About
Dr Sean Irving is a Lecturer in Modern British History at Queen Mary University of London’s School of History. His research focuses on political economy, particularly how republican ideas shape economic thought. He critiques binary economic paradigms (market vs. planning) and explores neo-Roman liberty concepts, notably in his monograph Hayek’s Market Republicanism (Routledge, 2020). His current book project, Between Bosses and Bureaucrats: The Lost Tradition of Republican Political Economy (Princeton, under contract), examines 19th-century anti-oligarchic political economy through the lens of mixed constitutions. Research areas include land/environment, finance, welfare, and gender equality, informed by republican frameworks. He teaches courses on modern British history, Thatcher’s Britain, and historical research methods.
Publications span journals like History of Political Economy and Modern Intellectual History, addressing Hayek, neoliberalism, and the Anglosphere. His work bridges history and political theory, advocating for common ownership and cooperative models as republican ideals. Public engagement includes commentaries on austerity, tech finance, and progressive policies.
