Andy Mason

Andy Mason is a Professor at the University of Warwick, joining its Politics and International Studies (PaIS) department in 2012. Previously, he held academic positions at the Universities of Southampton, Reading, Hull, St Andrews, and Oxford. His research focuses on contemporary political theory, particularly normative theories of citizenship, equality of opportunity, appearance and discrimination, multiculturalism, civic education, and the relationship between ideal and non-ideal theories of justice. He has led or contributed to major research projects including the Leverhulme-funded 'Appearance, Discrimination, and Disadvantage' (2019-2023) and the Arctic University of Norway's GOODINT project examining cultural diversity and integration (since 2021).

His work spans monographs like What's Wrong with Lookism? (2023) and Living Together as Equals (2012), as well as edited collections addressing democratic citizenship and educational policy. Mason has engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations, including policy-relevant studies on faith schools and their societal impacts. His current research interrogates how appearance-based discrimination intersects with gender, race, and legal frameworks, advocating for ethical approaches to social justice that balance institutional reform with individual freedoms.

Key projects include analyzing the ethics of appearance norms in employment and personal relationships, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, and exploring integration policies across Britain, Hungary, and Norway. Mason’s contributions bridge theoretical rigor with practical policy advice, emphasizing how justice principles can address real-world inequalities without overreach.