ECPR

Install the app

Install this application on your home screen for quick and easy access when you’re on the go.

Just tap Share then “Add to Home Screen”

Member
Pending Member

Specialist Group on

Political Theory Research Group
Member
Pending Member
Join Leave

About

Political theorists in APSA are concerned with the ideas, concepts and normative controversies that arise in politics, both historically and in the contemporary era. They adopt a variety of different theoretical approaches from politics, philosophy, law and the social sciences, and engage with politics at domestic and international levels. They bring theory to bear on critical social challenges and in doing so, foster greater understanding of, and innovative responses to, many of the major problems of our time.

The Political Theory Research Group promotes the work being done by Australian political theorists and creates opportunities for intellectual exchange and research collaboration. It facilitates conferences, workshops and panels that bring political theorists together for scholarly discussion and debate.

 

Banner image credit: GR stocks

  • To promote the study of political theory in Australia.
  • To provide opportunities for intellectual exchange and research collaboration.
  • To promote collaboration between political theorists within APSA and those from related disciplines such as law, philosophy and the social sciences.

Annual Manuscript Workshop Award 2026

 

Call for applications: The APSA Political Theory Research Group, with the support of the Melbourne Political, Legal, and Social Theory Network (MPLAST), invites applications for its 2026 Annual Manuscript Workshop Award. The award winner will be invited to Melbourne for a day-long workshop in November/December 2026 (exact date to be agreed upon with the winner) centred around their book manuscript. Their travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the award. Political theorists with expertise on the book topic will provide commentaries on different aspects of the book manuscript and the author will have the opportunity to respond to their feedback. The event will also include Q&A sessions with the audience.   

 

Eligibility: The manuscript topic can be in any area of political theory (including areas that intersect with social and/or legal theory). Applicants can be at any career stage but must be based at an Australian institution (either as permanent/temporary members of staff or as visiting scholars). Applicants must have a PhD in hand by 1 February 2026 and a (nearly-) complete manuscript draft (at least 80 per cent of the final draft) ready to present at the workshop. If a manuscript has multiple authors, all the authors are eligible to apply and, if successful, will all be named as recipients of the prize and may participate in the workshop. However, the award will only cover travel and accommodation costs for one of the authors.  

 

Application: Please submit the following materials by email to terry.macdonald@unimelb.edu.au and matteo.bonotti@monash.edu by 30 June 2026. The email subject heading should be ‘2026 Political Theory Manuscript Workshop Award’. The materials should be compiled as a single PDF file, in the following order: 1) a book summary (up to 2000 words); 2) a table of contents; 3) a sample chapter; 4) a 5-page CV. The successful applicant will be notified by 31 July 2025 and they will be required to submit their manuscript draft at least one month before the agreed upon workshop date.   

 

If you have any questions, please contact Matteo Bonotti (matteo.bonotti@monash.edu) and Terry Macdonald (terry.macdonald@unimelb.edu.au).


----


Recent event: Pluralizing Political Legitimacy: Building Common Ground in a Divided World | MPLAST Research Network

Byelaws in Addition to the Group Framework

Constitution