This introductory text deals with the fact that public administrations, traditionally nation-state bound, face challenges due to increasing changes from denationalisation, globalisation, and regional integration. While public administrations continue to perform their core function of implementing state regulations, these forces reshape their roles by demanding multi-level governance that transcends national borders. The text discusses which challenges arise for public administrations acting in an international context and states that skills concerning interdependence, interculturality, and interdisciplinarity are needed and how these can be acquired. It concludes with an overview of the following texts that deal with intercultural communication in public administration.