News
01.06.2018

On the future of public policy schools

You are invited to a special colloquium on 12 June, chaired by Helmut K. Anheier.

What is the mission, role and impact of public policy or governance schools, particularly in uncertain times? This timely and important issue will be addressed in a special colloquium, chaired by Hertie School President Helmut K. Anheier on 12 June 2018. You are invited to register here.

Public policy schools were originally designed as academic institutions to meet the administrative and management demands of the growing nation state. But over time, their role expanded to include policy analysis and formulation as well. The triad of administration – analysis – policy provided a productive, yet tension-ridden, foundation for these schools to grow in size and number.  Yet according to some critics, they became ever more technocratic in their outlook, teaching as well as researching “policies without politics”.  Proponents, however, saw in the expanding “policy industry” of governance schools and think tanks a guarantee of diversity, offering policymakers a range of options.  Others pointed to the broad consensus required among political elite to give policy schools legitimacy, charging that they offer options for technocrats but no true political alternatives.

Against these contestations, Colloquium Chair Helmut K. Anheier sees public policy schools at a crossroads, having reached a point where major reforms are needed if they are to continue flourishing as they have in past decades.

For the first time, Anheier will publicly outline his reform recommendations, as the chair and keynote speaker at this special event. He will also engage with leading members of the international academic community to gain multiple perspectives on the topic. The discussion with Mary Kaldor, Professor of Global Governance at the London School of Economics, Renaud Dehousse, President of the European University Institute, and Randall Hansen, Interim Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, will be followed by closing remarks by Columbia University’s Ira Katznelson. Welcoming remarks will be given by Henrik Enderlein, Professor of Political Economy at the Hertie School and Director of the Jacques Delors Institut - Berlin.

Is it possible to find a balance between politics and policy? What has been the impact of public policy schools on policy-making, public administration and public stewardship? What is the future relationship between public policy schools, other professional schools and the academy at large? These questions, and more, will be addressed.

Register now to join the discussion.