A common thread linking much of his research work is a focus on the political uses of utopian thinking and imagination. Whereas many defenders and critics of utopianism alike have tended to conceive of utopia primarily as a transcendent and fixed 'ought' opposed to the 'is' of political reality and the 'was' of social history, he has argued in a wide range of journal articles and books that it may also be understood as an empirically grounded, dynamic and open-ended feature of the 'real world' of history and politics representing the hopes and dreams of those consigned to its margins. In 2005, for example, he and Prof. Peter Stillman (Vassar College, USA) published the first collection of original essays devoted to the new utopian politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's multiple award-winning anarchist utopian novel The Dispossessed (1974). His own contribution argued that the novel is an achieved example of something that many defenders and critics of utopia alike have difficulty even imagining: namely, a genuinely dynamic and revolutionary utopia premised on an acceptance of the enduring reality of social conflict and historical change. More recently, he collaborated with Prof. Ruth Kinna (Loughborough University, UK) to assemble the first collection of original essays to explore the relationship between the anarchist and utopian traditions, focusing particularly on the ways in which their long historical interaction from the Warring States epoch of ancient China to the present time has proven fruitful for emancipatory politics. Among the most notable findings of this wide-ranging analysis of ideas, literary texts, social movements, and communal experiments is that in stark contrast to the rationally fixed and transcendent utopias associated with escapism and/or domination, nearly all of the anarchist or anarchistic utopias examined are focused first and foremost on transforming the present as part of an organic process in which already existing historical tendencies are nurtured and built upon. Most of them call into question modern conceptions of progress, and recall the organic communities of the premodern past and the dissident present in order to inspire and inform contemporary libertarian struggles for a more humane future. They affirm the reality and worth of those natural and cultural forces that are the devalued and rejected 'other' of civilized domination, and in their nonliterary forms frequently exemplify a 'prefigurative' form of direct action politics demonstrating that libertarian utopias are not only eminently desirable but also immediately realizable.
Drawing on this and related research, including contemporary ecological, anti-capitalist, indigenous, degrowth, feminist, queer, and post-colonial perspectives, Dr. Davis is currently completing a research project (including a scholarly book manuscript, journal articles, and a series of book chapters) on the theme of 'Grounded Utopianism', emphasizing especially the differences between utopias associated with the imagination of and/or quest for perfection in some impossible future (transcendent utopia), and those associated with the encouragement of greater imaginative awareness of neglected or suppressed possibilities for qualitatively better forms of living latent in the present (grounded utopia).
Dr. Davis formerly served as Director of the Department's PhD programme. He welcomes applications from prospective PhD students in any area of radical political thought. Proposals focusing on anarchist studies, utopian studies, Indigenous politics, contemporary ecological and anti-capitalist politics, democratic and revolutionary theory, feminist and queer theory, or the politics of love and radical/revolutionary transformation are particularly welcome. So, too, are proposals that combine theory and practice, academic rigour and the insights of contemporary activism. More information about the PhD in Government and Politics programme, including application procedures and sources of financial support, may be found on the PhD page of the Government and Politics Department website. Informal queries are also very welcome, and may be sent to Dr. Davis at l.davis@ucc.ie.
Current teaching
2016-GV1204: Democracy, Ideology and Utopia
2016-GV3215: Politics of the United States of America
2016-GV3216: Contemporary Ecological and Anti-Capitalist Politics
2016-GV4409: Political Ideologies and Social Change
2016-GV6103: Re-Imagining Democratic Politics in a Changing World
Biography
Dr. Laurence Davis is College Lecturer and Director of the BSc Government and Political Science in the Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork, where he works in the areas of political theory and philosophy, political ideologies, and U.S. politics. He has published widely on political theory and ideologies, with particular expertise in radical political thought, including anarchist and utopian studies, democratic and revolutionary theory, and the politics of art, work, ecology, love, and social change. Dr. Davis is a Series Editor of the Manchester University Press Contemporary Anarchist Studies book series and a founding member and current co-convenor of the U.K. Anarchist Studies Network. He has taught politics at a range of universities in the U.K. and Ireland, including Oxford University, Ruskin College, University College Dublin, the National University of Ireland Galway and the National University of Ireland Maynooth, where he co-created the innovative MA in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism. Active over many years in a wide variety of community organisations and grassroots social movements, his research and teaching work on the politics of social change is firmly practice-grounded. His leadership in the areas of equality and social justice is also reflected in his commitments at University College Cork, where he is an active member of the University Equality Committee, the University's LGBT+ Staff Liaison Officer, and a UCC representative on the national Steering Committee of Scholars at Risk. He has served as Chair of the UCC LGBT+ Staff Network, a member of the Main Steering Group of Athena SWAN, and as an IFUT UCC Branch Committee Member and National Council delegate. Dr. Davis earned his B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University in New York, and his D.Phil. in Politics from Oxford University.
