Polis

'The Forum for Political, Social and Legal Theory'

Polis is a forum for the exchange of ideas on political, social, legal and ethical theory. It has enabled staff, students and guest speakers to come together through a programme of fortnightly seminars and termly symposia. Discussions have always been lively, stimulating and rigorous, and on occasion even impassioned. They have provided a unique and invaluable stimulus to the development of a broad research culture in the political sciences here, at London Metropolitan University.

Previous symposia have included:

• Ethics and Politics in the Aristotelian Tradition
• Politics and Jurgen Habermas
• Radical Intellectual Movements: Past, Present and Future
• Democracy and Nationalism in Europe (with London European Research Centre)
• Weber, Capitalism and Citizenship (with Weber Studies Group)
• Human Rights: Limits and Extensions (with HRSJ Research Institute)

Established in 1990 at the London School of Economics by Dr Kelvin Knight, Polis moved to the University of North London (now part of London Metropolitan University) in 1992. The resounding success of Polis has always been due to the commitment of staff and student volunteers.

Dr. Tom Griffiths, Forest Peoples Programme

'Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples and International Development: Progress and Challenges'

Dr. Peter Hodgkinson, LondonMet

'Public Sociology: A Very British Response'

Dr. Tarik Kochi, Altonaer Foundation for Philosophical Research

'The Ordering of War'

Prof. Andrew Vincent, Sheffield University

'Is There a Minimal Human Right?'

Dr. Cliff Snaith, LondonMet

''The Problem with Lawyers...''

Pierrick Moreaux, LondonMet

'The Case for Liberal Imperialism'

Seiriol Morgan, University of Leeds

Shirdeep Grewal, University of Essex

Bill Bowring, London Metropolitan University

Sudharman Perera, London Metropolitan University

Lee Salter, University of the West of England

Bob Purdie, Ruskin College

"The Orange Order and its Heritage"

2004/2005

Dr Andrius Bielskis, University of Warwick

David Shayler, ex-MI5 whistleblower

Dr Alan Haworth, London Metropolitan University

"Abstract Individuals and Particular Obligations: A Liberal Response to the Communitarian Critique"

Prof Bill Bowring, London Metropolitan University

"Moscow: Third Rome, Model Communist City, Eurasian Antagonist - and Power as No-Power?"

Roger Hallam, retired London Metropolitan University social theory and politics teacher, now active in the local civil society movement

Stuart Isaacs, London Metropolitan University

"Against the 'Box': The Political Philosophy of Michael Oakeshott"