Hikama, the journal of public administration and public policy published by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, welcomes submissions for a special issue titled: “The Future of Governance and Development Policymaking in the Global South: Perspectives from the Arab Region”. This issue is being prepared in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the papers will be presented at a conference in November 2026.
This issue aims to offer a critical and forward-looking analysis of the challenges facing governance policies in Arab countries. It poses a central question: What type of institutions and governance systems will be able to achieve stability, prosperity, and sustainable development in an era marked by multiple crises and a pervasive state of uncertainty?
This is a pertinent focus for research at a time when Arab states face numerous challenges, ranging from structural obstacles hindering their ability to enhance development indicators and achieve social justice, to instability and ongoing armed conflicts, climate vulnerability and the repercussions of natural disasters, the weakness of existing economic models, and declining trust in governments. These factors are compounded by an international context in which the repercussions of protracted conflicts and wars are intersecting with shifts in regional and international power balances, escalating climate and economic crises, and the challenges posed by digital transformations and the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This conference aims to offer a research contribution that transcends traditional diagnoses of crises, going beyond merely observing their manifestations or describing the associated dysfunctions, but rather seeking to parse their deeper structures and analyse their structural and contextual causes, in order ultimately to formulate practical, effective, and implementable solutions. Through this methodological shift, the discourse can shift from the descriptive to the proactive level, opening up broader horizons for long-term strategic visions in the field of Arab development policymaking. This can also lay the groundwork for an integrated vision linking social justice with institutional effectiveness, and balancing the requirements of political stability with pathways of economic transformation, within a framework that ensures sustainable and inclusive development. This aims to enable Arab states to formulate alternative frameworks and policies stemming from their specific historical, political, and social contexts, and to respond effectively to the needs and challenges of their societies, moving beyond one-size-fits-all models or imported approaches that disregard local contexts, while consciously drawing upon the experiences of developing countries.
With all this in mind, this conference will focus on a set of key themes, aiming to reframe the discussion on governance and development policies in Arab states. First, it will lay out a theoretical framework for governance and development issues from the perspective of the Global South. Then it will move to an assessment of the current state of Arab development and lay out a vision for the future of public policies. It will also address issues of institution-building, administrative reform, and the effectiveness of government activity, as well as examining the challenges of governance within the contexts of state-building and peacebuilding. Furthermore, it will extend to a critique of patterns of international cooperation and trends in global governance. Finally, it will address the issue of the technological gap and the rise of AI.
See Also:
Concept Note for the conference/Special Issue.
