Skip to main content

Political and administrative science

Haus 6
Photo: Maxi Genthe

The University of Potsdam’s political and administrative science 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.


Research interests include:

  • 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

Study & Teaching

The range of courses offered at Potsdam’s Department of Political and Administrative Science 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 and Administrative Science participate in teacher training. A strong research orientation and sound methodological training inform our teaching.

Degree programs


Transfer activities (selection)


Current third-party-funded projects (selection)


Members of the specialist group

 

Prof. Dr. Thomas Sommerer

Spokesperson of the specialist group

Prof. Dr. Thomas Sommerer
Chair of Political Science, in particular International Organizations
Campus Griebnitzsee, Building 1, Room 2.66
E-Mail: thomas.sommerer@uni-potsdam.de