LIST OF PANELS

The study of public policy has been dominated by theories and experiences of countries in richer Western countries. There are few international platforms for public policy researchers from low and middle-income countries, mostly from the Global South, to disseminate their original work. This has not only confined the understanding of public policies in these countries but also limited the scope of existing academic debate to conceptualise experiences of countries that are less economically developed. There may also be a missed opportunity of knowledge and policy transfer between countries in different regions and with different historical and political backgrounds.

This proposed panel aims to provide an intellectual space for public policy researchers from low- and middle-income countries and their counterparts from other parts of the world to explore the policy decision making process in different national contexts. The dialogue would have high scientific relevance and stimulate a discussion that goes beyond the state of the art. It would enrich the knowledge production of public policy mainly in four ways. The first is to contribute to filling the knowledge gap of the public policy process in low- and middle-income countries. The second is to supplement the existing debate of public policy in these countries that is mainly from political science or developmental perspectives. The third is to identify the gaps in existing public policy conceptions and review to what extent they are applicable to the analysis of public policy in these countries. Finally, by focusing on the role and interplay of the state, business and civil society in the decision-making process, the discussion would facilitate comparison between countries from different entry points.     

The main research questions:

1.       To what extent and in what ways is the public policy decision-making process different in low- and middle-income countries?

2.       Do low- and middle-income countries share a similar process or have diverse patterns in public policy decision-making?

3.       How and to what extent do socio-political and cultural contexts affect the public policy decision-making process in these countries? 

4.       To what extent are existing public policy concepts and theories appropriate in the analysis of such processes in these countries? Are there any gaps and what are they?

5.       What theoretical and practical lessons can be learnt from the study of public policy in low- and middle-income countries?   

6.       How to make the existing public policy debate (especially comparative studies) more inclusive to research on low- and middle-income countries?        

Call for Papers

The panel organisers would welcome papers with a focus on the public policy decision-making process in low- and middle-income countries as broadly defined by the Word Bank and the UN. An analysis of the role and interplay of the state, business and civil society will be particularly welcome. The paper can be based on the analysis of a single country or a group of countries, as case studies or in comparison with others. Both theoretical papers and research-based papers will be welcome.

The panel will be in an onsite format which allows for both in-personal and virtual presentations. Presenters who have time and/or financial constraints that make travelling difficult should not hesitate to submit a paper proposal. Presentations could be online with a follow-up discussion with other online and onsite participants via the conference online platform. 

There is a possibility that a selection of suitable papers would be invited to develop into an edited collection in the format of a book or a themed section in an international journal.

In the paper proposal, please clearly state the following:

1.       The country or countries to be analysed

2.       The area(s) of public policy to be analysed

3.       A highlight of the main conceptual tools

4.       A brief description of the methodology (for research-based papers)

5.       The key findings or arguments.

6.       The potential contributions of the paper to the understanding of the policy process in low- and middle-income countries

7.       The potential contributions to the wider international public policy debate

8.       The preference for in-person or virtual presentation