Georgios Varouxakis

Professor Georgios Varouxakis holds the position of Professor of the History of Political Thought at Queen Mary University of London’s School of History. He specializes in the intellectual history of political thought, focusing on nationalism, cosmopolitanism, empire, and ideas of 'the West' and 'Europe'. He earned his degrees from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (History and Archaeology), followed by an MA in Legal and Political Theory and a PhD in History from University College London (UCL). Before joining Queen Mary in 2006, he spent eight years at Aston University.

His research explores 19th- and 20th-century political thought, with notable contributions including Liberty Abroad: J.S. Mill on International Relations (2013) and The West: The History of an Idea (forthcoming 2025). He co-directs the Centre for the History of Political Thought and the intercollegiate MA program in Political Thought and Intellectual History (Queen Mary/UCL joint).

Varouxakis has held prestigious fellowships, including at Princeton University and the Lichtenberg-Kolleg (Göttingen), focusing on his work on 'the West' and European intellectual history. His scholarship spans books, edited volumes, and over 30 articles, reflecting his expertise in transnational intellectual currents and political ideologies.

In teaching, he leads courses on nationalism, international political thought, and the foundations of modern thought. His supervision of PhD students has produced six completed theses, with current advisees exploring themes like 19th-century revolutionary thought and Balkan perceptions in British imperialism.

Public engagement includes media appearances (BBC, Sky News), keynote lectures (e.g., on Tocqueville’s Democracy in America), and contributions to policy debates on European solidarity and intellectual history’s contemporary relevance.