Created at the Global Studies Institute in Spring 2018 by Dr Didier Wernli and Professor Nicolas Levrat, the Geneva Transformative Governance Lab (GTGLab) conducts research on the governance of complex challenges using interdisciplinary and complex systems approaches. Researchers at the GTGLab work at the science policy interface including with international organizations based in Geneva to provide relevant evidence and perspectives. Based on the strenuous link between research and education in research-intensive universities, the activities of the GTGLab feed several training and education programs at the bachelor, master and PhD levels at the Global Studies Institute.
More information available on the Geneva Transformative Governance Lab website: https://gtglab.net/
"Law, Crisis and Shifting Democratic Order"
International Conference
8-9 September 2025, University of Geneva
The Geneva Transformative Governance Lab (GTGLab) supported the international conference “Law, Crisis and Shifting Democratic Orders”, held on 8-9 September 2025 at the University of Geneva. Organised by Jana Ruwayha, researcher at the GSI and member of the GTGLab, the event brought together scholars from UNIGE, UCL, UNINE and other institutions.
Participants included Professors Nicolas Levrat, Didier Wernli, Nesa Zimmermann, Ewan Smith, Colm O’Cinneide and Ginevra Le Moli, together with Kevin James, Eve Lister, Tasneem Ghazi, Flore Vanackère, James Milton and Jana Ruwayha. Their presentations addressed systemic risks, the rhetoric of crisis, climate governance, federal reorganisation in Jammu and Kashmir, democratic erosion, housing justice and accountability in national security.
The presence of Professor George Katrougalos (UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order) further enriched the event and provided a global perspective on governance and resilience.
Over two days, the discussions revealed how crises blur the boundaries between temporary and permanent, exception and normality, and highlighted the risk of “permacrisis” in which extraordinary measures become enduring. The final roundtable reflected on future collaborations, with participants committing to develop their contributions into collective publications, either as an edited volume or as a special journal issue.
The conference was a moment of exchange that demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary approaches and confirmed the GTGLab’s mission to connect academic reflection with pressing global challenges.
For the full report with detailed summaries of all presentations and further information about the conference, please click here.
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Le Geneva Transformative Governance Lab (GTGLab) a soutenu la conférence internationale « Law, Crisis and Shifting Democratic Orders », qui s’est tenue les 8 et 9 septembre 2025 à l’Université de Genève. Organisé par Jana Ruwayha, chercheuse au GSI et membre du GTGLab, l’événement a réuni des universitaires de l’UNIGE, de l’UCL, de l’UNINE et d’autres institutions.
Parmi les participants-es figuraient les professeurs-res Nicolas Levrat, Didier Wernli, Nesa Zimmermann, Ewan Smith, Colm O’Cinneide et Ginevra Le Moli, ainsi que Kevin James, Eve Lister, Tasneem Ghazi, Flore Vanackère, James Milton et Jana Ruwayha. La présence du Prof. George Katrougalos (expert indépendant des Nations Unies sur la promotion d’un ordre international démocratique et équitable) a enrichi les discussions et apporté une perspective globale aux échanges.
Au cours de ces deux journées, les discussions ont montré comment les crises brouillent les frontières entre temporaire et permanent, entre exception et normalité, et ont mis en évidence le risque d’une « permacrise » dans laquelle les mesures extraordinaires deviennent durables. La table ronde finale a ouvert des perspectives de collaboration future, les participant·e·s s’engageant à développer leurs contributions en publications collectives, sous la forme d’un volume collectif ou d’un numéro spécial de revue.
La conférence a constitué un moment d’échanges qui a démontré la valeur des approches interdisciplinaires et confirmé la mission du GTGLab de relier la réflexion académique aux défis mondiaux les plus pressants.
Pour lire le compte rendu complet avec les résumés détaillés de toutes les présentations et davantage d’informations sur la conférence, veuillez cliquer ici.