British Academy Lecture 2026: Professor Stefano Bartolini

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Rule Making Rules: The Origins of Western Political Institutions and Why They Matter Today. The University of Manchester is delighted to host Professor Stefano Bartolini, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute and one of Europe's most influential scholars of comparative politics and political theory, for a prestigious British Academy Lecture. Western societies are shaped by a distinctive political inheritance. From Roman law and medieval self-government to the evolving relationship between secular and religious authority, Western institutions emerged through centuries of competition between different sources of rules, authority and legitimacy. In this lecture, Professor Bartolini examines how this unique historical process generated political pluralism and institutional diversity. He argues that the coexistence and competition of multiple normative traditions created conditions that have no direct equivalent elsewhere in world history, helping explain both the strengths and limitations of Western political development. The lecture will explore: - The historical origins of Western political institutions - The role of law, religion and political authority in shaping Europe - Why pluralism emerged in the West - The relationship between institutions and political order - Whether Western institutional models can be exported elsewhere This lecture will be of interest to scholars, students, policymakers, and anyone interested in politics, history, democracy and the evolution of modern societies.