Research Interests
Dr. Davis specialises in political theory and ideologies, with a particular expertise in radical political thought. He has published widely in these areas, including on anarchist and utopian studies, democratic and revolutionary theory, and the politics of art and literature, work, love, ecology, and social change. Active in a wide range of international research networks, he has longstanding experience of presenting his research work at international conferences (100+ paper, keynote and invited presentations to date) and of successful interdisciplinary research collaboration resulting in publications in the highest quality peer-reviewed academic journals and books. He has also held numerous leadership positions in his fields of research expertise, including serving since 2006 as an elected member of the steering committee of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, and founding and driving forward the first peer reviewed book series in anarchist studies by a major academic publisher, namely the widely praised (see reviews here) Contemporary Anarchist Studies monograph series formerly published by Bloomsbury Press and acquired in 2015 by Manchester University Press.A common thread linking much of his research work is a focus on the political uses of utopian thinking and imagination. Whereas many defenders and critics of utopianism alike have tended to conceive of utopia primarily as a transcendent and fixed 'ought' opposed to the 'is' of political reality and the 'was' of social history, he has argued in a wide range of journal articles and books that it may also be understood as an empirically grounded, dynamic and open-ended feature of the 'real world' of history and politics representing the hopes and dreams of those consigned to its margins. In 2005, for example, he and Prof. Peter Stillman (Vassar College, USA) published the first collection of original essays devoted to the new utopian politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's multiple award-winning anarchist utopian novel The Dispossessed (1974). His own contribution argued that the novel is an achieved example of something that many defenders and critics of utopia alike have difficulty even imagining: namely, a genuinely dynamic and revolutionary utopia premised on an acceptance of the enduring reality of social conflict and historical change. More recently, he collaborated with Prof. Ruth Kinna (Loughborough University, UK) to assemble the first collection of original essays to explore the relationship between the anarchist and utopian traditions, focusing particularly on the ways in which their long historical interaction from the Warring States epoch of ancient China to the present time has proven fruitful for emancipatory politics. Among the most notable findings of this wide-ranging analysis of ideas, literary texts, social movements, and communal experiments is that in stark contrast to the rationally fixed and transcendent utopias associated with escapism and/or domination, nearly all of the anarchist or anarchistic utopias examined are focused first and foremost on transforming the present as part of an organic process in which already existing historical tendencies are nurtured and built upon. Most of them call into question modern conceptions of progress, and recall the organic communities of the premodern past and the dissident present in order to inspire and inform contemporary libertarian struggles for a more humane future. They affirm the reality and worth of those natural and cultural forces that are the devalued and rejected 'other' of civilized domination, and in their nonliterary forms frequently exemplify a 'prefigurative' form of direct action politics demonstrating that libertarian utopias are not only eminently desirable but also immediately realizable.
Drawing on this and related research, including contemporary ecological, anti-capitalist, indigenous, degrowth, feminist, queer, and post-colonial perspectives, Dr. Davis is currently completing a research project (including a scholarly book manuscript, journal articles, and a series of book chapters) on the theme of 'Grounded Utopianism', emphasizing especially the differences between utopias associated with the imagination of and/or quest for perfection in some impossible future (transcendent utopia), and those associated with the encouragement of greater imaginative awareness of neglected or suppressed possibilities for qualitatively better forms of living latent in the present (grounded utopia).
Publications
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2021) | 'Anarchism and the Politics of Utopia' Laurence Davis (2021) 'Anarchism and the Politics of Utopia' In: Peter Marks, Fatima Vieira, and Jennifer Wagner Lawlor (eds). The Palgrave Handbook of Utopian and Dystopian Literatures. Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Individual and Community' Laurence Davis (2018) 'Individual and Community' In: Carl Levy and Matthew Adams (eds). The Palgrave Handbook of Anarchism. Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'Utopia' Laurence Davis (2016) 'Utopia' In: Kathrin Fahlenbrach, Martin Klimke, and Joachim Scharloth (eds). Protest Cultures: A Companion. New York and Oxford: Berghahn. [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Anarchism' Laurence Davis (2014) 'Anarchism' In: Vincent Geoghegan and Rick Wilford (eds). Political Ideologies: An Introduction, 4th edition. London: Routledge. [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Anarchism and the Future of Revolution' Laurence Davis (2014) 'Anarchism and the Future of Revolution' In: Ruth Kinna (eds). The Continuum Companion to Anarchism. London and New York: Continuum Press. [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Everyone an Artist: Art, Labour, Anarchy, and Utopia' Laurence Davis (2014) 'Everyone an Artist: Art, Labour, Anarchy, and Utopia' In: Laurence Davis and Ruth Kinna (eds). Anarchism and Utopianism. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Introduction' Laurence Davis (2014) 'Introduction' In: Laurence Davis and Ruth Kinna (eds). Anarchism and Utopianism. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details] | |
| (2013) | 'Dystopia, Utopia and Sancho Panza' Laurence Davis (2013) 'Dystopia, Utopia and Sancho Panza' In: Fatima Vieira (eds). Dystopia(n) Matters: On the Page, on Screen, on Stage. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Press. [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Love and Revolution in Ursula Le Guin's Four Ways to Forgiveness' Laurence Davis (2012) 'Love and Revolution in Ursula Le Guin's Four Ways to Forgiveness' In: Jamie Heckert and Richard Cleminson (eds). Anarchism and Sexuality: Ethics, Relationships and Power. New York and Abingdon: Routledge. [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'True Journey is Return: Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed' Laurence Davis and Peter Stillman (2012) 'True Journey is Return: Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed' In: J.C. Davis and Miguel Angel Ramiro Aviles (eds). Utopian Moments: Reading Utopian Texts. London: Bloomsbury Academic. [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'History, Politics and Utopia: Toward a Synthesis of Social Theory and Practice' Laurence Davis (2011) 'History, Politics and Utopia: Toward a Synthesis of Social Theory and Practice' In: Patricia Vieira and Michael Marder (eds). Existential Utopia: New Perspectives on Utopian Thought. London and New York: Continuum Press. [Details] | |
