The past several years have witnessed emergent and growing threats against both social equality and public health. The gulf between the “haves” and “have nots” is not new but recent decades have seen it widen dramatically, encouraged by economics, partisan politics, racism, sexism and more. Far too often, policies characterized and put forward as benefitting the middle class and poor have, in fact, provided much greater benefit to the most affluent members of society.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened things: Those with the most often have benefited; those with the least often have been the most victimized and fallen further behind. Simultaneously, attacks on democracy and integrity of governance—both in the United States and abroad—have frustrated service delivery, lowered morale, increased burdens and reduced trust in government to an all-time low and further impeded countries’ abilities to combat the pandemic. Where do we go from here?

The questions we are tasked to solve are never ending. Living wage or minimum wage? Universal child care or private systems? Flexible work environments or status quo? Broadband for all or pay to play? Access to health care and at what cost? Fix the bridge or build a road around? Who gets vaccines? Who gets to vote? Fascism, socialism or democracy? Most important: Who gets to decide and whose rights and freedoms matter more? Our answers will impact how we define and encourage democracy and equality—and effective public administration as a result.

The 2022 Annual Conference will address the most challenging concerns our society faces right now: Upholding democratic institutions and advancing equality. Practitioners, scholars and students from around the world are encouraged to attend and contribute their research and practice to this critical dialogue. We will need ideas and strategies from a variety of cultures and perspectives to move forward and shore up our threatened systems. Review the tracks and their descriptions below to better understand the discussions we anticipate for this event and submit your ideas by the October 29, 2021 deadline.

Proposals for fully-formed panels, workshops and individual papers (to be placed within topical panels) will be considered.  

TRACKS

• Effective and Equitable Public Policy and Service Delivery in an Era of Growing Inequality
• Social Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 
• Financial Management and Planning for Uncertainty
• Protecting and Replacing Aging Structures 
• Comparative Government and International Administration
• Good Governance and Democracy in an Uncertain Political Environment
• Managing for Meaningful Public Service