Many of the topics covered by the graduate school require approaches that utilise multiple angles and disciplines. It is hard to imagine, for instance, being able to study the various attempts to govern the global commons without incorporating the historical background (history), a sound understanding of the underlying geographical conditions (geography) and economic circumstances (economics), not to mention the rigorous study of group preferences (sociology) and the dynamics of actors and institutions (political science) all from a comparative perspective and on a global scale (international relations).

Within the four pillars framework, we aspire to have each student supervised by two researchers from different disciplines, thereby encouraging insights from other traditions, theoretical approaches and methods. This kind of interdisciplinary exchange benefits not only the students but also the supervisors. Further opportunities for sharing are provided through the common workshops that researchers from different disciplines offer.