LIST OF PANELS

Like much of the rest of the world, the coronavirus pandemic has already seriously impacted society, economies, and politics across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), a region already struggling with the effects of a decade of uprisings, failed or difficult political transitions, state collapses, civil war and international conflict. Most MENA countries have struggled to provide adequate health services and income support to their most vulnerable populations. MENA countries in conflict (Libya, Syria, and Yemen) are in a particularly precarious situation, as are fragile states such as Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, and Palestine. Other MENA countries, such as Lebanon, Iran, and Algeria, are experiencing political crises or financial constraints that limit their ability to provide needed public services. Many states also have refugee populations who suffer from gaps in coverage. Even stable countries, such as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia, are struggling to meet public needs. The pandemic has exposed and magnified these institutional weaknesses across the region. Indeed, the pandemic presents a unique “stress test” of MENA countries’ various institutional conditions and governance constraints. It presents an opportunity to explore institutional responses and coping mechanisms that might allow policymakers to improve service delivery. It also presents an opportunity for policymakers and the international community to examine which capacity deficits are truly structural and which might be overcome through a combination of technical assistance and political will.

This workshop will provide a space for dialogue and discussion on current knowledge about the origins, development, and challenges of social problems in the MENA region; discuss state policies that attempt to address the challenges that face societies in the region, as well as the implications of the pandemic and government responses to COVID19. 

Original contributions will be encouraged from diverse disciplines (e.g., psychology, sociology, economics, political science, education, public health) and methodologies. Theoretical and/or empirical contributions with a comparative and regional perspective are equally encouraged. The workshop welcomes research from across the humanities and social sciences—from the perspective of social and political theorists, philosophers, cultural theorists, as well as from researchers in social policy. Papers can focus on a single country case or propose cross-country analyses. 

We encourage articles on these or other relevant topics, addressing but not limited to the following questions:

·       How have MENA countries responded to the pandemic?
·       What are the key factors that account for the variety of national responses to the pandemic in the MENA?
·       How does the response to the pandemic affect the plight of social justice and social protection in the region?
·       How might the pandemic restructure, reshape, or challenge social policies or welfare regimes in the MENA region?
·       What gaps in service delivery and institutional capacities have been exposed?
·       What inequalities are being highlighted by the pandemic and policy responses? 
·       What are the implications of the pandemic on vulnerable populations?
·       How does the pandemic impact job security or unemployment?
·       What is the role of social protection in mitigating the impacts of COVID-19?
·       What will the region look like after the pandemic?
·       What are the future social, economic, and political implications (e.g. higher inequality, poverty, conflict)?
·       What are the prospects for improved governance and regional solidarity?
·       What steps should governments take today to ensure that lessons translate into better policies?

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The above are purely indicative areas: suggestions and original ideas are most welcome!