School of Social and Political Science

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In April 2025, we gathered to celebrate the professorship of Oliver Escobar, Chair of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation. Professor John Devaney, Head of School, delivered the introduction and the closing remarks

We are undergoing an unprecedented global democratic recession, but also a period of democratic innovation. What is at the heart of this apparent contradiction? Can democracy evolve to improve the prospect of desirable futures for people and planet?

The world faces social, political, economic and ecological crises, and there is doubt that traditional forms of democratic governance can cope or even survive. In this context, what can the field of democratic innovation offer to the task of sociopolitical reimagining and change? The field is advancing globally, based on the premise that the challenges of our time require mobilising the collective intelligence and capabilities of citizens and communities.

In this inaugural lecture, Oliver Escobar will offer a critical but optimistic take on democratic innovation. He will argue that the next decade will be crucial for the future of democracy and for the democracy of the future. And that we all have a role to play.

Introduction and closing remarks

Professor John Devaney's introduction

Good evening everyone. It's absolutely delightful to see a full lecture theatre this evening. And I probably wouldn't have expected anything less for the inaugural professorial lecture by our good colleague, Oliver Escobar. We have many people in the room tonight who are from within the university community, but also some from outside the university. And so it's always helpful to explain what an inaugural lecture is about. It's really an opportunity for somebody who either has arrived at the university to take up a chair, or somebody who's been appointed to a chair from within the university to introduce themselves and their area of research to a wider audience. It's a public lecture, because we should be talking to wider society about the things that we do within the institution. And in terms of Oliver's own work, is probably the best example I can think of, of somebody who has a really solid academic pedigree but who's very engaged in wider civil society, and I think we'll get a flavour of that this evening.

In terms of doing the cabin crew bit: We're not expecting any fire alarm this evening. If the fire alarm does go, please leave quickly through the exit at the back. Can you please just check that your mobile is on silent. Just so it doesn't go off during the inaugural lecture. And if you need to use any facilities they're outside, if you go through that door and just walk down to the right, there's toilets there.

Oliver Escobar was appointed to personal chair as professor of public policy and Democratic Innovation in August 2023. Oliver, I think you've been with us from 2014, and has held a number of positions before that. I had the real privilege of looking at Oliver's promotion application back in 2023, just to the point where he was applying for promotion. And one of the things that struck me very clearly about that were two things. One, that sort of his original degree was a master's degree in political science and public administration from the University of Santiago de Compostela. And then he went on to gather two more master's degrees before deciding that he should go for an upgrade and actually apply for a doctorate at a later stage in life.

The other thing, which came across really clearly from Oliver's CV, is about the sheer volume and quality of work that he's done across a number of different sectors, and the high esteem in which he's held both within the institution and also by the various organizations and wider civil society with which he's worked. Probably his most precious, production of his whole career is sitting up the back in terms of Molie.

In terms of Oliver's work, it's really been at that intersection between trying to think about how we, as a society, function in a way which upholds and privileges democratic principles, while also at the same time trying to think about how we as society flip what is usually the norm instead of others deciding things for us. How do we become involved in a process which allows us to inform people who ultimately have to make decisions? And I’ve been really impressed by the standard of Oliver's work from an academic point of view, but also, as is represented in the room tonight, the affection with which he's held by so many people. Because on a personal level, not only is the interesting things about the things that he's interested in, but he's also interested in the work that other people are doing and trying to ensure that he supports those to do the work that's important for them. And what part can he play in all of this? So that's why I'm so impressed by seeing a range of people here from inside and outside the university, and also people who are staff members as well as I think I also see some students here this evening. So thank you all for being here. And the audience as well.

Tonight we have some very special guests. I'd like to offer a very warm welcome to Oliver's mother, Isabel, and his father, a Roman. And also to Oliver's, partner, Paula, and also their lovely daughter, Molie. Oliver's told me that he's going to be speaking for around about an hour this evening. And, and after he's spoken, there may be time for 1 or 2 to comments, reflections, questions at that stage. But he doesn't want to deter anybody from actually going on to the reception that will be held in the foyer of the Crystal Macmillan building for anybody who's able to come along to that. I'm going to sort of sit down now and pass over to Professor Escobar. And, can we give a round of applause for his inaugural?

Professor John Devaney's closing remarks

Oliver, thank you for what has been a really thought provoking and stimulating lecture. It was really very positive and heartening to have you started off by talking about the challenges the university is facing at this moment in time, to be reminded through your lecture, of the value and importance and place of the work that we're engaged in. And that often can't just be measured in pounds and pence. And so it's good to have sort of a reminder of why we're here.

I thought it was also really timely and important. And your work highlighted the fact that you can what appears effortless, but I'm sure it's not crossover between really trying to develop how we theorize and think about democracy and the processes and practices which underpin it, and also are able to translate that into the applied nature of what you personally are doing. But how you resource other people to think carefully about what they do in a way which is going to lead on to something which is really meaningful, but actually can bring about positive and constructive change. And I think that comes out through not only the lecture tonight, but also the work that you're engaged in. I'm also struck by the fact that you able to balance, on the one hand, this ability to think about the threats to democracy with also trying to have a more positive outlook about how we can shape the democracy that we're a part of and not only feel it’s worth is at the behest of other people, even if at times, especially in the current, climate, where we think that actually there are forces at play that we don't have much control over as individuals through coming together as collectives. So I just want to thank you on behalf of everybody in the room tonight, not only for the lecture, which has been very stimulating, but also for the work that you're engaged in, because I think it does play to much bigger themes within society that we all need to be engaged in. And you've given us some of the tools and the pathways that we can follow.

On a very personal level. I know there's many in this room, including myself, who are very glad that you're a colleague within the school. I think you bring something in terms your personality and your orientation, which is about us as a community and a collective. It's not only reflected in your work, but it's also reflected in who you are and how you are with all of us. So I'm in both personally grateful and also grateful as head of school, that you share yourself, with us, as well as your work. And I think Molie is the youngest person that we've ever had at an inaugural lecture, according to Helene, who keeps a record of these things. So, that sets the bar very low or high, for future inaugural lectures. So maybe in 2070, you'll be standing here. Yeah. There's always the prospect.