Annelien de Dijn

Annelien de Dijn is Professor of Modern Political History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History, College of Humanities. Her work examines the evolution of Western political thought, focusing on freedom, democracy, and republicanism.

• Academic Affiliation: Utrecht University
• Research Focus: History of political thought (1700–present), freedom as anti-democratic tool

Her research traces how freedom transformed from a collective self-governance ideal to a defense of elite privileges. She critiques conservative reinterpretations of liberty and explores implications for contemporary democracy.

Key publications include Freedom: An Unruly History (2020, PROSE Award winner) and French Political Thought from Montesquieu to Tocqueville (2008). She co-edited Rethinking Liberty Before Liberalism (2022) and contributes to academic journals and public discourse.

Scientific awards: 2021 PROSE Prize in Philosophy. She holds room 1.11 at Utrecht University's Drift 6 building.