Transnational Political Networks

In October 2024, the Center launched its flagship program entitled, “Transnational Political Networks & The Future of Global Order.” Transnational political networks – groups of individuals who transcend national boundaries – are major forces shaping global order, even despite great power competition. They have championed groundbreaking ideas for international cooperation across a wide range of issue areas, such as climate change, nuclear weapons, outer space, and artificial intelligence. Under Professor Mai’a Cross’s leadership, the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures aims to break new ground in the investigation of transnational political networks through its focus on the types of networks that matter and how they gain influence. At both the societal and elite levels, certain networks have social power, derived from the legitimacy of their ideas, which are often ultrasocial in nature (i.e. inclusive, empathic, and aimed at the common good), global, and transformational.

This flagship project (1) investigates why certain transnational political networks achieve (or fall short of) breakthroughs in international cooperation that were previously thought impossible, (2) identifies emerging issue areas where their impact is being felt, and (3) translates that knowledge into practical steps that empower these actors to contribute to solutions to disruptions in global order. Please see here for regular updates on this important work.

Support for this project is provided by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic foundation created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to do “real and permanent good in this world.”

Our Partners

We are working with the following partners to co-host upcoming workshops on transnational political networks in Dublin, Oslo, and New Delhi.