Politics and Governance

Amid intensifying competition among the major powers and growing uncertainty in international order, wars and military conflicts continue to erupt in many parts of the world. These conflicts destroy people’s peaceful lives and deprive them of the opportunities to pursue the rich possibilities of life, and in some cases even take their lives. In order to realize a peaceful and inclusive society grounded in human dignity and trust, it is therefore essential to explore sustainable forms of governance that can respond to these challenges.

Within the Politics and Governance cluster, we examine the impact of governance systems and institutional designs on people’s safety and everyday lives, including domestic political arrangements, as well as diplomacy and security in interstate relations. We place strong emphasis on the effectiveness of institutions and policies, as well as on how people perceive, trust and engage with them as political and social actors.