensions.

5.     Enhancing scholarly dialogue: RSJ contributes to fostering scholarly dialogue among researchers in Iraq, the region, and the world, and encourages comparative studies that broaden regional perspectives and deepen understanding of relationships and interactions across different parts of the globe.

The scope of publication in RSJ lies within the humanities and social sciences, with a particular focus on issues of regional and international relevance. The main areas of publication include:

1.    Contemporary History: Studies on the history of Iraq, the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, Europe, the European Union, Britain, Russia, China, East Asia, and the United States. Special attention is given to research on international relations, political transformations, crises and conflicts, regional and global interactions, and the history of strategic resources such as energy and minerals and their impact on international relations.

2.    Political Science: Research in political science, international relations, political systems, public policy, political thought and theory, security and strategic studies—including regional security, intellectual security, cyber security, military and strategic studies, national security, crisis and conflict management, geopolitical issues, and transformations in regional and international systems.

3.    Law: Legal studies covering international law, constitutional law, human rights, civil, administrative, commercial, and private law, environmental legislation, and laws and regulations related to natural resources, energy, and international relations, as well as other legal topics relevant to regional and international issues.

4.    Economics: Research in political economy, economic development, sustainable development, regional economies, fiscal and monetary policies, trade and investment, international economics, accounting, industrial economics, technological innovation, natural resources, conventional and renewable energy, and economic issues linked to regional and international interactions.

Social, Linguistic, and Cultural Studies: RSJ also welcomes studies in social, cultural, and linguistic fields relevant to regional studies, including social transformations, social structures, identity and culture, migration and displacement, demographic changes, social conflicts, relations between societies and states, linguistic geography, spatial distribution of languages, documentation of local languages, linguistic diversity, and the relationship between language, society, and identity in regional contexts.

Interdisciplinary Studies: RSJ encourages interdisciplinary research addressing complex issues through integration of two or more disciplines, particularly studies on strategic resources and rare minerals, environment and renewable energy, security and international political economy, industrial and technological innovation, and geopolitical transformations.

The journal gives priority to research on Iraq, its neighboring countries, and the Middle East, while welcoming studies on other regions when they have direct relevance to regional or international issues of importance to the area, or when they provide comparative or interpretive perspectives that enrich regional and international studies. RSJ accepts original research, analytical and comparative studies, and interdisciplinary research based on clear scientific methodologies and reliable evidence. All submissions undergo initial editorial screening and double‑blind peer review in accordance with the journal’s policies and procedures. Manuscripts are accepted for publication when they clearly align with the journal’s scope and objectives, make an original scholarly contribution, and meet established academic and methodological standards. The journal’s scope is not limited to the topics listed above; submissions are considered whenever they demonstrate clear scholarly relevance to regional studies and meet RSJ’s criteria of originality, methodological rigor, and academic quality.