Kieran Durkin

Dr Kieran Durkin is a Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York. He holds an MA (Hons.), MRes, and PhD from the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on Marxism, Marxist-humanism, critical theory, decolonial theory, and feminist theory, with an emphasis on reinserting humanism into critiques of capitalism. Durkin has held a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship (2018–2021), during which he was a Visiting Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

• Education:
  • PhD in Politics, University of Glasgow
  • MRes in Politics, University of Glasgow
  • MA (Hons.) in Politics, University of Glasgow
• Teaching:
  • Undergraduate: Karl Marx Politics, State, Economy, and Society, Politics of Gender
  • Postgraduate: Critical Theories of International Political Economy

His research explores intersections between Marxist-humanism, decolonial thought, and feminist theory to critique capital's impact on human agency. He has published widely on Erich Fromm, Raya Dunayevskaya, and the Marxist-Humanist tradition. Key works include The Radical Humanism of Erich Fromm (shortlisted for the Philip Abrams Memorial Prize) and edited volumes on Raya Dunayevskaya and Fromm’s critical theory.

He has collaborated on projects such as the Marie Curie-funded Humanist Marxism (2018–2022) and engages in public scholarship through articles in Jacobin and podcast discussions on Erich Fromm’s legacy.