| (2005) | 'The Dynamic and Revolutionary Utopia of Ursula K. Le Guin' Laurence Davis (2005) 'The Dynamic and Revolutionary Utopia of Ursula K. Le Guin' In: Laurence Davis and Peter Stillman (eds). The New Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. [Details] | |
| (2005) | 'Introduction' Laurence Davis (2005) 'Introduction' In: Laurence Davis and Peter Stillman (eds). The New Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. [Details] | |
| (2001) | 'Isaiah Berlin, William Morris, and the Politics of Utopia' Laurence Davis (2001) 'Isaiah Berlin, William Morris, and the Politics of Utopia' In: Barbara Goodwin (eds). The Philosophy of Utopia. London: Frank Cass. [Details] |
Edited Books
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2014) | Anarchism and Utopianism Laurence Davis and Ruth Kinna (Ed.). (2014) Anarchism and Utopianism Anarchism and Utopianism. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details] | |
| (2005) | The New Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed Laurence Davis and Peter Stillman (Ed.). (2005) The New Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed The New Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2020) | 'Anarchist Democracy and the Ideal of Communal Individuality' Laurence Davis (2020) 'Anarchist Democracy and the Ideal of Communal Individuality'. Theory In Action, 13 (1):70-79 [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Anarchism and the Rewilding of Utopia' Laurence Davis (2020) 'Anarchism and the Rewilding of Utopia'. MediAzioni, 27 :330-342 [Details] | |
| (2016) | '历史、政治与乌托邦—走向社会理论与实践的综合' Laurence Davis (2016) '历史、政治与乌托邦—走向社会理论与实践的综合'. Foreign Theoretical Trends, No.5 :18-29 [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'History, Politics, and Utopia: Toward a Synthesis of Social Theory and Practice' Laurence Davis (2010) 'History, Politics, and Utopia: Toward a Synthesis of Social Theory and Practice'. Journal of Contemporary thought, 31 (Summer):79-94 [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'Social Anarchism or Lifestyle Anarchism: An Unhelpful Dichotomy' Laurence Davis (2010) 'Social Anarchism or Lifestyle Anarchism: An Unhelpful Dichotomy'. Anarchist Studies, 18 (1):62-82 [Details] | |
| (2009) | 'Morris, Wilde, and Le Guin on Art, Work, and Utopia' Laurence Davis (2009) 'Morris, Wilde, and Le Guin on Art, Work, and Utopia'. Utopian Studies, 20 (2):213-248 [Details] | |
| (2000) | 'Isaiah Berlin, William Morris, and the Politics of Utopia' Laurence Davis (2000) 'Isaiah Berlin, William Morris, and the Politics of Utopia'. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 3 (2/3 (Summer/Autumn)):56-86 [Details] | |
| (1996) | 'Morris, Wilde, and Marx on the Social Preconditions of Individual Development' Laurence Davis (1996) 'Morris, Wilde, and Marx on the Social Preconditions of Individual Development'. Political Studies, 44 (4):719-732 [Details] |
Blog
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | 'Is Fascism making a comeback?', State of Nature, 4 December 2017: http://stateofnatureblog.com/one-question-fascism-part-two/. Laurence Davis (2017) 'Is Fascism making a comeback?', State of Nature, 4 December 2017: http://stateofnatureblog.com/one-question-fascism-part-two/. Blog [Details] |
Book Reviews
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2021) | Review of Political Uses of Utopia: New Marxist, Anarchist, and Radical Democratic Perspectives (New York: Columbia University Press, 2017), eds. S.D. Chrostowska and James D. Ingram, Utopian Studies, Volume 31, Number 3 (2021), 184-186. Laurence Davis (2021) Review of Political Uses of Utopia: New Marxist, Anarchist, and Radical Democratic Perspectives (New York: Columbia University Press, 2017), eds. S.D. Chrostowska and James D. Ingram, Utopian Studies, Volume 31, Number 3 (2021), 184-186. Book Reviews [Details] | |
| (2021) | Review of Journey Through Utopia (Oakland: PM Press, 2019), by Marie Louise Berneri, with a postscript by Kim Stanley Robinson, Utopian Studies, Volume 31, Number 3 (2021), 187-190. Laurence Davis (2021) Review of Journey Through Utopia (Oakland: PM Press, 2019), by Marie Louise Berneri, with a postscript by Kim Stanley Robinson, Utopian Studies, Volume 31, Number 3 (2021), 187-190. Book Reviews [Details] | |
| (2020) | Review of The Last Utopians: Four Late 19th Century Visionaries and Their Legacy (Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2018), by Michael Robertson, Nineteenth-Century Prose, Volume 47, Number 2 (Fall 2020), 212-217. Laurence Davis (2020) Review of The Last Utopians: Four Late 19th Century Visionaries and Their Legacy (Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2018), by Michael Robertson, Nineteenth-Century Prose, Volume 47, Number 2 (Fall 2020), 212-217. Book Reviews [Details] | |
| (2014) | Review of Utopia as Method: The Imaginary Reconstitution of Society (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), by Ruth Levitas, Utopian Studies, Volume 25, Number 1 (2014), 227-230. Laurence Davis (2014) Review of Utopia as Method: The Imaginary Reconstitution of Society (Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), by Ruth Levitas, Utopian Studies, Volume 25, Number 1 (2014), 227-230. Book Reviews [Details] | |
| (2008) | Review of Rebel Alliances: The Means and Ends of Contemporary British Anarchisms (Edinburgh and Oakland: AK/Dark Star, 2006), by Benjamin Franks, Anarchist Studies, Volume 16, Number 2 (2008), 186-188. Laurence Davis (2008) Review of Rebel Alliances: The Means and Ends of Contemporary British Anarchisms (Edinburgh and Oakland: AK/Dark Star, 2006), by Benjamin Franks, Anarchist Studies, Volume 16, Number 2 (2008), 186-188. Book Reviews [Details] |
Electronic Article
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | 'Only a bold and popular left radicalism can stop the rise of fascism', openDemocracy, 12 February 2017: https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/laurence-davis/only-bold-and-popular-left-radicalism-can-stop-rise-of-fascism. Laurence Davis (2017) 'Only a bold and popular left radicalism can stop the rise of fascism', openDemocracy, 12 February 2017: https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/laurence-davis/only-bold-and-popular-left-radicalism-can-stop-rise-of-fascism. Electronic Article [Details] |
Encyclopedia Entries
