Intellectual Focus
The social, economic, institutional and ideological bases of politics, and the interaction of states and societies. Social and political movements, especially the comparative, historical and contemporary study of labour movements and the left. Political power and ideas. Political and economic democracy. International regulation and risk. Fundamental social and political change.
Key members of cluster
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Robin Archer, Reader in Political Sociology: Political sociology, especially the comparative study of labour movements and social democratic politics, political institutions and culture especially in the United states, and political philosophy, especially liberalism and socialism and democracy.
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Manali Desai, Lecturer in Political Sociology: Political parties and social movements, welfare regimes in the third world, neoliberalism and citizenship, post-colonial state formation, ethnic violence and the politics of ethnicity, historical methodology, India.
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Christopher Husbands, Reader in Sociology: Politics and Society in Britain and Western Europe, especially racist and far right political parties; treatment of German-origin academics in Great Britain at the time of the First World War; history of British sociology and its relation to the State
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Claire Moon, Lecturer in the Sociology of Human Rights: Transitional justice, political reconciliation, therapeutic responses to the trauma of war and atrocity
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Dr Alasdair Cochrane: human rights; theories of rights; contemporary political theory; environmentalism; animal rights; and bioethics.
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Nikolas Rose, Martin White Professor of Sociology: Changing rationalities and technologies of political power; knowledge, power, space and subjectivity; law and government.
Esteem
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Archer: Visiting Fellow Princeton University, Department of History, March 2001 - September 2002; Visiting Fellow, Columbia University, Department of Political Science, March 2001 - September 2002; Visiting Fellow, Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna, October 2003 - September 2004. Emeritus Fellow, Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, from 2004. Prestigious international public lectures: Institut fur die Wissenschaften vom Menschen (Institute for Human Sciences), Vienna, 'The Conservatism of the Left' 2004; University of Vienna, Department of History, 'Why is there No Labor Party in the United States?' 2004; Princeton University, Department of History, 'Race and Labor Politics' 2002; University of Pittsburgh, Departments of Government and History, 'State Repression and Labor Party Politics', 2002; Columbia University, Department of Political Science, 'Liberalism and Labor Politics in Late Nineteenth Century America', 2001.
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Rose: Invited keynotes in Copenhagen, Concordia (Montreal); Fudan (Shanghai); review grants for the Economic and Social Research Council, the Australian Research Council, and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada as well as for various other research funders; Member of the Advisory Committee for the ESRC 'Virtual Society?' programme; Chair of the Advisory Board for the ESRC Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change (Manchester), and a Member of the Advisory of the Institute for Advanced Study at Durham University. Managing Editor of Economy and Society, 1998-2004 and member of the Editorial Board 1994 to present.
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Husbands: Associate Editor of Ethnic and Racial Studies.
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Moon: Reviewer for Global Society, Journal of Intercultural Studies, British Journal of Sociology, and Journal of Peace Research.
Research students
There are currently 6 PhD working in this area. 2 new PhD students have been accepted for next year, and other applicants are under consideration.
Linked Masters Programme
The MSc Political Sociology is a well-established program. Many of the students on the program apply after a number of years experience of public life or social movements, and they bring invaluable first had experience of politics in a wide range of different countries. The program attracts some exceptional students, and one or two go on to do a PhD each year.
Funded research
AHRB research leave award for two terms replacement teaching (2001-2) and Mellon Fund grant (2003) for RA. British Academy grant (2006) for CH.
Outreach
The research seminar in political sociology provides both a forum for PhD students to discuss their work, and an opportunity to invite speakers to discuss some of the latest work in this area. Occasional prominent speakers draw wider attention to the work of the cluster.
Future strategy
We plan to develop the work of the cluster by: (a) gradually building up the number of doctoral students working in this area over the next three or four years, (b) exploring the possibility of attracting one or more postdoctoral fellows, and (c) strengthening our relationship with prominent political sociologists in Britain and overseas who already have ties to the LSE and the department.