Hikama - a journal of public administration and public policy jointly published by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies-is now inviting research proposals for a special issue entitled:

"Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration and Public Policy: Analytical Approaches to Understanding the Transformation of Public Sector Governance."

This special issue examines how Arab governments are approaching the integration of AI technologies into public administration and public policymaking, and the institutional and structural changes emerging within public sector governance and management as a result.

It seeks to provide critical, analytically grounded contributions that explain how administrative processes and policy cycles are being reconfigured through AI adoption, while also assessing the governance arrangements, regulatory frameworks, and accountability mechanisms needed to ensure that this technological transformation advances the public interest.

The issue also assesses the implications of integrating AI into government systems for public administration and policymaking across the Arab world. It explores how these transformations can be harnessed to enhance state responsiveness to citizens' needs, advance sustainable and inclusive development, and reinforce the foundations of good governance, including the rule of law, respect for human rights, and the pursuit of justice and equality.

In addition, the issue welcomes comparative contributions that draw on relevant international experiences-particularly from the Global South (and, where appropriate, beyond)-in governing the integration of advanced technologies into public administration and public decision-making. By bringing these perspectives into dialogue with Arab cases, the issue aims to enrich ongoing debates on the opportunities, constraints, and policy trade-offs associated with this transformation.

Participation Guidelines

Hikama invites research proposals - both scholarly studies and policy papers - for this special issue by 28 February 2026. Authors whose proposals are accepted will be required to submit the full manuscript by 31 July 2026, in accordance with the publication guidelines set out in the attached Concept Note.

All submitted studies and policy papers will undergo peer review. Acceptance of a proposal does not guarantee publication; publication is contingent upon the successful completion of the peer review process. Accepted manuscripts will be published in a special issue of Hikama, with the publication date determined in line with the journal's editorial policy. In addition to standard peer review procedures, the review process will include a workshop to discuss completed drafts.

The journal also welcomes critical reviews of recent books-published in Arabic or other languages-on artificial intelligence, public administration, and public policy, provided they were published within the last three years. Reviews should be 3,000-4,000 words and submitted by 31 July 2026.

Research proposals, accompanied by a curriculum vitae, should be submitted through the ACRPS Researchers' System.

For any further inquiries, please contact the journal's editorial board at Hikama@dohainstitute.edu.qa.