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2010) | 'William Morris', in George T. Kurian (ed.), Encyclopedia of Political Science. Laurence Davis (2010) 'William Morris', in George T. Kurian (ed.), Encyclopedia of Political Science. Washington, DC:CQ Press. Encyclopedia Entries. [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'Ideologies in Nineteenth Century Europe: Anarchism', in Alfred Andrea (ed.), World History Encyclopedia. Laurence Davis (2010) 'Ideologies in Nineteenth Century Europe: Anarchism', in Alfred Andrea (ed.), World History Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA:ABC-CLIO. Encyclopedia Entries. [Details] | |
| (2009) | 'The Abalone Alliance', in Immanuel Ness (ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest: 1500 to the Present. Laurence Davis (2009) 'The Abalone Alliance', in Immanuel Ness (ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest: 1500 to the Present. Oxford:Blackwell. Encyclopedia Entries. [Details] | |
| (2009) | 'Anarchism', in Gina Misiroglu (ed.), American Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History. Laurence Davis (2009) 'Anarchism', in Gina Misiroglu (ed.), American Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History. New York:M.E. Sharpe. Encyclopedia Entries. [Details] |
Newspaper Articles
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | 'More popular democracy is the only effective antidote to Trumpism', 15-16 November 2017, published in both The Cork Independent and UCC News and Views: https://www.ucc.ie/en/news/archive/2017/op-ed-more-popular-democracy-is-the-only-effective-antidote-to-trumpism.html and http://www.corkindependent.com/weekly/indopinion/articles/2017/11/15/4148583-more-popular-democracy-is-the-only-effective-antidote-to-trumpism/. Laurence Davis (2017) 'More popular democracy is the only effective antidote to Trumpism', 15-16 November 2017, published in both The Cork Independent and UCC News and Views: https://www.ucc.ie/en/news/archive/2017/op-ed-more-popular-democracy-is-the-only-effective-antidote-to-trumpism.html and http://www.corkindependent.com/weekly/indopinion/articles/2017/11/15/4148583-more-popular-democracy-is-the-only-effective-antidote-to-trumpism/. Newspaper Articles [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'President Trump and the new face of democracy', Irish Echo, 16-22 November 2016, p. 14. Laurence Davis (2016) 'President Trump and the new face of democracy', Irish Echo, 16-22 November 2016, p. 14. Newspaper Articles [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'Donald Trump's White House bid raises major questions about the future of democracy', Thejournal.ie, 1 October 2016: http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/trump-future-of-american-politics-3003716-Oct2016/. Laurence Davis (2016) 'Donald Trump's White House bid raises major questions about the future of democracy', Thejournal.ie, 1 October 2016: http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/trump-future-of-american-politics-3003716-Oct2016/. Newspaper Articles [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2015) | 'This referendum will be remembered as a victory for equality, democracy and love', Thejournal.ie, 24 May 2015: http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/referendum-victory-for-equality-democracy-and-love-2119506-May2015/. Laurence Davis (2015) 'This referendum will be remembered as a victory for equality, democracy and love', Thejournal.ie, 24 May 2015: http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/referendum-victory-for-equality-democracy-and-love-2119506-May2015/. Newspaper Articles [Details] | |
| (2015) | 'Marriage equality fight must be just the start', Evening Echo, 7 May 2015: http://pages.cdn.pagesuite.com/1/f/1f95f8ef-651c-45aa-8e88-03a74a5220b8/page.pdf. Laurence Davis (2015) 'Marriage equality fight must be just the start', Evening Echo, 7 May 2015: http://pages.cdn.pagesuite.com/1/f/1f95f8ef-651c-45aa-8e88-03a74a5220b8/page.pdf. Newspaper Articles [Details] | |
| (2015) | 'What we talk about when we talk about love equality', The Sunday Times, 22 March 2015: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/News/article1534603.ece. Laurence Davis (2015) 'What we talk about when we talk about love equality', The Sunday Times, 22 March 2015: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/News/article1534603.ece. Newspaper Articles [Details] | |
| (2015) | 'The fight for gay marriage is only the start of a long struggle', Irish Examiner, 19 February 2015: http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/the-fight-for-gay-marriage-is-only-the-start-of-a-long-struggle-313385.html. Laurence Davis (2015) 'The fight for gay marriage is only the start of a long struggle', Irish Examiner, 19 February 2015: http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/the-fight-for-gay-marriage-is-only-the-start-of-a-long-struggle-313385.html. Newspaper Articles [Details] |
Online Multimedia
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2016) | 'President Trump and the new face of democracy in America', University College Cork News and Views, 9 November 2016 (with link to 10 November 2016 RTE Morning Ireland radio interview on the election result): https://www.ucc.ie/en/news/archive/2016/op-ed-president-trump-and-the-new-face-of-democracy-in-america.html. Laurence Davis (2016) 'President Trump and the new face of democracy in America', University College Cork News and Views, 9 November 2016 (with link to 10 November 2016 RTE Morning Ireland radio interview on the election result): https://www.ucc.ie/en/news/archive/2016/op-ed-president-trump-and-the-new-face-of-democracy-in-america.html. Online Multimedia [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'Trump and the future of democracy', University College Cork News and Views, 3 October 2016 (with link to 30 September 2016 Newstalk FM radio interview with Sean Moncrieff on 'The Crisis of Democracy'): http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Moncrieff/Highlights_from_Moncrieff/160030/A_Crisis_of_Democracy and http://www.ucc.ie/en/about/uccnews/fullstory-708238-en.html. Laurence Davis (2016) 'Trump and the future of democracy', University College Cork News and Views, 3 October 2016 (with link to 30 September 2016 Newstalk FM radio interview with Sean Moncrieff on 'The Crisis of Democracy'): http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Moncrieff/Highlights_from_Moncrieff/160030/A_Crisis_of_Democracy and http://www.ucc.ie/en/about/uccnews/fullstory-708238-en.html. Online Multimedia [DOI] [Details] |
Video recording / TV
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | Speech delivered at the UCC LGBT Staff Network 10th anniversary celebration, YouTube, 9 November 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7cy9W-3CV0. Laurence Davis (2017) Speech delivered at the UCC LGBT Staff Network 10th anniversary celebration, YouTube, 9 November 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7cy9W-3CV0. Video recording / TV [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Visiting Fellow, Mansfield College, University of Oxford | Mansfield College, University of Oxford | |
