Janet Coleman

Janet Coleman is a Professor in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she has been since 1987. She co-founded and co-edits the History of Political Thought journal. Her academic contributions span medieval and early modern political theory, ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, and the genesis of modern European state systems. She has held prestigious fellowships, including the Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2000–2003) and roles at Boston University (Benedict Lecturer, 2002) and New York University (Global Distinguished Professor, 2009).

Her research interests focus on the evolution of political concepts from antiquity to the Renaissance, with particular attention to property, citizenship, and statecraft. Notable works include A History of Political Thought: From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance (2000) and her 2007 Dimaras Lecture on democratic toleration in ancient and modern contexts. She is fluent in French, has intermediate German proficiency, and basic Italian skills.

Her scholarly contributions highlight interdisciplinary approaches to reconstructing historical political thought while contextualizing its relevance to modern debates. She has lectured widely, including at the European University Institute (2006) and the National Hellenic Research Foundation (2007).