Governance

Globalization, with its volatile mix of economic opportunity and social disruption, has provoked fundamental challenges to the institutions of political and economic governance. Global problems, such as climate change and labor standards, cannot be tackled by any single nation-state; they demand new forms of governance involving governments, private firms and nongovernmental organizations. This research program focuses on efforts to expand the regulatory capacity and institutional efficacy of individual nation-states as well as these new forms of global governance.

Research Briefs

The Watson Institute, in a collaborative effort with the Urban Institute, hosted a two-day symposium, "Punishment Beyond Mass Incarceration" on April 4-5.
Read Article

News

At the end of his eighth and final year as the Howard R. Swearer Director of the Thomas J. Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Edward Steinfeld reflected on the institute's growth as it prepares for the launch of Brown University's new School of International and Public Affairs.
Read Article
The Watson Institute awarded Birkelund funds to five faculty research projects during the 2023 - 2024 academic year. Projects ranged from studying civilian-military coordination during the pandemic to creating a study group between Brown students and faculty, and quilombola communities in Brazil.
Read Article
Three Watson Master of Public Affairs students and one alumna were named finalists for the prestigious Presidential Management Fellows class of 2024. They are now eligible to apply for positions as fellows in the federal workforce where they hope to make an impact on a variety of public policy issues.
Read Article

Upcoming Events

Past Events