| 2019 | Academic Visitor, St. Antony's College, University of Oxford | St. Antony's College, University of Oxford | |
| 2018 | Kenneth M. Roemer Innovative Course Design Award | The North American Society for Utopian Studies | |
| 2018 | CACSSS Research Support Fund Award | UCC CACSSS | |
| 2015 | High Impact Research Dissemination Support Scheme Grant | University College Cork College of Business and Law | |
| 2014 | Invited Member, Anarchism and (Homo)Sexuality Research Network | London School of Economics and Leeds University | |
| 2014 | High Impact Research Dissemination Support Scheme Grant | University College Cork College of Business and Law | |
| 2013 | High Impact Research Dissemination Support Scheme Grant | University College Cork College of Business and Law | |
| 2008 | Research Affiliate, EU Marie Curie Project on European Peace and Protest Movements Since 1945 | European Union Marie Curie Project | |
| 2008 | EU Marie Curie Conference and Training Grant | European Union | |
| 1999 | Millennium Research Fund Award | National University of Ireland, Galway | |
| 1998 | President's Research Award | University College Dublin | |
| 1992 | Training Bursary | Royal Historical Society, U.K. | |
| 1992 | Overseas Research Student Award | Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals in London |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Studies Association of Ireland | Member | 01-JAN-15 / | |
| Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom | Member | 01-JAN-15 / | |
| American Political Science Association | Member | 01-JAN-15 / |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2021) | Living in the End Times: Utopian and Dystopian Representations of Pandemics, Laurence Davis (2021) 'Keynote Lecture: The Angel and the Porcupine'. [Plenary Lecture], Living in the End Times: Utopian and Dystopian Representations of Pandemics, Cappadocia University, Turkey , 13-JAN-21 - 15-JAN-21. [Details] | |
| (2020) | Anarchist Studies Network 6th International Conference: Anarchy in Crisis, Laurence Davis (2020) 'Anarchism and the Rewilding of Utopia'. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Anarchist Studies Network 6th International Conference: Anarchy in Crisis, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK , 02-SEP-20 - 04-SEP-20. [Details] | |
| (2019) | 20th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe: Utopia, Dystopia and Climate Change, Laurence Davis (2019) 'Plenary Lecture: Anarchism and the Domestication of Utopia'. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 20th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe: Utopia, Dystopia and Climate Change, Monash University Prato Centre, Tuscany, Italy , 01-JUL-19 - 05-JUL-19. [Details] | |
| (2018) | 2018 Annual Millennium Conference: Resistance and Revolution in World Politics, Laurence Davis (2018) 'Anarchism and the Future of Revolution'. [Oral Presentation], 2018 Annual Millennium Conference: Resistance and Revolution in World Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science , 27-OCT-18 - 28-OCT-18. [Details] | |
| (2018) | Anarchist Studies Network 5th International Conference: Decolonize!, Laurence Davis (2018) 'Individual and Community in Anarchist Thought'. [Oral Presentation], Anarchist Studies Network 5th International Conference: Decolonize!, Loughborough University, UK , 12-SEP-18 - 14-SEP-18. [Details] | |
| (2018) | 6th International Degrowth Conference for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Laurence Davis (2018) 'Degrowth and Anarchism'. [Oral Presentation], 6th International Degrowth Conference for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Malmo, Sweden , 21-AUG-18 - 25-AUG-18. [Details] | |
| (2018) | 19th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society, Europe: In Search of New Harmonies, Laurence Davis (2018) 'Grounded Utopianism and Revolutionary Change'. [Oral Presentation], 19th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society, Europe: In Search of New Harmonies, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain , 09-JUL-18 - 12-JUL-18. [Details] | |
| (2018) | The Future of No Work? Critiques, Utopias, and Politics, Laurence Davis (2018) 'Invited Lecture: Imaginaries of Work in the Utopian Tradition'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], The Future of No Work? Critiques, Utopias, and Politics, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria , 17-MAY-18 - 17-MAY-18. [Details] | |
| (2017) | Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2017, Laurence Davis (2017) 'Populism and Popular Democracy in the Era of Trump'. [Oral Presentation], Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2017, Dublin City University . [Details] | |
| (2017) | Solidarity and Utopia: 18th Utopian Studies Society Europe Conference, Laurence Davis (2017) 'Democracy, Solidarity and Utopia in the Era of Trump'. [Oral Presentation], Solidarity and Utopia: 18th Utopian Studies Society Europe Conference, University of Gdansk, Poland . [Details] | |
| (2017) | Trump's America, Laurence Davis (2017) 'Progressive Populism in the Age of Trump'. [Oral Presentation], Trump's America, University College Dublin Clinton Institute . [Details] | |
| (2017) | Anarchism, Radicalism, Utopianism - Actors, Communes and Movements in Global History Perspectives, Laurence Davis (2017) 'Invited Seminar: Anarchism and Utopianism'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Anarchism, Radicalism, Utopianism - Actors, Communes and Movements in Global History Perspectives, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Konstanz, Germany . [Details] | |
| (2017) | 9th Annual UCC Journalism Society Conference, Laurence Davis (2017) 'Keynote Speaker: Politics and the Media'. [Keynote Speaker], 9th Annual UCC Journalism Society Conference, University College Cork . [Details] | |
| (2017) | Public Symposium on America in the Era of Trump, Laurence Davis (2017) 'The Politics of Populism'. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Public Symposium on America in the Era of Trump, University College Cork . [Details] | |
| (2016) | Seminar on Religion and Homosexuality, Laurence Davis (2016) 'Introduction'. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Seminar on Religion and Homosexuality, University College Cork, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2016) | Roundtable on the U.S. Presidential Election, Laurence Davis (2016) 'The U.S. Presidential Election and the Crisis of Democracy'. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Roundtable on the U.S. Presidential Election, University College Cork, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2016) | Anarchist Studies Network 4th International Conference: Anarcha-feminism, Laurence Davis (2016) 'Revolutionary Love'. [Oral Presentation], Anarchist Studies Network 4th International Conference: Anarcha-feminism, Loughborough University, UK . [Details] | |
