Michael W. Bauer is professor and director of the master's programme of the School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute in Florence. He was also professor of comparative administrative science and policy analysis and holder of a Jean Monnet chair at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. He has a degree in social science from Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), an MA from the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium), a PhD from the European University Institute in Florence (Italy), and his Habilitation from the University of Konstanz (Germany).