Prof Paul Kelly

This course is available on the MSc in Political Theory. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process. For information on controlled access courses, including eligibility, application processes, deadlines, and departmental contact details, please refer to the Controlled Access Courses webpage.

Students to apply in course choice and offer a brief rationale.

The course aims to critically assess the idea of major twentieth century Anti-Liberal thinkers – Carl Schmitt, Martin Heidegger, Hannah Arendt, Simone Weil, Alasdair MacIntyre and Charles Taylor. Each thinker contributes in different ways to the attempt to think beyond the terms of the modern liberal order and its account of politics and political authority. In particular the course will examine four main issues:

1. What is liberalism: is it a political doctrine or a philosophical viewpoint?

2. What is political theology?

3. Is political and philosophical liberalism set-undermining?

4. What would the politics of a post liberal future look like? 

20 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

The course will be taught on 10 weekly two-hour seminars. The seminars will be largely student led but with occasional introductory mini-lectures as appropriate. The formative/oral tutorial will be in addition to the regular timetabled classes. 

Essay (1500 words) in Winter Term Week 7.

A 1,500-word formative essay plan for the summative essay.

Paul Kelly, Against Postliberalism, Polity 2025.

Matt Sleat, Postliberalism, 2025.

Carl Schmitt, Political Theology, Chicago 2006.

Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, Oxford 1962.

Simone Weil, The Need for Roots, London 2023.

Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition, Chicago 2018.

Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue, London, 1980.

Charles Taylor, The Secular Age, Cambridge, 2007.

Essay (100%, 5000 words) in Spring Term Week 1.

A 5,000-word summative essay following a tutorial and oral discussion of the formative plan.

Candidates should be aware that an oral exam (viva) may be required of candidates following assessment of written work.