| (2016) | Degrowth Conference 2016, Laurence Davis (2016) 'The Craft Utopia of William Morris'. [Oral Presentation], Degrowth Conference 2016, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary . [Details] | |
| (2016) | 500 Years of Utopia: 17th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society, Laurence Davis (2016) 'Plenary Lecture: 500 Years of Utopias: Developments, Transformations, and Trajectories'. [Plenary Lecture], 500 Years of Utopia: 17th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal . [Details] | |
| (2015) | Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2015, Laurence Davis (2015) 'The Marriage Referendum and the Left in Ireland'. [Oral Presentation], Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2015, University College Cork, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2015) | 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Laurence Davis (2015) 'Anarchism and the Democratization of Democracy'. [Oral Presentation], 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, California, U.S.A . [Details] | |
| (2015) | Lewis Glucksman Gallery'In Detail' Public Lecture, Laurence Davis (2015) 'Invited Lecture: From the Medieval Guild to the Ecotopian Future: William Morris and the Craft of Revolution'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Lewis Glucksman Gallery'In Detail' Public Lecture, University College Cork . [Details] | |
| (2015) | UCC Public Seminar: Perspectives on the Marriage Equality Referendum, Laurence Davis (2015) 'Love and Marriage'. [Oral Presentation], UCC Public Seminar: Perspectives on the Marriage Equality Referendum, University College Cork . [Details] | |
| (2014) | Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2014, Laurence Davis (2014) 'Anarchism and Radical Participatory Democracy'. [Oral Presentation], Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2014, National University of Ireland, Galway . [Details] | |
| (2014) | Anarchist Studies Network 3rd International Conference, Laurence Davis (2014) 'Anarchism and the Radical Democratic Tradition'. [Oral Presentation], Anarchist Studies Network 3rd International Conference, Loughborough University, UK . [Details] | |
| (2014) | Utopia and Nonviolence: 15th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society, Laurence Davis (2014) 'Ideologies and Utopia'. [Oral Presentation], Utopia and Nonviolence: 15th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society, Charles University in Prague . [Details] | |
| (2014) | Radical Americas Symposium, Laurence Davis (2014) 'The Radical Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed'. [Oral Presentation], Radical Americas Symposium, University College London, UK . [Details] | |
| (2014) | 64th Annual International Conference of the Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom, Laurence Davis (2014) 'Anarchism and Radical Democracy'. [Oral Presentation], 64th Annual International Conference of the Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom, Manchester, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2013) | 14th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Laurence Davis (2013) 'Green Imperatives, Democratic Politics, and the Grounded Utopian Imagination'. [Oral Presentation], 14th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, New Lanark, Scotland . [Details] | |
| (2013) | School of Sociology and Philosophy Public Seminar on the Concept of Transformation, Laurence Davis (2013) 'Invited Lecture: The Concept of Utopia and Theories of Transformation'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], School of Sociology and Philosophy Public Seminar on the Concept of Transformation, University College Cork, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2013) | 75th Anniversary Sociology Department Seminar, Laurence Davis (2013) 'Will the Real Democracy Please Stand Up? Debating Democracy, Active Citizenship, and the Politics of Work, Technology, and Social Equality at the Dawn of the 21st Century'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], 75th Anniversary Sociology Department Seminar, National University of Ireland Maynooth . [Details] | |
| (2013) | MA in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism Seminar, Laurence Davis (2013) 'Political Ideologies and Contemporary Social Movements: the Anarchist Turn'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], MA in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism Seminar, National University of Ireland Maynooth . [Details] | |
| (2012) | Second Anarchist Studies Network Conference, Laurence Davis (2012) 'Real Democracy and the Revolutions of our Time'. [Oral Presentation], Second Anarchist Studies Network Conference, Loughborough University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2012) | Play and the Creation of Culture in the Modern World, Laurence Davis (2012) 'Art, Work, Politics and Play'. [Oral Presentation], Play and the Creation of Culture in the Modern World, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2011) | New Agendas in Social Movements Studies Conference, Laurence Davis (2011) 'The Irish Ship to Gaza and the Revolutions of our Time'. [Oral Presentation], New Agendas in Social Movements Studies Conference, National University of Ireland Maynooth . [Details] | |
| (2011) | 12th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Laurence Davis (2011) 'Utopia and Social Movements'. [Oral Presentation], 12th International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus . [Details] | |
| (2010) | Sociology Department Seminar, Laurence Davis (2010) 'Invited Lecture: The So-Called Science of Sociology: Sociology, Political Theory, and the Elusive Quest for Scientific Method'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Sociology Department Seminar, University College Cork, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2010) | Sociology Department Seminar, Laurence Davis (2010) 'The Political Economy of Love'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Sociology Department Seminar, National University of Ireland Maynooth . [Details] | |
| (2009) | 34th International Conference of the Society for Utopian Studies, Laurence Davis (2009) 'The Abolition of Work?'. [Oral Presentation], 34th International Conference of the Society for Utopian Studies, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, U.S.A . [Details] | |
| (2009) | Tenth International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Laurence Davis (2009) 'Morris, Wilde, and Le Guin on the Politics of Art'. [Oral Presentation], Tenth International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, University of Porto, Portugal . [Details] | |
