The European Institute's newest named professorial post has been announced as ‘The Ralf Dahrendorf Professor of European Politics and Society’.
It was the unanimous view of the Professors in the European Institute that this Named Chair is an unquestionably appropriate honour for Ralf Dahrendorf, and also tailor-made to locate in the European Institute.
Ralf was a stellar academic: born during the Weimar Republic into a political family that suffered for their political beliefs, active in academic and political life in Europe, a citizen of two countries and a migrant, a committed European who served as an EU Commissioner – even if he later lost his faith in the EU project as he saw it developing. In addition to having been both a student and director at LSE, he was a believer in freedom during a time of real-world contestation over the best ways of organising society.
Inaugural Named Chair Recipient
The inaugural holder of The Ralf Dahrendorf Professor of European Politics and Society is Professor Chris Anderson.
Professor Anderson is a world-class scholar, a great teacher, a wonderful colleague, and a Europeanist through and through. His fittingness was also singled out by Ralf Dahrendorf's surviving former wives, Ellen and Christiane - Christiane noting that ‘Chris Anderson seems to be a perfect choice with many intersections not only in line of research and interest, but on a personal level too. When I saw his book on football in 2013 on a shelf at Waterstone´s I regretted not being able to buy it for my husband who loved football.’
Ellen picked up the football link too: noting a ‘perhaps unlikely thing about Ralf that many people didn't know - that he was passionate about football. And so there is another amusing bit of synergy with Chris’.
Professor Anderson said: "I was excited to find out that the School has chosen to honour Ralf Dahrendorf in this way, and of course delighted to be the inaugural chair holder that carries his name.
"Dahrendorf cared about social conflict, liberal democracy, and human rights - issues that are as relevant today as they were during his time as a student or the Director of the LSE. A European through and through, his life work as a researcher and teacher, public servant, academic administrator, and public intellectual continues to inspire many of us here at the LSE."
Many congratulations to Chris for becoming the first recipient of this new Named Chair.
An inaugural event will be arranged for the next academic year.