This article critically examines the reliance on the concept of institutional voids in emerging market studies within institutional research, advocating for a more nuanced and configurational understanding of institutional dynamics and complexities, particularly in the MENA region. It reviews various strands of Institutional Theory, assesses the limitations of the institutional voids concept, and underscores the need for a holistic approach to institutional research—one that is both theoretically and methodologically comprehensive. It argues for the importance of disentangling institutional concepts and ensuring that methodological approaches are contextually relevant and appropriate. The article concludes by presenting four key takeaways for developing a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to institutional research.

IntroductionThe global expansion of smart cities has reshaped urban governance; however, their heavy reliance on technological innovation often undermines human security, leading to fragmented, unsustainable, and exclusionary systems that fail to meet the needs of vulnerable populations. This study examines the impact of interoperability on smart city governance (SCG) and its role in enhancing human security in Yogyakarta and Makassar, Indonesia.MethodsThe research explores how interoperability is developed through design processes, government alignment, policy fit, user engagement, change management, governance structure, and service consumption. Data were collected from 315 respondents across 47 government agencies and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).ResultsThe findings indicate that interoperability significantly strengthens SCG and enhances human security. Cross-sector collaboration emerged as a key driver of innovation. Despite challenges such as regulatory resistance and data fragmentation, alignment with the national digital strategy, SPBE policy, and Indonesia’s One Data initiative facilitates system integration.Discussion and conclusionThis study shifts the focus of smart city development from technological advancement to addressing urban vulnerabilities. It provides a blueprint for cities like Yogyakarta and Makassar to integrate local policy frameworks with global standards, thereby promoting responsive and equitable urban governance.

This article returns to Stuart Hall’s account of Thatcherism to consider the interaction between consent-based hegemonic devices and the structural compulsions that emanate from political-economic transitions. It argues that Hall’s method of articulation offers a middle position in analysing contemporary authoritarian trends, which recognises the role of structural constraints and logics, as well as the discursive construction of ideology in enabling (and inhibiting) hegemony seeking efforts. Building on existing work that has highlighted the distinction between classical neoliberal arguments regarding economic individualism and the trend towards ‘protectionist’ discourses today, where the state is cast as a protector of the in-group against threats, real and imagined, the article outlines how the method of articulation can aid us in making sense of the complexity and non-linearity of the post-neoliberal transition. This framework is then applied to the case study of the British Conservative Party’s trajectory after the 2016 Brexit referendum.

This paper investigates Smith's triumvirate hypothesis that peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice inclusively constitute what a state requires to attain the highest degree of economic prosperity. First, the paper constructed a single index of Smith's triumvirate through a principal component analysis (PCA). Then, data analysis using a two-step difference GMM technique was conducted, with results confirming the hypothesis in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This study examines Indigenous peace ontologies and epistemologies among Nigerian and Bolivian communities, specifically the Yoruba, Ukwu-Nzu, Ubang, and Aymara cultures, to explore peace conceptual transformations through colonial and historical experiences. Conceptual representations and knowledge production are shaped by power dynamics that mainly marginalize Indigenous epistemic experiences, often erasing or replacing traditional ways of knowing with dominant, typically colonial ideologies. Using a qualitative cross-cultural exploratory approach—including semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observations—the study reveals peace conceptualizations rooted in cosmological, historical, communal, and ecological frameworks. The Yoruba perceive peace as equilibrium mediated by Òrìṣà and personal agency, while the Aymara understand peace through suma qamaña— “living well” in harmony with Pachamama. Both perspectives emphasize collective well-being, relational ethics, and historical resilience. The study also examines the influence of Islam on Yoruba peace semiotics by reconstructing pre-Islamic peace terms in Lukumi, a Yoruboid language of the Ukwu-Nzu people, and explores gendered linguistic variations in peace conceptualization through the Ubang culture, where men and women speak mutually unintelligible languages. By critiquing universalist assumptions, the study advocates for decolonial methodologies that integrate Indigenous epistemes into broader scholarly discourses, fostering inclusive and pluralistic understandings of peace.

Forms of democratic backsliding can be observed in many parts of the world. However, some conclusions are overly sweeping or alarmist. A detailed case-based regional analysis reveals distinct patterns in this regard. This study highlights some recent findings from a longitudinal international research project, the Transformation Research Initiative “(TRI), which is now based at the Center for Research on Democracy (CREDO) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. The project involves country and regional experts from all major world areas. The results presented here are derived from the Varieties of Democracy “(V-Dem) data at the macro level, World Values Surveys” (WVS) data on the micro level, and selected case studies. Only a few key findings can be presented here. For a detailed account, see van Beek (ed., 2022).