Spektrum Iran

1. Article Types

SPEKTRUM IRAN (SPIR) accepts the following types of scholarly contributions. The recommended word limits exclude the abstract and references:

• Original Research Articles  (6000-8000 words)
• Review Articles (5,000–7,000 words)
• Research Notes (2500-4000 words)
• Critical Book Reviews (1500-2500 words)

All submissions must demonstrate originality, scholarly significance, and academic relevance within Iranian Studies, Persianate Studies, Islamic-Iranian Studies, or related interdisciplinary fields.

 2. Language and General Requirements

• Manuscripts may be submitted in English or German.
• Authors are responsible for ensuring clear academic language and appropriate scholarly style.
• Submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished works and must not be under consideration by another journal.

3. Submission Files and Double-Blind Peer Review

SPIR follows a double-blind peer-review process. Authors must submit the following files:

3.1. Title Page

The Title Page file must include:

• Manuscript Title
• Article Type
• Author(s) Information
• ORCID iDs (for all authors)
• Corresponding Author
• Author Contributions
• Funding Information (if applicable)
• Acknowledgments (Optional)
• Conflict of Interest Statement
• Data Availability Statement (where applicable)
• Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies (where applicable)

3.2. Anonymous Manuscript File

The manuscript file must contain no identifying information.

Remove:

• Author names
• Institutional affiliations
• Email addresses
• Acknowledgments that reveal identity
• Any information that may identify authors

The anonymous manuscript should include:

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Main text
• References
• Tables and figures (if applicable)

3.3. Similarity Report

Authors are required to submit a similarity report generated by plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate or Turnitin) to verify the originality of the manuscript. The report should be generated from the submitted version of the manuscript and reflect its complete content. The editorial board will evaluate similarity results considering the nature of the manuscript, legitimate citations, and disciplinary conventions.

If access to international plagiarism detection services such as iThenticate or Turnitin is limited, authors may use other recognized plagiarism detection services and submit the corresponding similarity report.

3.4. Authorship Declaration Form

3.5. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form

4. Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts should include:

• Title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Main Text
• References

4.1. Title, Abstract, and Keywords

Title

The title should be concise and informative.

Requirements:

• Maximum recommended length: 15 words
• Avoid unnecessary abbreviations
• Clearly reflect the research topic

Authors should indicate the article type:

Type of Article: Original Research Article / Review Article / Research Note / Critical Book Review

Abstract

Authors should provide an abstract in the language of the manuscript and an English abstract.

The abstract should:

• Be approximately 200–250 words.
• Clearly describe the purpose, approach, main arguments/findings, and contribution.
• Be understandable independently.
• Contain no citations or unnecessary abbreviations.

For research articles, authors are encouraged to include:

• Research objective and significance
• Approach / Methodology
• Main findings or arguments
• Conclusion and contribution

Keywords

Provide 3–5 keywords that:

• Represent the main themes of the article.
• Are specific and academically relevant.
• Avoid excessive repetition of terms already used in the title.

4.2. Main Text Structure

Introduction

The introduction should:

• Present the research topic and significance.
• Define research questions or objectives.
• Identify gaps in existing scholarship.
• Explain the originality and contribution of the article.

Methodology and Research Approach

Authors should explain:

• Theoretical framework.
• Research methods.
• Sources and materials used.
• Analytical approach.

For humanities research, authors should clearly describe the sources, interpretive framework, and methodological approach used in the analysis.

Analysis and Discussion

This section should:

• Present the main arguments and interpretations.
• Engage with relevant scholarship.
• Explain the academic contribution of the research.
• Discuss theoretical or historical implications.

Tables, figures, and illustrations may be included where they support the argument.

Conclusion

The conclusion should:

• Summarize the main contribution.
• Highlight originality and significance.
• Mention limitations and future research directions where appropriate.

4.3. Data Availability Statement (Where Applicable)

Where applicable, authors should provide a Data Availability Statement. For humanities research based on archival, textual, or documentary sources, authors may indicate the availability and accessibility of relevant sources. If no data were used, a statement such as "No data were used in this study" may be included.

Examples:

• "All data supporting the findings of this study are available in the [repository name] at [DOI/link]."
• "The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request."
• "This research is based on archival and documentary sources accessed at [archive name]."
• "No data were collected or analyzed for this study."

 5. Requirements by Article Type

5.1. Original Research Articles

Should present original research based on clearly defined questions and scholarly analysis.

Recommended structure:

• Introduction
• Methodology and Research Approach
• Analysis and Discussion
• Conclusion
• References

5.2. Review Articles

Should provide a critical analysis of existing scholarship and identify major debates and developments in the field.

5.3. Research Notes

Research Notes should present focused scholarly contributions, such as:

• Newly identified sources.
• Preliminary findings.
• Methodological reflections.

Research Notes are not intended to present complete research articles but should provide a significant scholarly contribution.

5.4. Critical Book Reviews

Book reviews should include:

• Complete bibliographic information.
• Summary of the main arguments.
• Critical evaluation.
• Discussion of scholarly significance.

Recommended length: 1,500–2,500 words.

