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Power, freedom, and justice: rethinking Foucault

Hosted by the Hayek Programme in Economics and Liberal Political Economy

In-person and online public event (Auditorium, Centre Building)

Speakers

Professor Mark Pennington

Professor Mark Pennington

Dr Paola Romero

Dr Paola Romero

Chair

Professor Sir Tim Besley

Professor Sir Tim Besley

Join us for an engaging lecture as we explore the themes of power, freedom, and justice through the lens of Michel Foucault’s ideas.

Political economist Mark Pennington will discuss his new book which offers a fresh perspective on how Foucault's critical social theories can be applied to contemporary issues such as inequality, public health, environmental sustainability, and criminal justice. This event will shed light on how Foucault’s insights into power and knowledge can help us understand and challenge the systems that shape our society. Pennington’s interpretation provides a unique dialogue between Foucault’s work and the quest for social justice, highlighting the ways in which we can address the complexities of modern governance and create a more just and free society. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of power, freedom, and social change.

Meet our speakers and chair

Mark Pennington (@Kaleidicworld) has been Professor of Political Economy and Public Policy in the Department of Political Economy since January 2012 and was Head of Department between 2016 and 2020. Prior to joining King’s he taught for 12 years in the School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary, University of London. He holds a PhD from LSE and Political Science. Mark is currently Director of the Centre for the Study of Governance and Society.

Paola Romero is a guest teacher in the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at LSE. Her research is in political philosophy, specifically on Kant’s theory of the state. 

Tim Besley is School Professor of Economics and Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics in the Department of Economics at LSE. He is also a member of the National Infrastructure Commission. He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and British Academy and a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Economic Association and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His main research interests are in political economy and development.

More about this event

This event will be available to watch on LSE Live. LSE Live is the new home for our live streams, allowing you to tune in and join the global debate at LSE, wherever you are in the world. If you can't attend live, a video will be made available shortly afterwards on LSE's YouTube channel.

Modern economic thinking needs to reaffirm and engage with sound Hayekian ideas in this age of global interconnectedness, when the world is coming to grips with multitude of challenges, including global pandemic, climate change, social inequities and inequalities, and politico-media complex. This can only be achieved through fostering dialogue among stakeholders, which include researchers, policymakers, experts, and key decision-makers. The Hayek Programme in Economics and Liberal Political Economy at LSE provides a space where this dialogue can happen. This programme aims to contribute to the research and public debate suited to the demands of 21st Century.

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From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.

How can I attend? Add to calendar

This public event is free and open to all. This event will be a hybrid event, with an in-person audience and an online audience. 

For the in-person event: No ticket or pre-registration is required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For any queries see LSE Events FAQ.

For the online event: Registration for this event will open in the first half of January.

For any queries email events@lse.ac.uk.

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