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Political Theory Group


Researching political theory and philosophy

Research Pillar(s): Political Theory and Philosophy

About: LSE is a leading centre for the study of political theory and philosophy, constituting one of the UK's largest concentrations of researchers in this area and related fields. The Political Theory Group in the Department of Government maintains close relations with political theorists and philosophers in other parts of the School, for example in the Departments of Law, Philosophy, and International Relations.

The Group is characterised by a vibrant research culture, centred around an active doctoral programme and a highly regarded external speaker series. Members of the group also deliver research-led teaching on the Department’s programmes of study at undergraduate, postgraduate and research-level.

One of the Group's key assets is the breadth and diversity of interests and expertise, including:

  • Contemporary moral philosophy and political theory
  • History of political thought
  • Comparative political theory
  • Philosophy of social science
  • Rational and social choice theory

Members: Prof Paul Apostolidis, Prof Leigh Jenco, Prof Paul Kelly, Dr Mathias Koenig-Archibugi, Dr Bruno Leipold (affiliated), Dr Zeynep Pamuk, Prof Anne Phillips (emeritus), Prof Kai Spiekermann, Prof Lea Ypi

Political Philosophy Seminar Series: The Political Theory Group invites domestic and international guest speakers to present and discuss papers. The seminar is attended by staff members, and PhD students from the Department of Government. Visitors are welcome to attend. 

All seminars take place Thursday 16.00 to 18.00 in FAW.2.04 (Fawcett House) unless otherwise stated.

Speakers will have the option to pre-circulate their papers; if you would like to receive a copy of the paper, subscribe to the mailing list. To subscribe, see the instructions below.

Seminar Convener(s): Prof Kai Spiekermann

The Political Theory Research Group also run a Doctoral Research workshop for the Department’s MRes/PhD students: Political Theory Doctoral Workshop

Upcoming Seminars

Michaelmas Term

Thursday 29 September
Speaker: Emma Stone MacKinnon (Cambridge): The Promise of Human Rights and the Politics of Hypocrisy

Thursday 20 October
Speaker: Emma Planinc (Notre Dame)

Thursday 27 October
Speaker: Ẹniọlá Ànúolúwapọ́ Ṣóyẹmí (Oxford)

Thursday 17 November
Speaker: Steven Klein (KCL): On the Egalitarian Value of Electoral Competition

Wednesday 23 November
Room CBG.4.17

Thursday 1 December
Speaker: Shuk Ying Chan (Oxford / UCL): Decolonizing cultural globalization: Aimé Césaire and the hierarchy of creator and consumer

Lent Term

Thursday 19 January
Speaker: Youngmin Kim (Seoul)

Thursday 2 February
Speaker: Lawrie Balfour (University of Virginia)

Thursday 23 March
Speaker: Joseph Chan (Princeton)

Summer Term

Thursday 25 May
Speaker: Wendy Salkin (Stanford)

Mailing List

To receive the latest information on our seminar and selected other political theory events please subscribe to our mailing list.

Email listserv@listserv.lse.ac.uk with this text in the body of your message (not the subject line):

SUBSCRIBE GOV-POTY-ANNOUNCE-L  [your full name]

for instance: SUBSCRIBE GOV-POTY-ANNOUNCE-L Edgar Example

And to unsubscribe:

Email listserv@listserv.lse.ac.uk from the email address you want to unsubscribe with this text in the body of your message (not the subject line):

SIGNOFF GOV-POTY-ANNOUNCE-L