Policy & Governance Review

Aim
The Policy and Governance Review (PGR) is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of building adaptive and resilient governance systems. We examine how public administrations, policy frameworks, and multi-stakeholder arrangements can effectively anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and learn from complex challenges and shocks. Our mission is to provide a platform for cutting-edge research that bridges the gap between traditional public administration and the emerging demands of sustainability, digitalization, and risk society, with a particular interest in evidence from the Global South.

Scope
PGR welcomes interdisciplinary research that explores the dynamics of governance adaptability and resilience. We publish robust theoretical, empirical, and comparative studies that employ a variety of methodological approaches. The journal specifically encourages contributions that move beyond diagnosis to propose and evaluate actionable solutions for more robust governance.

Key Areas of Focus for PGR Journal

Sustainable Development and Public Policy
Description: This journal prioritizes research examining the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We seek studies on policy coherence for sustainable development, cross-sectoral collaboration, environmental governance, climate change adaptation/mitigation policies, and the role of public institutions in achieving equitable and sustainable outcomes.

Collaborative Governance and Hybrid Arrangements
Description: This focus analyzes the structures and processes for managing multi-actor systems. It includes research on the performance, accountability, and design of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), network governance, co-production with citizens, and cross-sector collaborations. This directly accommodates the journal's history of publishing on PPPs and local governance (as a key arena for collaboration).

Adaptive Governance and Policy Innovation
Description: This area examines how governance systems learn, innovate, and adapt in the face of change. It encompasses studies on policy innovation labs, experimental governance (e.g., RCTs, sandboxes), anticipatory governance, and the role of foresight and data in policy design. This frame naturally incorporates previous work on policy innovation and digital transformation as tools for adaptation.

Risk, Security, and Resilient Infrastructure
Description: This section investigates governance models for preparing for and responding to systemic risks. It covers disaster management cycles, critical infrastructure protection, public space risk mitigation, climate adaptation policy, and pandemic response. This provides a perfect, sophisticated home for the previously listed topics of disaster management and public space risk mitigation, framing them as core to resilience.

Social Protection and Inclusive Governance
Description: This area focuses on the governance of policies designed to enhance societal resilience and equity. It includes studies on the design and implementation of social protection systems, health governance, policies for vulnerable groups, and ensuring equity in digital access (digital transformation). This seamlessly incorporates the journal's interest in social protection.

Public Financial Management and Accountability
Description: The journal seeks contributions on the efficient and ethical management of public resources. This includes studies on performance-based budgeting, public auditing, fiscal decentralization, tax policy, combating illicit financial flows, and innovations in ensuring governmental accountability.

Organizational Culture and Change in the Public Sector
Description: This stream looks at the internal engine of governance: the public organization. It research on how organizational culture enables or hinders adaptation, change management, administrative leadership in times of crisis, and the development of future-ready skills in the civil service. This directly integrates the previous focus on organizational culture.