Professor Simon Hix joins the School of Public Policy

LSE School of Public Policy (SPP) is delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Hix as Professor of Political Science, joining in January 2027.

Professor Hix is one of Europe's leading political scientists, with expertise in comparative politics, legislative behaviour, electoral systems, and the politics of the European Union. His work has been published in the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, the British Journal of Political Science, and the Journal of Politics, among many others. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and President-Elect of the European Political Science Society.

Professor Hix also has extensive knowledge and experience of LSE, both as an academic and as a student, having studied for his undergraduate and master’s degrees here. He returns to LSE after holding the Stein Rokkan Chair in Comparative Politics at the European University Institute in Florence. He previously served LSE as Harold Laski Professor of Political Science, Head of the Department of Government, Academic Director of the School of Public Policy, and Vice President (Pro-Director) for Research. He played an integral role in establishing the School of Public Policy. He has supervised over 50 doctoral students, many of whom now hold academic positions at leading universities worldwide.

Commenting on his new appointment Professor Hix said: "I am thrilled to be coming back to LSE and joining the School of Public Policy. I have spent my career trying to understand how democratic institutions can be designed to work better for citizens, and SPP is the ideal place to connect that research to the real challenges facing policy-makers today. I look forward to working with the outstanding faculty and students here."

Professor Hix's research has combined rigorous quantitative analysis with real-world policy engagement. His book Democratic Politics in the European Parliament (with Abdul Noury and Gérard Roland) won the APSA Fenno Prize for best book in legislative studies, and his widely cited work on the EU's democratic deficit has shaped scholarly and public debate on institutional reform. He co‑founded VoteWatch.eu, helped develop voter‑advice tools used across Europe, and has provided expert evidence to the UK House of Commons, the House of Lords, the European Parliament, and the Argentine Chamber of Deputies. As a specialist on electoral system and parliamentary design worldwide, he brings deep practical experience that will directly inform his teaching to SPP students on how to design democratic institutions.

On Professor Hix’s appointment, SPP Dean Andrés Velasco said: “I am delighted to welcome Professor Hix back to the LSE and the SPP. At a time of global volatility and political complexity, we welcome his expertise in rigorous academic analysis and his extensive experience with real-world engagement. They will both strengthen our mission to understand the cause of things and equip future leaders with the tools to build a better future.”

We look forward to welcoming Professor Hix to SPP in January. You can learn more about his work on his personal website.