The University of Nottingham

After a long and distinguished career at the University of Oxford, Professor Michael Freeden is joining The University of Nottingham’s School of Politics and International Relations for a fresh challenge.

And it’s a case of Oxford’s loss being Nottingham’s gain as Professor Freeden is one of the leading figures in the field of political ideology. Professor Freeden will take up a three-year part-time Chair in Political Theory from January 1 2013.

Professor Freeden said: “I was looking for a new academic challenge and environment after completing a long career at Oxford University and was delighted to have been approached by a first-class university such as Nottingham.

“I regard starting next month as a new stage in my career in an exciting working environment. I hope to initiate a number of research and learning activities and to organise projects on ideologies, on conceptual history and on the study of actual political thinking. I will also begin work on a new book on liberalism that I have been commissioned to write.”

Career highlights

Professor Freeden’s career highlights include founding the Journal of Political Ideologies and his 1996 publication Ideologies and Political Theories: A Conceptual Approach. He was also founder and director of the University of Oxford’s Centre for Political Ideologies.

In addition to research, Professor Freeden is keen to engage with the School’s students. He said: “Working with students is always one of the most enjoyable and invigorating aspects of academic life. The give and take with students is indispensible to honing one’s critical faculties and to trying out ideas.

“There have been countless occasions when I have learnt from students’ analyses and consequently improved my own understanding. Academics need that particular kind of freshness and enthusiasm to prevent them from sinking into routine and to encourage then to question their own assumptions.”

Welcoming Professor Freeden to Nottingham

Dr Mathew Humphrey, Head of the School of Politics and International Relations, said: “Michael Freeden is the world’s leading scholar in the field of political ideology, and a hugely distinguished academic in his field. This is a stand-out appointment, which adds to the growing attractiveness and reputation of the School as a premier outlet for politics research and teaching in the UK.

“The School has an excellent research environment but we are not resting on our laurels. Professor Freeden’s appointment enhances the environment as we orientate a significant proportion of our activity towards ‘practical politics’.”