Cluster focus

The International Public Affairs Cluster was formed to develop a master’s degree program that prepares students from around the world to engage in governance in ways that meet the increasingly complex challenges of globalization. The program explores how the new global economy is shaping business-government relationships, blunting the regulatory capacity of governments and introducing greater complexity to the design of public policies that promote important social goals. At the same time, critical policy problems – financial market instability, the threat of terrorism, environmental degradation and spread of deadly viruses – require strategies of global governance that coordinate the actions of governments, businesses and non-governmental agencies across nations.

Cluster accomplishments

  • The Master for International Public Affairs (MIPA) was developed to provide rigorous interdisciplinary training to graduate students to develop a new set of skills and strategies to coordinate business-governmental relationships, as well as governance, across nations in the global economy. MIPA is one of only a small number of graduate public affairs programs in the country focusing on such new international challenges.
  • The two-year 42-credit program consists of foundation courses taught by the cluster and other La Follette School of Public Affairs affiliated faculty, as well as dozens of electives across campus so that students can develop expertise in their selected fields. Such courses include Trade, Competition, and Governance in a Global Economy, Global Environmental Governance and Political Economy of Corruption and Good Governance.
  • The cluster faculty bring cross-disciplinary perspectives and real-world experiences into their course design. Faculty have held posts in major international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.

Cluster structure

The cluster and affiliated faculty, master’s program and graduate students are housed in the La Follette School of Public Affairs. The faculty interact through regular meetings of the La Follete School that concern both the degree program and faculty research areas. The cluster and MIPA faculty design the degree curriculum and courses building upon their areas of expertise, in conjunction with a large interdisciplinary team of faculty members who are affiliated with the La Follette School and have joint appointments in departments across campus.

Cluster coordinator, faculty and lead dean

Cluster Coordinator

  • Barbara Wolfe, Professor of Economics, Population Health Sciences, and Public Affairs, Director, La Follette School of Public Affairs

Cluster Faculty

  • Menzie Chinn, Professor, Economics and La Follette School of Public Affairs
  • Melanie Manion, Professor, Political Science and La Follette School of Public Affairs
  • Mark Copelovitch, Assistant Professor, Political Science and La Follette School of Public Affairs
  • Clark Miller, Associate Professor, La Follette School of Public Affairs
  • Graham Wilson, Professor, Political Science

Lead Dean