1. Faculty of Social Sciences
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Dr Graham M Smith

  • Position: Lecturer in Political Theory
  • Areas of expertise: political theory; friendship; Continental political thought; Anglo-American political thought
  • Email: ipigms@leeds.ac.uk
  • Phone: +44(0)113 343 4396
  • Location: 14.17 Social Sciences Building

Profile

I am a political theorist with a special interest in friendship and how this relates to our understanding of 'the political'. More generally, I have interests spanning from the Ancients to post-modernity, although I am especially interested in 'late-modernity'. My approach to political thought is both open and broad and this allows me to connect its themes and problems to allied fields such as international relations, philosophy, and religion.

Research interests

My research focuses on the notion of friendship and how this relates to our understanding of the political. I understand friendship to be a concern with the bonds between person and person. These bonds can be located and conceptualised in a variety of ways but they provide the basic fabric upon which the political is woven. I understand the political to indicate a domain of order and value constructed by persons who must negotiate their mutual dependency and freedom.

I am the co-editor of the online, peer-reviewed, open-access journal  AMITY: The Journal of Friendship Studies

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • BA Hons Political and Religious Thought (University of Lancaster)
  • MA Philosophy (University of Sheffield)
  • Ph.D. Political Theory (University of Lancaster)

Student education

I teach political theory in the School.  In the past this has involved teaching on:

PIED 1601 Freedom Power and Resistance

PIED 2601 Revolution and Reaction

PIED 3609 Radical Political Ideas

Research groups and institutes

  • Political Theory and Cultural Values

Current postgraduate researchers

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>The school welcomes enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>