Are revolutions ever justified? Lea Ypi delivers a thought-provoking inaugural lecture at LSE
The School of Public Policy recently partnered with LSE Law School to host the inaugural lecture by Professor Lea Ypi which centred on a bold and enduring question: are revolutions ever justified?
Attracting a large audience in person and online, the event marked Professor Ypi’s inaugural lecture as Ralph Miliband Professor in Politics and Philosophy at LSE. She was joined on stage by Professor Andrew Murray, Dean of LSE Law School, with Professor Andrés Velasco, Dean of the School of Public Policy, moderating the discussion.
In a wide-ranging and thought-provoking talk, Professor Ypi revisited classic moral and legal debates about revolution, challenging the audience to look beyond familiar positions. Rather than judging revolutions solely by their goals or condemning them purely for their methods, she offered a broader perspective grounded in ideas of collective progress and historical change. Her lecture encouraged listeners to reflect on how political transformation unfolds over time, and how societies make sense of moments of deep rupture and renewal.
Dean Andrés Velasco emphasised the importance of conversations that bridge political theory, law and public policy, highlighting how events like this create space for deeper reflection on the forces shaping our political world.
The on-stage discussion set the stage for a lively and wide-ranging Q&A from the audience, inviting questions from students, academics and members of the public touching on democracy, legitimacy and the responsibilities of citizens and leaders in times of political crisis. The event drew notable guests, including David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee, adding to an evening rich in intellectual exchange.
The School of Public Policy was delighted to collaborate with LSE Law School on an evening that combined rigorous scholarship with open, engaged debate on one of the most challenging questions in political life.