Honorary doctorate for Peter J. Katzenstein
On 9 February, 2015, the 440th Dies Natalis, Peter J. Katzenstein will be awarded a Leiden University honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to the social sciences in general, and to political science in particular. Professor Katzenstein (Cornell University) is one of the most influential scholars in the fields of comparative politics and international relations.
Katzenstein has (co-)authored 40 books, published over 100 journal articles and book chapters, supervised many PhDs, and received numerous awards and prizes for his work. His pioneering contributions to international political economy and, later, to constructivist approaches to international relations have strong relevance for the research programme of the Leiden Institute of Political Science, ‘The Institutions of Politics: Design, Workings, and Implications’.
The Importance of Institutions
In his work, Katzenstein consistently emphasizes the importance of institutions, for example as the key explanatory factor of successful macroeconomic management of small European states (e.g. Small States in World Markets), as the determinants of national security policy (e.g. The Culture of National Security), or as the key point of difference between world regions (e.g. A World of Regions). His work is marked by a meticulous empirical analysis and in-depth knowledge of a variety of political systems, as well as by an ability to work with multiple theoretical approaches. This also characterizes much of the research done by Leiden political scientists.
Members of the faculty and PhDs have been and will continue to be influenced and inspired by Katzenstein’s work. But political science students at Leiden University also learn from him. His book Small States in World Markets is read and discussed extensively in the flagship master's course ‘Conflict and Cooperation: The Classics’. Other titles, such as The Culture of National Security and Cultural Norms and National Security, are used by Leiden political science bachelors and masters too.
Public Lecture
Peter J. Katzenstein will hold a public lecture entitled ‘Old News? Europe in Crisis’ on 10 February 2015, from 16:00 to 17:15. The location is room 1.A20 of the Pieter de la Court building.
If you wish to attend this lecture, please RSVP.