The Global Governance Programme focuses its research on five broad interdisciplinary themes and on the many cross-cutting issues related to globalisation:

• Global Economics: Trade, Investment and Development.
  Director: Bernard M. Hoekman
• Europe in the World: International Relations, International Security, World Politics
  Director: Ulrich Krotz
• Cultural Pluralism
• Global Citizenship
  Director: Rainer Baubock
• Forms and Dynamics of Global Governance

Under each research area a number of projects are carried out.

The GlobalStat project is a stand-alone project directed by Gaby Umbach.

In January 2018 the European, Transnational and Global Governance research area directed by Brigid Laffan, has merged into the new European Governance and Politics Programme (EGPP).