In his new book Paul Kelly considers the lessons about political violence, war and revolution to be learned from ten major thinkers over centuries – Thucydides, St Augustine, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Clausewitz, Lenin, Mao, Schmitt - and draws some lessons for our times. Join us as a panel of speaker discuss the theme of this new publication from LSE Press.
Modern international relations apparently shows a rapid swing back towards ‘great power’ politics and the use of force and violence in inter-state relations, dashing the millennial hopes of an irreversible shift towards a more ethically based international regime. Yet a whole succession of major thinkers have espoused versions of a ‘realist’ strand urging recognition of the inevitable presence of violence in international affairs.
You can order the book, Conflict, War & Revolution: the importance of violence in international politics, (UK delivery only) from our official LSE Events independent book shop, Pages of Hackney.
Meet our speakers and chair
Elizabeth Frazer has been Official Fellow and Tutor in Politics at New College, Oxford since 1991; prior to that she was Rank Manning Junior Research Fellow. She studied PPE at Pembroke College 1981-84, and completed her Doctorate, in Sociology, in 1987.
Kimberly Hutchings is Professor of Politics and International Relations. She joined QMUL in 2014 and was Head of School 2019-20. She started her academic career at Wolverhampton University then moved to Edinburgh University, where she taught political and international theory and was also Head of Department (1999-2002). She then moved to the International Relations Department at LSE, where she was Professor of International Relations (from 2007), and Head of Department (2010-2013).
Paul Kelly (@PjThinker) is Professor of Political Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a former Pro-Director of the School. He is the author and editor of sixteen books and edited collections and published numerous scholarly articles. His interests range across political theory and philosophy and the history of thought. He has edited and co-edited the journals Utilitas and Political Studies and cofounded Political Studies Review.
Patrick Dunleavy (@PJDunleavy) is Editor in Chief of LSE Press, and Emeritus Professor of Political Sciences, LSE. He was Professor of Political Science and Public Policy in the Department of Government at LSE from 1989-2020, having previously moved to the School from Nuffield College and the Open University in 1979. He is now Emeritus Professor, and Editor-in-Chief for LSE Press since autumn 2020. Patrick is a (founding) fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and a Fellow of the British Academy.
More about this event
LSE Press (@LSEPress) is a publisher of high quality, open access research in the social sciences. Through rigorous peer-review and the use of innovative digital approaches we promote the widest possible engagement with social science research. Based in the Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Press works with authors to develop and launch publications that reflect the LSE founding purpose and mission.
The Department of Government (@LSEGovernment) is home to some of the most internationally respected experts in politics and government; producing influential research that has a global impact on policy, and delivering world-class teaching to our students.
Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEConflict
Podcast & Video
A podcast of this event is available to download from Conflict, War & Revolution: the importance of violence in international politics.
A video of this event is available to watch at Conflict, War & Revolution: the importance of violence in international politics.
Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.