Public Policy Studies and Research in the Arab World

Public policy studies in the Middle East and North Africa region are usually conducted either inside academic setups or within specialized and/or interdisciplinary research centers and think tanks. The field is considered relatively new, and up to this day the term may not be totally clear to the layperson. The context in which policymaking occurs in many parts of the region is not only complicated, taking into consideration the many near-failed states, but also characterized mostly by ambiguity and lack of transparency. The aim of this article is to look at some indicative trends and explore the what, where, and how of policy studies in the region, highlighting key challenges faced and achievements realized.