All the theories of global governance reserve an important role in global decision making to researchers, analysts and analytical organizations.
This is hard to object, because in responding to multiple global challenges, powerful Global Actors are all looking for the new solutions and new ideas which can only be produced in specialized academic centers – think tanks, research institutions or universities.
It is well known that universities historically had been the first centers of developing and diffusing knowledge. Many think tanks were also created together with or as a part of universities, like Hoover Institution at Stanford University or Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University. The category of elite universities or “top 300” are extending their influence not only through their think tanks, but also their graduates, that are representing their universities academic schools in their practices. Noticeable examples here may be: Frankfurt School that produced philosophers, Harvard Business School, which is famous for liberal economists, Beijing University graduates that are fitting in grate number of international trade organizations, or Bangalore University whose graduates are working in IT companies all other the world.
But in the communication age with IT opportunities even the strongest universities with established reputations can not compete with university networks that are joining together for the common goal for accumulating and defusing knowledge.
This paper will explore this new phenomenon - universities networks as global actors – through examines several cases: the Intercultural Glossary Project of University of Oslo and the European Wergeland Centre; the European Federation of Schools; the European Master’s Program in Human Rights and Democratization.
The paper will analyze what are the new tools of accumulation ideas and knowledge accumulation and diffusion and what are the advantages of university networks in becoming noticeable global actors.
