The International Review of Administrative Sciences (IRAS) is preparing to mark its 100th anniversary in 2027 with a Centennial Special Issue, reflecting on a century of research, practice, and global developments in public administration. This milestone edition will examine both historical insights and emerging trends shaping the future of the field.
IRAS, founded in 1927, is the oldest scholarly journal dedicated specifically to comparative and international public administration. Throughout its history, it has contributed to advancing the global dialogue on public governance, encouraging reflection on international comparisons, innovative approaches, and the exchange between academics and practitioners.
The Centennial Special Issue welcomes original research and review articles on all aspects of public administration with an international and comparative perspective. Contributions highlighting historical developments, state-of-the-art trends, and future scenarios are particularly encouraged. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Comparative perspectives on public sector administration over the last century
Historical trends in public sector governance models and mechanisms
Evolving contributions of the public, private, and third sectors to public management
Performance measurement and management in the public sector
Human resource management developments
Digitalisation of public services
Public administration in the Global South from a comparative and international perspective
Future directions for research and practice in public administration
Abstracts of up to 800 words should be submitted by 31 October 2025 to guest editors Sara Melo (s.melo@qub.ac.uk) and Tobias Polzer (tobias.polzer@wu.ac.at), with Frederico Ganz (frederico.ganz@iias-iisa.org) and Sabine Kuhlmann (sabine.kuhlmann@uni-potsdam.de) in cc.
This Centennial Special Issue offers an unparalleled opportunity to reflect on 100 years of public administration research and practice, to explore lessons from the past, and to shape the future agenda for scholars and practitioners worldwide.
22 August 2026
The International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) was pleased to welcome Professor Liu Hong, Director at the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and Professor Shen Wei, from the School of Public Administration at Zhejiang University, to the IIAS office in Brussels on 5 June 2026.
The IIAS Director General, Dr. Sofiane Sahraoui, and Secretariat bid farewell to Herbert Baumgartner and Manuela Ernst, from the Austrian Court of Audit, who have served as external auditors of the Institute.
The International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) is inviting proposals from experienced service providers to manage the production of the French-language edition of the International Review of Administrative Sciences (IRAS), the Revue Internationale des Sciences Administratives (RISA).
Call for Papers - International Review of Administrative Sciences (IRAS) -
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