Michael Zürn

Michael Zürn is Director of the Global Governance Department at the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) and Professor of International Relations at Freie Universität Berlin. His research examines institutional power dynamics in global governance, focusing on international organizations, political conflicts, and authority structures beyond nation-states.

His research interests center on:

• The emergence and functioning of international institutions
• Normative tensions in global political order
• Politicization of the European Union during crises
• Human rights protection mechanisms in international organizations
• Authority derived from asymmetric recognition relationships

Zürn actively engages in interdisciplinary dialogues, notably conducting masterclasses at institutions like the Max Planck Institute where he bridges political science and legal perspectives on global governance challenges.