Centre for Political Theory and Global Justice (CPGJ)

The Centre for Political Theory and Global Justice was established in 2011 in order to focus and deepen the role of political theory in responding to global issues of human coexistence.

Central to the mission of CPGJ has been the promotion of research that deploys and examines dominant philosophical paradigms in the areas of political thought and international political theory. The Centre is particularly interested in issues relating to debates about global justice and how political theory can help inform actual political practice and policy. The Centre welcomes and encourages research from all theoretical traditions and provides a distinctive opportunity for researchers to develop their interests in a supportive and intellectually diverse environment.

Our Aims

• To promote and develop leading research relating to issues of global justice, human cohabitation and global collective action problems.
• To develop a research agenda designed to address the changing role and nature of political theory in contemporary political studies.
• To explore the practical manifestations of theoretical and ideological frameworks in formulating public policy.

Excellence Through Cooperation

• Members come from a range of disciplines and approaches. Our members
• We retain close working links with other institutions and research centres such as: The White Rose Association of Political Philosophy; the Centre for Peace History; AHRC Comparative Theory Workshop Network (Nehru University India, Peking University China, Columbia University USA and Oxford University); the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy; European Council on Foreign Relations; Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP); and with other research groups at the University of Durham, Oxford University and the London School of Economics.
• We encourage interdisciplinary cooperation and research with a strong commitment to relating normative theory to practical concerns.
• We encourage development in political theory at the MA and PhD level, establishing the MA in Political Theory (joint with Philosophy Department); the MA in Global Politics and Law (joint with the Law Department); and the MA in Global Justice.

CPGJ Research Group and Seminar Series

The Centre for Political Theory and Global Justice research seminar brings together academics, research students and MA students working in the areas of political theory, international relations theory, international legal theory, philosophy and global ethics to create a vibrant and exciting research community. The series meets eight times per year and involves the presentation of current research by external speakers, departmental staff and doctoral students nearing the completion of their projects. More about seminars

CPGJ Howard Warrender Annual Public Lecture Series

The Centre for Political Theory and Global Justice also organises the annual Warrender Public Lecture in which an external speaker of international reputation is invited to present a lecture on a current global debate. Past speakers have included:

• Professor Carol Pateman (University of California Los Angeles)
• Professor Allen Buchanan (Duke University)
• Professor Robert Keohane (Princeton University)
• Professor David Miller (Oxford University)
• Professor Michael Doyle (Columbia University)
• Professor David Held (Durham)
• Professor Anne Phillips (London School of Economics)

CPGJ Past Conferences

• ‘Ideologies and the Human Science’ (2003)
• ‘Utopianism and Ideology’ (2005)
• ‘Lineages of Empire’ (2006)
• ‘The Future of Equality’ (2007)
• ‘Fidelity to International Law and to Constitutionalism (2008)
• ‘Comparative Political Thought’ (2008)
• ‘The Idea of a Global Citizen’ (2009)
• ‘Risk, Perceptions of Risk and Global Health: Challenges to Global Health Governance’ (2010)
• ‘The Future of Political Theory’ (2010)

CPGJ Special Workshops

• (2007) ‘The Politics of Recognition and the Dynamics of Social Conflict’
• (2008) ‘International Law and Global Constitutionalism’ – Lead by Professor Allen Buchanan (Duke University, USA).
• (2009) ‘Critiques of Global Citizenship’ – Lead by Professor David Miller (Oxford). Participants included, Dr. Luis Cabrera, Professor Leif Wenar, Professor Richard Beardsworth, Professor Robert Fine and CPGJ members.
• (2010) ‘Is Liberal International Thought Imperialist and European’ – Round table discussion between Professor John M. Hobson (Politics), Dr. Garrett Wallace Brown (Politics) and Dr. Russell Buchan (Law Department).
• (2010) ‘Legitimacy and the Role of Global Governance’ – Round table discussion between Professor Robert Keohane (Princeton), Professor Anthony McGrew (Southampton) and Dr. Garrett Wallace Brown (Sheffield).