Jonathan White

Professor Jonathan White is a leading scholar in political theory and European politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). As Deputy Head of the European Institute, he explores themes such as democracy, emergency governance, technocracy, and populism. His work bridges theoretical rigor with empirical analysis of EU institutions and global political challenges.

His research focuses on democratic theory, political partisanship, and future-oriented governance. He examines how climate change and crisis politics reshape democratic legitimacy, with a particular interest in the intersection of technology and transnational solidarity. Recent articles analyze WhatsApp governance, technocratic myopia, and the politics of long-termism.

He has received prestigious awards including the 2017 British Academy Brian Barry Prize and best-article honors from European Journal of International Relations (2023) and Political Studies (2015). His influential books include The Politics of Last Resort (OUP 2019) and In the Long Run: the Future as a Political Idea (Profile 2024).

White’s academic trajectory includes visiting positions at Harvard, Stanford, and Humboldt University. His interdisciplinary approach integrates democratic theory, social theory, and qualitative methods to address contemporary political challenges.