LIST OF PANELS

The world continues to be ravaged by public policy problems of increasing complexity and uncertainty which do not have social consensus or obvious technical solutions. These so-called wicked policy problems include the global pandemic with no end in sight, a climate crisis, species extinction, social, racial and caste injustices, poverty and inequality, violent conflicts, democracy under threat, and the perversity of public policy agenda still driven by GDP growth as its main objective.  SDGs progress has been slow or even reversed (UN 2019) declining trust in government, public policy and institutions and even in each other.  These challenges are made even more difficult by their inter-linkages through which some apparent solutions in one area result in a worsening situation in others.

The panel will discuss insights from recent social science advances with a focus on three rather uncommon areas of research which can help elucidate wicked problems. These areas are - complexity sciences including complexity economics; quantum social science and applied spirituality. The panel will also consider their interconnections and complementary issues.

Many of today’s economic problems cannot be treated adequately with equilibrium models or linear reductionist cost-benefit instruments alone because they are far from equilibrium, nonlinear, dynamic and evolutionary, self-organizing, and emergent, hence, the use of complexity economics. In addition, they are almost always characterized by inherent uncertainty, probabilistic features, interdependent linkages and influences, etc. hence our interest in quantum social science.

At the core of all these problems is the human feeling of separateness from one another and from nature. This seems to be the source of fear, insecurity, competition more than cooperation, greed, over-consumption, etc. These drivers in turn lead social injustice, economic inequality, environmental degradation, violent conflict, etc. despite the core spiritual teachings of all the major religions. Applied spirituality for public policy is therefore about using the understanding that our notion of separateness and the imaginary ego might not only be illusory but the source of much of our social problems. This has the potential to help us formulate policies and build capacities that go beyond symptoms and address causes of today’s challenges.

This panel will therefore discuss major interdisciplinary research concepts and approaches in recent social science and the way in which they affect our analyses and understanding of public policies. The panel will be structured to fit the time allocated but might work best in a 90-minute slot allowing for discussions and interactions with the audience and among panelists.

Objectives: This panel will therefore discuss major interdisciplinary research concepts and approaches in recent social science and the way in which they affect our analyses and understanding of public policies. Some of these areas are complexity sciences including complexity economics; quantum social science and applied spirituality. The panel will also consider their interconnections and complementary issues. Papers which go beyond these 3 areas in addressing similar advances in social science for public policy will be welcome.

Hypothesis:  Governments will have to radically rethink how they balance competing priorities in a post pandemic world with increasing levels of complexity and decreasing confidence levels in government and public policy processes in most jurisdictions. Recent social science research and bold new thinking might provide relevant tools and insights.

Research Questions:

1.       What new insights for public policy formulation and analysis in the context of increasingly complex social problems can be obtained from recent social science research?

2.       What can Quantum Social Science advances contribute to solve today public policy challenges?

3.       How can Government and its public services better deal with increasing with complexity. How can complex adaptive systems thinking help?

4.       Has the time come for us to explore how the common spiritual understandings, values and principles at the core of the world’s major religions? If so why and how?

Call for Papers: Papers addressed to this panel might address one or more of the research questions and could be general as in question 1 or more focused as in the other questions.