Gregory Claeys

Professor Gregory Claeys is a Professor of the History of Political Thought at the Department of History, Royal Holloway, University of London. His research focuses on radical, socialist, and reform movements, with a special interest in utopian and dystopian thought. He has held visiting professorships at Keio University (Tokyo), the University of Hanoi, and Peking University. His career highlights include membership in the Academia Europaea (2015), leadership of the Utopian Studies Society (2016–2019), and the Cantemir Prize (2018) for his book on dystopia.

Education & Research: His PhD explored the origins of British socialism (1815–50), resulting in seminal works like Machinery, Money and the Millennium (1987) and Citizens and Saints (1989). He has authored over six books, including Dystopia: A Natural History (2016) and Marx and Marxism (2018). He has also edited over sixty primary source editions and scholarly volumes.

Research Interests: Claeys examines the evolution of political thought from the 18th century onward, emphasizing utopianism, dystopia, and socialist ideologies. His work bridges historical analysis and contemporary debates, influencing fields like political philosophy and cultural studies.

Awards & Recognition:

• Academia Europaea Membership (2015)
• Cantemir Prize (2018)
• Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts (2019)

Public Engagement: He has spoken at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, delivered a TEDx talk on utopia (2019), and participated in BBC appearances and literary festivals.