Maria Dimova-Cookson

Maria Dimova-Cookson is a Professor in Political Theory at the School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University. She holds a DPhil in Politics from the University of York, an MA in Political Philosophy from York, and a philosophy undergraduate degree from Sofia University. Her career includes appointments at UCL (British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow) and the University of Sheffield (lecturer in political theory).

• Education: DPhil (University of York), MA (University of York), BA (Sofia University)
• Current Role: Professor in Political Theory, Durham University (since 2005)
• Research Focus: Meritocracy, liberty concepts (positive/negative/romantic), British idealists, value pluralism, and ethical particularism/universalism.

Her research explores the duality of liberty through historical figures like Benjamin Constant, T.H. Green, and Isaiah Berlin, addressing modern challenges such as meritocratic polarization and populist critiques of liberal democracy. Publications include the 2020 monograph Rethinking Positive and Negative Liberty and analyses of subaltern studies and post-colonial Marxism.

Scientific Awards:

• British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow

She supervises doctoral students like Ahmet Borazan and contributes to edited volumes such as Dialogues with Contemporary Political Theorists. Her work bridges historical political thought with contemporary ethical dilemmas, emphasizing the interplay between liberty, justice, and societal values.