210170 SE M7: Staatstätigkeit, Policy- und Governanceanalysen (2020S)

Course convenor: Dr Christel Koop (King’s College London)

This summer course aims to provide an advanced understanding of transnational governance, with a particular focus on its private and hybrid forms. An increasing number of areas of the economy and society are governed by initiatives set up by businesses and/or non-governmental organisations. These forms of governance may or may not be supported by governments and international organisations, with support taking various forms (e.g., co-regulation, recognition, financial support). Examples include environmental certification schemes, carbon offset schemes, global labour standards, credit ratings, and corporate social responsibility in multinational companies. Why have these forms of governance emerged as alternatives and/or complements to public forms of governance? Why have we seen a rise of these forms? How ‘voluntary’ is compliance with the rules and regulations? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these forms of governance? And what are their implications for legitimacy, accountability, transparency and effectiveness? Taking the emerging literature on transnational governance as a starting point, the course will cover the key concepts, theories and issues in the study and practice of transnational governance. We will also apply concepts and theoretical arguments to a wide range of empirical cases, and address the question of how best to study the phenomenon.