 6. Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

Authors should ensure that:

• Tables and figures are numbered consecutively.
• Each item has an appropriate caption.
• Materials are placed within the manuscript.
• Copyright permissions are obtained when necessary.
• Tables and figures should not duplicate information presented in the text.

 7. References

SPIR follows APA 7th edition style.

Authors should ensure that:

• All citations appear in the reference list.
• All references are cited in the text.
• References are arranged alphabetically.
• Journal titles are written in full.
• DOI or permanent URLs are provided where available.
• References are accurate and consistent.

Authors should prioritize relevant and high-quality academic sources.

Examples:

Journal article (English)

Vasara, P., Pongpiriyakan, P., Nyman, T., Lehtinen, H., Aktüre, I.-N., & Laukkanen, O. (2019). Curing our addiction to fossil and nonbiodegradable plastics: Steps ahead. BioResources, *14*(2), 2458–2459.

Journal article (Persian source – transliterated)

Ṭāherī, M. (2018). Taḥavvolāt-e ejtemāʿī dar rūstāhā-ye Īrān [Social transformations in Iranian villages]. Pazhūhesh-nāme-ye ʿUlūm-e Insānī, *20*(3), 45–68.

Note: Persian-language sources should be cited according to APA 7th edition. Transliteration and English translation of titles may be provided where required.

Book (English)

Smith, Z. (2009). Changing my mind: Occasional essays. Penguin Press.

Book (Persian source – transliterated)

Ṭabāṭabāʾī, J. (1398/2019). Zavāl-e andīshe-ye siyāsī dar Īrān [The decline of political thought in Iran]. Mīnūy-e Khord.

Edited book

Goethe, J. W. (1999). West-östlicher Divan (M. Knaupp, Ed.). Reclam.

Translated book (Persian/Islamic source)

Ṭabāṭabāʾī, M. Ḥ. (2002). Shiʿite Islam (S. H. Nasr, Trans.). State University of New York Press.

Translated book

Sanson, N. (1967). Sanson's Travelogue: The State of the Shah's Country during the Reign of Shah Suleiman Safavi (T. Tafazzoli, Trans.). Ibn Sina.

Book chapter (English)

Nasr, S. H. (2006). Islamic philosophy from its origin to the present. In S. H. Nasr & O. Leaman (Eds.), History of Islamic Philosophy (pp. 3–25). Routledge.

Book chapter (Persian source – transliterated)

Muḥammadī, R. (2018). Taʾsīr-e andīshehā-ye Suhrawardī bar falsafe-ye Ṣadrāʾī [The influence of Suhrawardi's thought on Sadrian philosophy]. In M. Khātamī (Ed.), Majmūʿe-ye maqālāt-e falsafe-ye Islāmī [Collection of articles on Islamic philosophy] (pp. 45–67). Dānishgāh-e Tehrān.

Conference paper

Brown, J. (2005). Evaluating surveys of transparent governance. In UNDESA, 6th Global Forum on Reinventing Government: Towards Participatory and Transparent Governance. Seoul, Republic of Korea, 24-27 May. United Nations.

Dissertation

Trent, J. W. (1975). Experimental acute renal failure (Ph.D. Dissertation). University of California.

Website Content

University of Alabama. (2020). Coronavirus: Virtual student services. https://healthinfo.ua.edu/virtual-student-services/

Qur’anic Citations

Citations to the Qur’an should follow APA 7th edition guidelines for classical religious works. The Qur’an should be cited in the text by providing the name of the surah (chapter) and the verse number.

The Qur’an does not need to be included in the reference list unless a specific translation, edition, or published version is cited.

Examples:

First citation:
(Qur’an, Al-Baqarah 2:256)

Subsequent citations:
(Qur’an, Al-Baqarah 2:256)

Authors should use a consistent system throughout the manuscript.

If the original Arabic text of a Qur’anic verse is included in the manuscript, the Arabic text should be provided in a footnote. The main text should contain only the citation reference, unless the Arabic wording itself is the subject of linguistic, philological, or textual analysis.

Example:

Main text:

The Qur’an emphasizes the principle of justice and moral responsibility (Qur’an, Al-Mā’idah 5:8).¹

Footnote:

1. إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ ...

 8. Open Access and Publication Fees

SPEKTRUM IRAN (SPIR) is committed to open access publishing to ensure the widest possible dissemination of scholarly research.

There is no submission fee. Authors are charged an Article Processing Charge (APC) only after their manuscript has successfully completed the peer-review process and has been formally accepted for publication.

All articles accepted for publication are made freely available online immediately upon publication under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright of their work. Upon acceptance, authors grant SPIR the right of first publication and distribution under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license, provided proper attribution is given to the original source.

For further information regarding the journal's open access policy and applicable publication fees, authors are encouraged to consult the journal's official website or contact the editorial office.

 9. Originality and Ethical Requirements

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

• The work is original.
• It has not been published elsewhere.
• It is not under review by another journal.
• Sources and contributions are properly acknowledged.
• All authors approve the submission.

All manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software.

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their submissions.

 10. Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

Authors must disclose any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the Title Page and, where applicable, in the manuscript or acknowledgments section. Such tools may be used only to improve language, readability, or formatting and cannot replace authors' intellectual contributions. Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of their manuscripts.