Current Research

 I am currently working on the following projects

§1. Democracy and the Problem of Harmful Short-Termism
This argues that existing political institutions (and the political systems that would exist if many models of democratic theory were put in place) result in what I term 'Harmful Short-Termism'.  I argue that this political myopia is ubiquitous.  We see it in failures to address climate change and environmental degradation, macro-economic policy, the welfare state, pensions, education, health, technology, disaster prevention, infrastructure, foreign policy, planning policy, and housing.  I provide an account of why this political short-termism is so prevalent (rooted in what I term the four Images of Intertemporal Politics).  I evaluate a number of proposals that have been made to address this,  and defend a package of policies centred around mitigating the forces that encourage these harmful forms of short-termism.
     Methodologically: this work seeks to combine normative political philosophy with the rich literatures in political science, the history of political thought, public policy, international relations, economics, environmental sciences, psychology, sociology, history, anthropology, and literature on the nature, implications and causes of harmful short-termism.

§2. Power, Political Responsibilities and Climate Change
Climate change is a political problem - with political causes and requiring political action.  This paper explores who has what political responsibilities to tackle climate change.  There is an abstract and handout here.

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