Journal of Administration in the Global South

About the Journal

Journal of Administration in the Global South (JAGS) is an international, peer-reviewed scholarly journal dedicated to advancing critical and context-sensitive understandings of public administration and public policy within the diverse realities of the Global South. The journal emerges from the recognition that dominant theories and models of public administration have historically been shaped by experiences from the Global North, often overlooking the institutional complexities, socio-political dynamics, and resource constraints that characterize governance systems in developing and transitional contexts.

JAGS provides a platform for scholars, practitioners, and policy analysts to explore how public institutions operate, adapt, and innovate under conditions of structural inequality, fiscal limitations, and evolving state–society relations. Rather than positioning the Global South merely as an empirical setting, the journal actively promotes the development of theoretically informed and empirically grounded contributions that generate new insights, challenge existing paradigms, and enrich global debates in public administration and policy studies.

The journal welcomes interdisciplinary and comparative approaches that engage with issues such as governance capacity, bureaucratic reform, decentralization, policy implementation, and institutional resilience. Particular attention is given to how public policies are formulated and enacted in contexts marked by informality, political contestation, and asymmetrical power relations. Contributions that examine adaptive governance, policy innovation, and collaborative arrangements involving state, market, and civil society actors are especially encouraged.

In an era shaped by rapid technological transformation, JAGS also seeks to advance discussions on digital governance, data-driven policymaking, and the implications of digital divides for administrative effectiveness and inclusivity in the Global South. The journal recognizes that digital transformation does not occur in a vacuum, but is deeply embedded in local institutional capacities and socio-economic conditions.

Furthermore, JAGS is committed to amplifying perspectives that are often underrepresented in mainstream academic publishing, including research from small island states, peripheral regions, and marginalized communities. By doing so, the journal aims to contribute to a more inclusive and pluralistic body of knowledge in public administration and public policy.

The journal publishes original research articles, review papers, and policy analyses that demonstrate methodological rigor, theoretical contribution, and relevance to contemporary governance challenges. Submissions are expected to go beyond descriptive accounts by offering analytical depth and clear contributions to scholarly discourse.

Through its focus on contextual richness and theoretical advancement, Journal of Administration in the Global South seeks not only to document administrative practices in developing contexts, but also to reposition the Global South as a source of knowledge production capable of informing and reshaping the future of public administration as a global discipline.