Political Theory Archives

AnalysesPolitical Theory

Neoliberalism is a political ideology that, in its most “kindly” interpretation, places economic freedom at the center, as both the key and foundation for all other freedoms. Since the 1970s, it has taken shape through a set of principles, especially in economic policy, applied with varying degrees of intensity and consistency by nearly every country in the world.

PublicationsPolitical Theory

Contemporary democracies face an era of mounting pressure: authoritarian drift, digital disruption, a crisis of representation, and eroding trust in institutions. This is not a passing downturn but a structural transformation threatening the foundations of democratic governance. Born out of the 2025 Venice Seminars, this volume asks a defining question: can democracy’s malaise be addressed within the liberal paradigm, or does it demand a more radical rethinking? Its contributors examine the resources of political liberalism alongside post-liberal alternatives grounded in community, ethics, and political order. The debate remains open — and essential.

Our Initiatives Political Theory

The current political situation in Post-Soviet countries, primarily the Russian Federation, raises questions about the cultural roots of today’s prevailing nationalist political ideologies and behaviours. The international scientific community has to overcome the lack of knowledge about Russia’s Post-Soviet history, also in order to avoid the sheer repetition of old clichés – liberal -western opinions versus a despotic-eastern world

Videos Political Theory

Political scientist Claus Leggewie reflects on the transformation of democratic discontent into what he describes as a “right-wing radical” assault on liberal institutions, while also exploring possible democratic responses rooted in civic participation and institutional reform.

ConveningPolitical Theory

June

2026

University of Milano-Bicocca

This conference critically engages with Seyla Benhabib’s book “At the Margins of the Modern State. Critical Theory and Law,” interrogating tensions between universalism and exclusion in contemporary political and legal orders. Can democracy be normatively and institutionally reconstructed in an age of polycrisis, fractured sovereignty, and the transformation of the public sphere? Under what conditions is democracy still possible today? These are central questions that will be at the core of the two-day debate.

May

2026

Venice International University

The Seminars will explore the relationship between civic virtue, character formation, and public ethics at a moment when liberal democracies face growing pressure from autocratic forces. They will consider how virtuous leaders and communities emerge, which social mechanisms foster ethical behavior, and how religious and secular traditions shape character.

January

2025

Rome, Italy

This international conference will address the critical challenges facing liberal democracies. It will explore their failure to respond effectively to the anxieties and needs of citizens grappling with globalization, precarious employment, demographic changes, and social dislocation. These issues, amplified by populist rhetoric and the perceived indifference of liberal elites, have led to growing polarization, weakened societal cohesion, and ideological stagnation in politics.