The Legal and Political Theory Working Group was founded in 2002 when a few researchers met to discuss their papers. Its aim is to provide both established academics and PhD researchers an opportunity to discuss and improve their theoretically-oriented work within a friendly yet academically rigorous setting. A typical session lasts two hours and consists of a short (20/30 minute) presentation by the speaker followed by discussion. One of the working group’s most cherished traits is its openness; we are proud to have been the hub of theoretically-minded people at the EUI for so many years and to have successfully bridged the cleavages between EUI’s departments and academic traditions.
If your research orbits around any facet of legal or political theory, or if you believe your work stands to gain from theoretical insights, we encourage you to reach out to us at legal.theory@eui.eu. We actively promote critical engagement with theory and aspire to cultivate an environment conducive to profound discussions encompassing critical, normative, and overarching theoretical inquiries. Furthermore, we remain committed to orchestrating round-table discussions and presentations, fostering a dynamic and ever-evolving platform for the advancement of theoretical discourse.
Events in Academic Year 2025-2026
- Nicholas Poole, Justified and vindicated? The Case for Political Heautonomy in Political Ethics. 28.05.2026
- Katharina Pistor, The Law of Capitalism and How to Transform It. 13.05.2026 (together with ILWG and MWP)
- Rutger Claassen, Business Corporation as Co-Sovereigns. 20.04.2026
- Jitka Štollová, Václav Havel and the power of the phrase. 10.04.2026
Upcoming events in Academic Year 2026/2027
- Aris Trantidis, The Paradox of Inclusion: Plato, Eco-Authoritarianism, and Climate Democracy. 23.10.2026 (register here).