LSE public lecture
Date: Thursday 18 October 2007
Time: 6.30-8pm
Venue: New Theatre, East Building
Speaker: Professor John Gray
Chair: Professor Lord Meghnad Desai
Where does the utopian impulse in politics originate, and does it have a future? John Gray argues that though they often claimed to be rooted in a scientific analysis of history and society the revolutionary political movements of the past were informed by a utopian vision which derives from religion. Is the age of secular utopianism over, and if so how will religion interact with twenty-first century geopolitical conflicts? He will discuss these questions in the context of his new book, Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia (Penguin).
John Gray is professor of European thought at LSE.
This event is supported by the LSE Annual Fund.
Podcast
A podcast of this event is available to download from the LSE public lectures and events podcasts channel.