Key research themes
1. How do decentralization and subnational governance influence local policy-making and political dynamics?
This research theme explores the consequences of decentralization and the empowerment of subnational governments on local political behavior, policy formulation, and governance structures. It matters because decentralization reshapes the relationship between national and subnational authorities, affecting democratic engagement, policy autonomy, and intergovernmental conflicts. Understanding these processes is crucial for comprehending contemporary transformations in multilevel governance and spatial politics.
2. What role do subnational actors play in shaping transnational and international political and economic relations?
This theme investigates how subnational entities—whether regional governments, municipalities, or provinces—actively engage beyond national borders to influence transnational populism, international economic relations, and cross-border cooperation. These dynamics challenge traditional state-centric perspectives by illuminating the agency of subnational actors in global politics, economic diplomacy, and socio-political identity construction.
3. How does subnational variation affect policy trajectories and political strategies at regional and municipal levels?
This theme focuses on the extensive variation within countries at subnational levels—such as states, provinces, or municipalities—in policy adoption (e.g., education reform) and political strategies (e.g., populism, coalition-building). It questions how local contexts, institutional capacities, and socio-economic conditions produce divergent outcomes and how subnational political actors tailor their strategies accordingly, thereby complicating assumptions of uniform national political behavior.