Research within Public Leadership at Åbo Akademi University focuses on the interaction between administration and political decision-making. Long-term research interests include local democracy and governance, administrative reforms and sector oriented research, such as environmental policymaking and language administration.

Since the subject has traditionally a strong linkage to reality, the trends of public sector development during the past decades have left their mark on the research and teaching. In the 2000s, research projects related to municipal and environmental development have constituted the core of the research activities.

Research is strongly linked to two of Åbo Akademi University’s central strategic multidisciplinary research profiles: The Sea and Minority Research.