2014 Conference

CALL FOR PAPERS

The 3 Global Conference on Public Policy and Administration in the Middle East

PUBLIC SECTOR GOVERNANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF REFORM (RE)CONSIDERED

Hosted by the American University of Beirut

Beirut, Lebanon

Sponsored by the Section on Effective and Sound Administration in the Middle East (SESAME) at the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)

The Association for Middle Eastern Public Policy and Administration (AMEPPA) is pleased to announce the Third Global Conference on Public Policy and Administration in the Middle East. This conference will convene at the American University of Beirut on December 5 – 6, 2014 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Despite long-standing calls to strengthen public sector governance throughout the Middle East, recommendations for reform have often been ignored, dismissed as impractical, or poorly implemented.

Recent events, however, have reinvigorated discussions about the effectiveness and responsiveness of public institutions throughout the region. These events have generated unprecedented challenges for policy-makers and public administrators and unique opportunities to (re)consider the design and management of governance reforms.

In light of these developments, the conference committee welcomes paper and panel proposals that contribute to the design and management of governance reforms throughout the Middle East. Proposals may employ case study designs, quantitative, qualitative or social network methods, comparative analyses, and investigations of best practices. Although papers and panel proposals that fall within the conference tracks are especially encouraged, all proposals relevant to the overall theme of the conference will be considered.

Sound Governance: Cultivating Transparency, Accountability and Institutional Effectiveness
Crises and Complexity: Designing Robust and Resilient Policy Solutions to Wicked
Policy Making and Process: Developing Region Relevant Frameworks, Theories and Models
Civil Society and Civic Engagement: Strengthening Collaboration and Service Delivery
Administrative Development and Reform: Moving Beyond Critiques and Criticisms
Public Service Education: Preparing the Scholars, Managers and Leaders of Tomorrow

Submission of Proposals

Proposals and papers may be written in either Arabic or English, and must be submitted to Dr. Samir Rihaniat AMEPPA2014@gmail.com by July 1, 2014.

Individual paper proposals should be approximately one page, identify a recommended conference track, and include the title of the paper, a description of the paper and the underlying research, and the names, institutional affiliations, and contact information of the authors.

Panel proposals are particularly encouraged. Panel proposals should be no more than three pages in length, identify a recommended conference track, and include the titles of the papers, a description of the papers and their underlying research, and names, institutional affiliations, and contact information of the authors.

Preference will be given to proposals that:

relate to one of the six conference tracks
relate to one or more Middle Eastern countries
relate to contemporary debates within the public policy and administration spheres, broadly defined
are theoretically and empirically grounded

Authors and panel conveners will be notified of their acceptance or rejection by June 15, 2014. If circumstances prevent attendance, the conference committee asks that authors have their paper delivered by a co-author or substitute.

Graduate Students and Junior Scholars

The conference committee would like to invite graduate students and junior scholars interested in public policy and public administration in the Middle East to submit paper and panel proposals.

Registration Fees and Expenses

In line with AMEPPA’s commitment to expand public service activities in the Middle East, conference participants are not charged membership or conference registration fees, but are strongly encouraged to join AMEPPA (which remains free of charge). Participants are responsible for organizing their own travel and lodging arrangements, and for covering the costs and expenses associated with such arrangements.

Publication Opportunities

Authors will receive the opportunity to have their papers published in the Proceedings of the 3 Global Conference on Public Policy and Administration in the Middle East. Authors may also be invited to submit their papers as a chapter in a peer reviewed book on Governance Issues in the Middle East, which will be edited by Dr. Alexander Dawoody and published by Cambridge Scholars. Additional opportunities may also arise for the publication of papers as edited volumes or a special issue in academic journals related to the Middle East.

About the American University of Beirut

Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. A teaching-centered research university, AUB has around 700 instructional faculty and a student body of around 8,000 students.

The University encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to graduate men and women committed to creative and critical thinking, life-long learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.

The University currently offers more than 120 programs leading to the bachelor’s, master’s, MD, and PhD degrees.

The University became coeducational in 1922; its student body is 50 percent male and 50 percent female. At the end of June 2011, the number of degrees and diplomas awarded since June 1870 totaled 82,032.

For more information about the American University of Beirut, please visit: www.aub.edu.lb.