Mapping MENA addresses the core research question and purpose of the MENASP network. It investigates the production of social protection (SP) and conflict prevention (CP) research about the MENA region. The project had two aims.
- To trace the development of SP and CP from the 1970s to the present day and investigate the extent to which the fields are equitable. This was achieved by analysing (a) who produces knowledge; (b) which perspectives are prioritised, and (c) whether MENA-based experts contribute to Anglophone research.
- To understand the potential for integration and collaboration between SP and CP research about the MENA. This was achieved by tracking the interconnections between SP and CP through authorship collaborations, institutional affiliations, and shared research themes
Unlike existing studies on the region’s intellectual life, Mapping MENA neither isolates MENA scholars from the global research community nor focuses on sub-regions (e.g., the Levant or Gulf). Instead, it examines MENA as a whole—both as a research subject for global scholars and a site of knowledge production. This research highlights barriers to participation, dominant narratives, and key institutional hubs, helping to strengthen collaborations and amplify MENA voices in global scholarship.
DOI: 10.48352/uobxmenasp.0023
Author: Jordan Tchilingirian (University of Bath)
This project is supported by the Middle East and North Africa Social Policy Network (MENASP) at the University of Birmingham, in the framework of its ‘strengthening social welfare and security in the MENA region’ research programme, funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Global Challenges Research Fund.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Middle East and North Africa Social Policy (MENASP) Network or the University of Birmingham.