Political Science and Public Administration

The University of Potsdam’s Political Science and Public Administration combines an internationally distinguished research activity with a practical orientation and knowledge transfer for political-administrative action. Our political and administrative scientists regularly publish their research results in international and national journals and publishing Buildings. The department comprises eight professorships, one of which is a joint appointment with the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS). In recent years, numerous third-party funded projects have been acquired, including from ERC, Horizon Europe, DFG and Volkswagen Foundation. In addition, the department organizes far-reaching transfer activities and research collaborations, e.g. in policy advisory bodies, in the research network “Just Climate Transition,” as editors and in the organization of international conferences.

Events
Guest lecture by Geert Bouckaert Futures for the Public Sector

Date: January 28, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Griebnitzsee, Building 6, Room S19

We cordially invite you to a guest lecture by Geert Bouckaert on the topic of “Futures for the Public Sector” on January 28, 2026. Mr. Bouckaert is Professor Emeritus of Social Sciences at KU Leuven and former President of the European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) and the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS). As a Humboldt Fellow and long-time visiting lecturer at the University of Potsdam, he is one of the most internationally renowned experts in his field.

• Design and change of political institutions
• Digitization of and in politics and administration
• International Organizations and Global Governance
• Environment, sustainability and climate justice
• Comparative administrative science and administrative reforms

The range of courses offered at Potsdam’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration includes various degree programs with unique selling points, such as the interdisciplinary degree programs in Politics, Administration and Organization, Politics and Economics, as well as the Master’s in National and International Administration and Policy (MANIA) and the Master’s in International Relations (MAIB). In addition, the professorships of Political Science and Public Administration participate in teacher training. A strong research orientation and sound methodological training inform our teaching.

• Just Climate Transition Network in cooperation with IASS, PIK and other non-university research institutions
• Master’s degree programs MPM and MEGA
• Policy advice: National Standards Control Council; Digitization Council of the City of Potsdam
• Editorial Board Journal of International Relations
• 16th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, 5-9 September 2023

• LOOPS - The Logistics of Popular Uprising (ERC Starting Grant for Dr. Anna Fruhstorfer)
• The International Rule of Law - Rise or Decline? (Research Group with FU Berlin and HU Berlin).
• Building Fiscal Capacity (FISCAP) (DFG).
• Digital Transformation at the Local Tier of Government in Europe: Dynamics and Effects from a Cross-Countries and Over-Time Comparative Perspective (SNSF/DFG)
• Climate Policy Governance from a City-Comparative Perspective: Identifying Best Practice Examples of Legitimate and Successful Climate Policy Processes for Metropolitan Areas; UP/ECCC (Prof. Kuhlmann, Prof. Schuppert).

• Prof. Dr. Julia Fleischer (Chair of Politics and Governance in Germany)
• Prof. Dr. Steffen Ganghof (Chair of Comparative Politics)
• Prof. Dr. Ingo Juchler (Chair of Political Education)
• Prof. Dr. Sabine Kuhlmann (Chair of Political Science, Administration and Organization)
• Prof. Dr. Andrea Liese (Chair of International Relations)
• Prof. Dr. Johan Lilliestam (Professorship for Energy Policy (joint appointment with IASS)
• Prof. Dr. Fabian Schuppert (Chair of Political Theory)
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Sommerer (Chair of Political Science, in particular International Organizations)
• Prof. Dr. Jasper Dag Tjaden (Chair of Applied Social Research and Public Policy)
• Prof. Dr. Gideon Botsch (Associate Professor of Political Science)
• Prof. Dr. Heribert Dieter (Adjunct Professor of Political Science)
• Hon. Prof. Detlef F. Sprinz, Ph.D. (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)
• Hon.-Prof. Dr. Joachim Wuermeling (see Professorship for Politics and Governance in Germany and Europe)
• Hon.-Prof. Dr. Charlotte Streck (see Chair of International Relations)