| (2009) | Alternative Futures and Popular Protest: 14th International Conference, Laurence Davis (2009) 'Murray Bookchin and the Euro-American Counterculture'. [Oral Presentation], Alternative Futures and Popular Protest: 14th International Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2008) | Love in Our World: An International Conference, Laurence Davis (2008) 'Anarchy, Love and Revolution'. [Oral Presentation], Love in Our World: An International Conference, Manchester University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2008) | First Anarchist Studies Network Conference, Laurence Davis (2008) 'Anarchism and the Political Theory of Revolution'. [Oral Presentation], First Anarchist Studies Network Conference, Loughborough University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2008) | Confronting Cold War Conformity: Peace and Protest Cultures in Europe, 1945-1989, Laurence Davis (2008) 'The Anarchist Roots and Legacies of the Revolutionary Personalism of 1968'. [Oral Presentation], Confronting Cold War Conformity: Peace and Protest Cultures in Europe, 1945-1989, Marie Curie Summer School, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic . [Details] | |
| (2008) | 1968: Impact and Implications, Laurence Davis (2008) 'The Anarchist Revolutionary Legacies of 1968'. [Oral Presentation], 1968: Impact and Implications, Birkbeck College, University of London, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2008) | Rethinking Labour: Labour, Affect and Material Culture, Laurence Davis (2008) 'Pleasurable Labour'. [Oral Presentation], Rethinking Labour: Labour, Affect and Material Culture, University College Dublin, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2007) | Fourth Annual Manchester Workshops in Political Theory, Laurence Davis (2007) 'Social Anarchism and Lifestyle Anarchism: A Bridgeable Chasm?'. [Oral Presentation], Fourth Annual Manchester Workshops in Political Theory, Manchester Metropolitan University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2007) | Revolutions and Sexualities: Cultural and Social Aspects of Political Transformations, Laurence Davis (2007) 'Love and Revolution in Ursula K. Le Guin's Story Suite Four Ways to Forgiveness'. [Oral Presentation], Revolutions and Sexualities: Cultural and Social Aspects of Political Transformations, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland . [Details] | |
| (2007) | New World Coming: The Sixties and the Shaping of Global Consciousness, Laurence Davis (2007) 'Utopianism Then and Now: A Bridgeable Chasm?'. [Oral Presentation], New World Coming: The Sixties and the Shaping of Global Consciousness, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada . [Details] | |
| (2007) | M.A. Seminar on Utopias by Women, Laurence Davis (2007) 'Ursula K. Le Guin'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], M.A. Seminar on Utopias by Women, Instituto de Literatura Comparada Margarida Losa, Faculty of Letters, University of Porto, Portugal . [Details] | |
| (2006) | Third Annual Manchester Workshops in Political Theory, Laurence Davis (2006) 'Love and Revolution in Le Guin's Four Ways to Forgiveness'. [Oral Presentation], Third Annual Manchester Workshops in Political Theory, Manchester Metropolitan University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2006) | Seventh International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Laurence Davis (2006) 'Anarchism, Utopia, and the Test of Art'. [Oral Presentation], Seventh International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain . [Details] | |
| (2005) | Morris in the 21st Century: The 50th Anniversary Conference of the William Morris Society, Laurence Davis (2005) 'Art and Labour in the Political Writings of William Morris'. [Oral Presentation], Morris in the 21st Century: The 50th Anniversary Conference of the William Morris Society, Royal Holloway College, University of London, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2005) | Political Theory Seminar, Laurence Davis (2005) 'Guest Lecture: The Revolutionary Utopian Politics of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Political Theory Seminar, Queen's University Belfast, U.K . [Details] | |
| (2004) | 2004 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Laurence Davis (2004) 'The Dialectic of Labour in the Political Thought of William Morris'. [Oral Presentation], 2004 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A . [Details] | |
| (2003) | 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Laurence Davis (2003) 'Utopianism and the Permanence of the Political'. [Oral Presentation], 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A . [Details] | |
| (2002) | Philosophy Colloquium, Laurence Davis (2002) 'The Philosophy of Utopia'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Philosophy Colloquium, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2001) | 26th Annual Meeting of the Society for Utopian Studies, Laurence Davis (2001) 'Social Conflict, Historical Change, and the Utopian Imagination'. [Oral Presentation], 26th Annual Meeting of the Society for Utopian Studies, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A . [Details] | |
| (2001) | Second International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Laurence Davis (2001) 'Utopia and Social Theory'. [Oral Presentation], Second International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, New Lanark, Scotland . [Details] | |
| (2000) | 25th Annual Meeting of the Society for Utopian Studies, Laurence Davis (2000) 'Utopian Political Thought: A Pluralist Defence'. [Oral Presentation], 25th Annual Meeting of the Society for Utopian Studies, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada . [Details] | |
| (2000) | First International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Laurence Davis (2000) 'Isaiah Berlin, William Morris, and the Politics of Utopia'. [Oral Presentation], First International Conference of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, Nottingham University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (1999) | International Conference on Nationalism, Identity, and Minority Rights: Sociological and Political Perspectives, Laurence Davis (1999) 'Liberals, Democrats, and Cultural Pluralists'. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on Nationalism, Identity, and Minority Rights: Sociological and Political Perspectives, Bristol University, U.K . [Details] | |
| (1999) | International Conference on Racism and the Challenges of Multiculturalism, Laurence Davis (1999) 'The Politics of Cultural Pluralism'. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on Racism and the Challenges of Multiculturalism, Rhodes University, South Africa . [Details] | |
| (1999) | M.Phil. in Ethnic and Racial Studies Seminar, Laurence Davis (1999) 'Liberalism and the Challenges of Democratic Cultural Pluralism'. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], M.Phil. in Ethnic and Racial Studies Seminar, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland . [Details] | |
