Applied Political Theory

The Applied Political Theory theme encompasses work that examines, refines, and applies the normative ideas invoked by broadly liberal people. Its distinctive focus is on the application of liberal ideas to present-day problems encountered by liberal states.

Recent and current work includes detailed examinations of global distributive justice, choice and effects of political institutions, climate change, the place of justice between generations, the legitimacy of international organisations, and the constraints on military action. The purpose of the theme is to encourage a philosophically-informed engagement with puzzles thrown up by the practice of modern government.

The theme draws its methods and materials from a variety of sub-disciplines, including analytic moral philosophy, the history of political theory, comparative politics, and liberal and critical IR theory; the shared concern with liberal ideas does not exclude an interest in Marxist and other historicist critiques.

 

See also The Centre for Political Theory