A Transdisciplinary Policy Studies of Transnational Governance

Global and regional challenges have prompted Master of Public Policy (MPP) programmes to respond with a global policy focus. However, this paper starts with the premise that methodological and ontological nationalisms remain entrenched in policy studies. Second, although policy studies can be multidisciplinary, by contrast, transdisciplinary practices in MPP teaching and training are not systematically integrated. This paper distinguishes national, international and transnational modes of governance. It then discusses the interaction of these modes with five dynamics exhibited in graduate education in public policy (specifically MPPs): (i) faculty, (ii) student recruitment, (iii) organisational internationalisation in higher education, (iv) curricular internationalisation and (v) accreditation of graduate Schools of Public Policy. To investigate each dynamic, we engaged in a conceptual content analysis of 50 MPP programmes from five world regions. We found that no single MPP programme overtly professed to be both transnational and transdisciplinary. In addition, most MPP programmes are not transnational although exceptions exist.