Welcome to Governance Uncovered, your ultimate resource for understanding the intricacies of governance, state and non-state actors, and local development dynamics. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious about political science, this podcast is your gateway to learning from the best experts in the field. Join us as we delve into how governance shapes societies, influences political decisions, and drives local progress.
Governance is the overall complex system or framework of processes, functions, structures, rules, laws, and norms borne out of the relationships, interactions, power dynamics, and communication within an organized group. Our episodes break down these elements to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how governance affects every aspect of our lives.
Tune in to Governance Uncovered for insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analyses that will broaden your perspective on governance and empower you to become more informed and engaged in political discourse.
This podcast is brought to you by the Governance and Local Development Institute, supported by the Swedish Research Council.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Governance Uncovered, your ultimate resource for understanding the intricacies of governance, state and non-state actors, and local development dynamics. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious about political science, this podcast is your gateway to learning from the best experts in the field. Join us as we delve into how governance shapes societies, influences political decisions, and drives local progress.
Governance is the overall complex system or framework of processes, functions, structures, rules, laws, and norms borne out of the relationships, interactions, power dynamics, and communication within an organized group. Our episodes break down these elements to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how governance affects every aspect of our lives.
Tune in to Governance Uncovered for insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analyses that will broaden your perspective on governance and empower you to become more informed and engaged in political discourse.
This podcast is brought to you by the Governance and Local Development Institute, supported by the Swedish Research Council.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we welcome Steve Monroe to discuss his newest book, Mirages of Reform: The Politics of Elite Protectionism in the Arab World (Cornell University Press, 2025). Together, Steve and Ellen examine how elites across the Arab world maintain economic privileges despite apparent trade liberalization.
Steve sheds light on how conventional measures of economic reform often miss the real story. While many Arab nations adopted neoliberal policies on paper, he demonstrates how "neo-patrimonial protectionism" allowed well-connected elites to preserve their advantages through informal mechanisms, like preferential procurement and insider access.
Through detailed case studies and quantitative evidence, Steve illuminates the critical gap between formal policy changes and practical implementation, challenging our understanding of economic reform and highlighting how social connections fundamentally shape who benefits from liberalization efforts in the region.
Steve argues that geopolitics and social connections between state and capital underpin the Arab world's uneven trade policies. Drawing on interviews, firm- and industry-level data, and evidence from Jordan to Morocco, Mirages of Reform reveals how international and domestic factors interact to shape the Arab world's rugged trade policy terrain. Insightful and well researched, this book imparts important lessons and warnings about the repercussions of economic reform in the region.
Full podcast transcript can be found here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.