New World. New Thinking.

 

The School of Global Studies at ASU examines global issues from the perspective of an over-arching theme, Quality of Life, with working groups organized around key research and teaching themes that are periodically evaluated for their relevance and utility. These working groups, made up of core Global Studies faculty as well as affiliated faculty from throughout the University, are at the heart of the School’s design. They organize around the following broad themes, generating rich intellectual exchange and forming the basis for problem-driven transdisciplinary research, coursework, conferences and projects.

 

Governance and Institutions

Examines how institutions, modes of governance, and the conflicts surrounding them are interconnected across local, national, and global levels. It includes the study of international, regional and national organizations; and issues such as development, corruption, and state failure. It studies how, for example, democracy, civil society, human rights, legitimacy and authority shape and are shaped by global processes.

 

Health and Disease (under development)
Studies how natural, social and political systems interact to create the conditions for global health.  Outcome-driven research at the School addresses problems such as: organizing effective global and local institutions, developing strategies of prevention, providing access to drugs and medical treatment, responding to pandemics, developing new sources of funding, and using technology to promote global health.

 

Migration, Borders and Identities (under development)
Studies dynamics and contexts of international and internal migration, including labor markets, communities, nation-states, and transnational identities. In addition, the impact of critical factors such as armed conflict and poverty on the movement of refugees and migrants are subjects of investigation. Key border issues include human flows, economic development, crime, human trafficking, pollution, transborder planning, and national security.

 

Urban Systems
Studies the urban environment in its built form and natural dimensions, urban regions as poverty prevention mechanisms, the role of urban regions in facilitating innovation, rapid growth, vulnerability and resilience, and comparative urban competitiveness and amenities.

 

Environment and Natural Resources
Probes environmental issues at different levels, from local to global, and the relationship between human livelihood and sustainability. The research encompasses work in the fields of migration and the environment, globalization of commerce in natural resources such as fisheries and timber, biodiversity conservation, and institutions for global environmental management.

 

Violence, Conflict and Human Rights
Focuses on the causes and consequences of communal violence, genocide, terrorism, and interstate warfare. It examines the role of economic and political factors as well as religion, ethnicity, and history in fueling armed conflict and atrocities. In addition, it investigates global, regional, and local responses to mass violence. These responses include military and judicial interventions, peace negotiations, and conflict resolution mechanisms aimed at fostering reconciliation and social reconstruction.