Will Leggett researches and teaches in the areas of political sociology and social and political theory, with a particular focus on the relationship between social change, ideology and political identities and action.
Will’s work seeks to understand the ways in which governors and citizens adapt their political ideas and activities in the face of (ideas about) social change. He is currently examining the social conditions and political implications of ‘behaviour change’ as a policy objective.
Will also has a longstanding research interest in (centre) left ideology and politics, social democracy and the British Labour Party. He has examined how centre-left modernisers have developed and responded to narratives about social change (eg globalisation), and has offered critical alternatives across a range of publications including his (2005) After New Labour: Social Theory and Centre-Left Politics (Palgrave Macmillan).
Will has been a commentator on centre-left politics and political trends in national and international print and broadcast media.
Research interests
Political sociology and social and political theory, in particular:
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The relationship between social change and political ideology, identities and action
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The status of ‘emotion’ in social and political theory and political practices
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Governance and the theory and politics of ‘behaviour change’
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Centre-left ideology and politics
Current projects
Will is currently writing a book on Politics and Social Theory (Palgrave Macmillan) which examines the relationship between social theory and political analysis through substantive areas such as governance and political identity formation. He is also developing a critical analysis of theories of ‘behaviour change’ (eg ‘Nudge’).
External Examiner, Politics and Sociology Programme, Nottingham Trent University
Visiting Lecturer, University of Warwick Business School, Masters in Public Administration (Political Economy of Public Policy)
Member of the British Social Democrat Philosophy Group
Leggett, W. (2011) ‘The analytical and political limits to ‘interpreting’ governance’, British Politics,6 (2): 241-51.
Leggett, W. (2010) ‘What makes progressive ideology? Lessons from the Third Way’ (with a reply by Prof. Lord Giddens), in Hickson, K. and Griffiths, S. (eds.) British Party Politics and Ideology after New Labour, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 53-66.
Leggett, W. (2009) ‘Prince of modernisers: Gramsci, New Labour and the meaning of modernity’, in McNally, M. and Schwarzmantel, J. (eds.) Gramsci and Global Politics: Hegemony and Resistance, London: Routledge, pp. 246-82.
Leggett, W. (2007) ‘British social democracy beyond New Labour’, British Journal of Politics and International Relations 9 (3): 346-64.
Leggett, W. (2005) After New Labour: Social Theory and Centre-Left Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Leggett, W. (2005) ‘It’s the culture, stupid! New Labour’s progressive consensus’, Political Quarterly , 76 (4): 550-57.
Leggett, W. (2004) 'Social change, values and political agency’, Politics , 24 (1): 12-19.
Leggett, W. (2002) 'Reflexive modernization and reconstructing the Third Way: a response to Mouzelis' The Sociological Review ,50 (3): 419-36.