Political Theory
Short description
Political theory is a branch of political science that seeks to understand and analyze the fundamental ideas behind politics and governance. It addresses questions about justice, power, freedom, responsibility, and democracy – what these concepts mean, how they can be justified, and how they should be applied in practice. Political theory thus lies at the intersection of philosophy and politics, exploring not only how society is, but how it ought to be.
Our research
Our research explores the balance between responsibility and justice – that is, how far individuals can or should be held accountable for their choices, and how this shapes our understanding of a fair distribution of society’s resources.
We also study the values and qualities that strengthen citizens in a liberal society, and how political systems can be designed to support a just and sustainable use of the earth’s resources. Our work examines who should bear the greatest responsibility for the costs of climate change, the role of truth claims in democracy, and how value conflicts can be managed in multicultural societies. In addition, we study how social norms emerge, change, and influence the ways people live together.
The Political Theory Research (PTR) Seminar
The Department of Political Science holds regular seminars in political theory, where members of the department and invited researchers present their work and discuss current topics.
The General Research Seminar (AFS)
Seminars in political theory are also a recurring feature of the Department of Political Science’s general research seminar.
Ongoing research
Recently finalized projects
Professors, Associate Professors
Göran Duus-Otterström, Professor.
Normative political theory: the justification of punishment and climate justice.
Lina Eriksson, Professor.
Positive political theory: social norms and rational choice.
Normative political theory: justice, climate justice.
Epistemology.
Henrik Friberg-Fernros, Associate Professor.
Politics and bioethics, humanitarian interventions, deliberative democratic theory, and (value) education based on scientific foundations. Truth and political liberalism, as well as the handling of arguments in political debate.
