Benjamin Tan

Benjamin Tan is a Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, specializing in political theory, history of political thought, and the intersection of democracy with race and empire in Anglo-American contexts since 1800. His work examines critiques of racial domination and the evolution of imperial thought among British socialists and progressives.

• Education: MPhil (University of Cambridge), BA (University of Oxford)

Research Focus: Analyzes the entanglement of democratic ideals, colonial empire, and racial hierarchies in late 19th- to early 20th-century British intellectual traditions. Combines archival analysis with theoretical inquiry into race, liberalism, and anti-colonial critiques.

• Scientific Awards: Carlo Argenton Prize for Article of the Year (2024)

Publications: His peer-reviewed work in Political Theory and European Journal of Political Theory explores forgotten debates about white racial prejudice, liberal empire, and socialist critiques of imperialism, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with political philosophy and historical sociology.