Transnational Governance

Attività ricerca

The PhD programme in Transnational Governance is organized by the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence, in collaboration with the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa. The duration of the programme and its grants is four years and the degree is awarded jointly by the two schools.

The Phd programme combines political and social sciences to prepare researchers and experts in the analysis of the multi-level global and regional politics of today. In a multilateral and interdependent world, policies are not only in the hands of national governments, but rather result from a more complex governance that combines local and international, public and private, formal and informal forms of power. The challenges of European integration, global trade, environment and migration policies, fight against international terrorism are examples of the research areas that the PhD in Transnational Governance specializes on, providing the theoretical and methodological tools to analyse them. Applicants are invited to consult the web pages of SNS and SSSA staff for details of the current research interests.

The teaching programme has two pillars. The first one is made of taught courses that provide a common theoretical and methodological background drawing on political science, international relations, European studies, political philosophy, political economy and sociology. The second one is a specialized research training for the analysis of transnational governance, with three thematic areas open to cross-fertilisation: 

-        International relations, global economy and security; 

-        European and comparative politics and governance; 

-        Political movements and transnational civil society. 

Our aim is to train scholars and highly-skilled experts who can work in academic institutions, think tanks and research centers, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Attività didattica

PhD students compile every year a study plan on their research and training activities. In their first year, they are required to attend and pass 7 compulsory and 1 elective course, each one of 20 hours. From the second to the fourth year, they are required to attend and pass 3 elective courses per year. The teaching activity is strongly research-driven and interactive, and is integrated by workshops, seminars and various events with international guests. 

Each student is followed by a personal mentor in the first year and a research supervisor from the second, once the thesis’ research project is fully developed and approved. PhD students are integrated in the Faculties’ research community, with its specialist clusters and its culture of collegial peer-review and support. 

Scuola Normale Superiore and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna have a number of international exchanges with universities and international organisations, and the grants include a generous allowance for international study and research activities.