Center Journals

High consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contributed to rising rates of chronic diseases and increasing economic burdens. In response, the government imposed an excise tax on these products in 2017, aiming to curb consumption and boost public revenues. Although this policy has had a direct impact, its implementation has been marked by several limitations that constrain its long-term effectiveness. This paper proposes an alternative policy designed to incentivize manufacturers to reduce sugar content, enhance public awareness, and support healthier alternatives, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It recommends restructuring the existing tax into a progressive model linked to the sugar content of the product, rather than imposing a fixed tax rate. It further calls for complementing this reform with additional measures, including the launch of nationwide awareness campaigns, the integration of nutrition education into school curricula, and the establishment of a health fund to support and sustain these interventions.

This study examines water management policies in Jordan and Morocco through the lens of public policy analysis, moving beyond purely technical and environmental accounts of water scarcity to highlight its political and social dimensions. It argues that water policies were not neutral; rather, since independence they have functioned as a strategic instrument for territorial control and for reinforcing the stability and continuity of political authority. Using a comparative analytical approach, the study traces the evolution of dam policy, privatization choices, and the role of international financial institutions in governing this vital resource. It finds that the predominance of the neoliberal model in water governance. This shift has led to the commodification of water, transforming it from a public right into an economic good. As a result, deep social and spatial inequalities have emerged, alongside an intensifying condition of water vulnerability. The study further underscores the limited capacity of privatization to deliver sustainable development and spatial justice, and it calls for integrated public policies grounded in good governance, transparency, and societal participation, while reaffirming water as a fundamental human right.

This report provides an analytical overview of the papers presented at a workshop titled "Toward Palestinian Frameworks for Reconstruction in the Gaza Strip," organized by Hikama: Journal of Public Administration and Public Policy and the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, on the sidelines of the Fourth Annual Palestine Forum hosted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, in cooperation with the Institute for Palestine Studies. Taking a critical perspective, the papers examined the U.S. and Israeli approaches proposed for reconstruction, emphasizing the need to articulate independent Palestinian national visions and policies. The contributions affirmed the centrality of Palestinians remaining on their land, ensuring their protection, and safeguarding their rights. They also highlighted the role of Palestinian political actors and local civil society organizations in shaping and implementing reconstruction policies, in addition to addressing governance-related issues. The papers further stressed the priority of rebuilding the Palestinian people themselves and strengthening the education, security, and food sovereignty sectors as foundational pillars of any national framework for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

This study examines the transformations in Saudi educational policies toward the Palestinian cause in school curricula, and the impact of local, regional, and global political and social contexts on the discourse produced by these policies. Through an analysis of 38 history textbooks published between 1990 and 2021, and using a critical discourse analysis approach, the study concludes that Islamic discourse initially dominated the curricula, with Palestine presented as part of the history of Islam and its conquests. Over time, the discourse gradually shifted, while maintaining an Islamic framing of Palestine. However, in 2019, with the implementation of "Vision 2030," radical transformations occurred, associated with a discourse focused solely on humanitarian aspects. The presence of Palestine in the new curricula significantly declined, being limited to a single lesson at the secondary school level.

This study explores the root causes of food insecurity in the Arab countries, highlighting the links between agricultural production and population growth. It examines how political and economic policies, particularly neoliberal policies, have reshaped agriculture—from subsistence farming for local consumption to export-oriented commercial farming—making the sector more vulnerable to climate change. The findings show that these policies have intensified climate-related pressures on water and land resources, compounding the challenges posed by demographic growth. Increasing dependence on food imports further heightens economic vulnerability amid global geopolitical shifts. The study recommends adopting an integrated approach to food security, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices to ensure the longterm preservation of natural resources, reduce social inequalities, and secure reliable access to food for all social strata.