| (1999) | International Conference on a Millennium of Utopias: The Theory, History and Future of Utopias, Laurence Davis (1999) 'Is Utopian Political Thought Necessarily Totalitarian?'. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on a Millennium of Utopias: The Theory, History and Future of Utopias, University of East Anglia, U.K . [Details] |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Committee of the Utopian Studies Society Europe | Elected Member | 2006 / | |
| Equality Committee, University College Cork | Member | 2015 / | |
| LGBT Staff Network, University College Cork | Chair and UCC LGBT Staff Liaison Officer | 2015 / | |
| Athena SWAN Main Steering Group | Member | 2016 / 2018 | |
| Academic Council Staff Development Committee | Member | 2017 / | |
| CACSSS Graduate Studies Committee | Member | 2017 / 2018 | |
| Graduate Studies Committee, Department of Government and Politics, University College Cork | Chair and Director of the PhD in Government and Politics | 2015 / 2018 | |
| Michael Harrington Book Award Committee, New Political Science Caucus of the American Political Science Association | Judge | 2015 / 2016 | |
| Research Cluster on Governance and Democracy, University College Cork | Founding Chair | 2012 / 2014 | |
| Internationalisation Committee, University College Cork | Co-chair of the Faculty Internationalisation Working Group | 2012 / 2013 | |
| International Research Quality Review-mandated Faculty Committee on Research Clusters, Department of Sociology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth | Chair | 2009 / 2010 | |
| Research Cluster on Critical Political Thought, Activism, and Alternative Futures, National University of Ireland, Maynooth | Founding Chair | 2009 / 2010 | |
| Curriculum Development Committee, B.A. Politics, National University of Ireland, Maynooth | Member | 2008 / 2010 | |
| Steering Committee of the Society for Utopian Studies | Membership Secretary | 2005 / 2008 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Oxford University | DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY | Politics (Political Theory) | |
| 1988 | Columbia University | BACHELOR OF ARTS | Political Science |
Outreach Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
St. Antony's College, Oxford University - Ireland Liaison Officer (1997-present) | |
Alumni Interviewer - Ireland region, Undergraduate Admissions, Columbia College of Columbia University (2015-present) | |
Co-founder, Jewish Voice for Just Peace - Ireland (2014-present) | |
Coordinator and Media Spokesperson, Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign (2010-2012) | |
Member, Free University Network (2012-) | |
Associate Member and Member of the Curriculum Design Group, Social Science Centre, Lincoln, U.K. (2010-2019) |
Journal Activities
| Journal | Role | To / From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utopian Studies | Referee | - | |
| Anarchist Studies | Referee | - | |
| Politics And Governance | Referee | - | |
| Studies In Social Justice | Referee | - | |
| Interface | Member of Editorial Board | - |
Other Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
Series Editor, Manchester University Press (formerly Bloomsbury) Contemporary Anarchist Studies Book Series (2010-present) | |
Manuscript Referee: Manchester University Press, Palgrave Macmillan, Routledge, Bloomsbury Academic, Pluto Press (ongoing) | |
Co-founder, M.A. Degree in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism, National University of Ireland, Maynooth (2009-2010) | |
English-language Moderator, Research on Anarchism List (2014-2015) | |
Founding Member, U.K. Anarchist Studies Network (2005-present) | |
Founding Member, Labor Project, American Political Science Association (2005-present) |
Teaching Activities
Teaching Interests
Dr. Davis teaches across the full spectrum of the Department's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, leading modules at first, second, third, fourth year and MA/MSc levels, supervising postgraduate and undergraduate dissertations and work placement students, and directing the Department's BSc Government and Political Science programme. His chief teaching interests are in political theory and ideologies, democracy and active citizenship, and the politics of social change. He also convenes and delivers the Department's modules on government and politics in the United States, the politics of science and technology, and the politics of ecology. Having previously held positions at Oxford University, Ruskin College, the Stanford University Centre in Oxford, University College Dublin, the National University of Ireland Galway, and the National University of Ireland Maynooth, Dr. Davis has extensive experience over many years of teaching, assessment, counselling, research supervision, administration, module/course leadership, and course and curriculum development. In his capacity as the Department's Mature Students Officer, he has a particular interest in adult education, and in employing the tools of education to overcome social marginality.Dr. Davis formerly served as Director of the Department's PhD programme. He welcomes applications from prospective PhD students in any area of radical political thought. Proposals focusing on anarchist studies, utopian studies, Indigenous politics, contemporary ecological and anti-capitalist politics, democratic and revolutionary theory, feminist and queer theory, or the politics of love and radical/revolutionary transformation are particularly welcome. So, too, are proposals that combine theory and practice, academic rigour and the insights of contemporary activism. More information about the PhD in Government and Politics programme, including application procedures and sources of financial support, may be found on the PhD page of the Government and Politics Department website. Informal queries are also very welcome, and may be sent to Dr. Davis at l.davis@ucc.ie.
Current teaching
2016-GV1204: Democracy, Ideology and Utopia
2016-GV3215: Politics of the United States of America
2016-GV3216: Contemporary Ecological and Anti-Capitalist Politics
2016-GV4409: Political Ideologies and Social Change
2016-GV6103: Re-Imagining Democratic Politics in a Changing World
Research Information
External Collaborators
| Name | Organisation / Institute | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Vincent Geoghegan | Queen's University of Belfast | NORTHERN IRELAND | |
| Dr. Laurence Cox | National University of Ireland, Maynooth | IRELAND | |
| Professor Martha Ackelsberg | Smith College | U.S.A. | |
| Professor Richard Cleminson | Leeds University | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Professor Peter Stillman | Vassar College | U.S.A. | |
| Professor John Clark | Loyola University | U.S.A. | |
| Professor Ruth Kinna | Loughborough University | UNITED KINGDOM |
Contact details
- Laurence Davis
College Lecturer in Government and Politics - l.davis@ucc.ie
- 2.46 O'Rahilly Building
University College Cork
Cork
Ireland - +353-21-490-3472