Climate Activism and Harm to Innocents

Climate change poses ethical challenges to political activists. On the one hand, climate change threatens hundreds of millions of human lives.

On the other hand, activists who want to prevent such a catastrophe may need to resort, in despair, to political means that seriously harm innocents. This project will assess in what circumstances, if at all, harming innocents in climate activism is morally justified.

The project uniquely combines political philosophy methods (analogical reasoning, conceptual analysis, and proportionality assessments) with insights from climate-science and political-science studies on the effects of climate change and activism.The research outcomes will be disseminated to academic audiences (three articles; three international conferences and workshops; two online opinion notes) and the wider public (newspapers and online blog notes, a general public conference at a public library).

LSE’s Department of Government provides optimal infrastructure (the world’s largest social sciences library, researchers working on closely related topics, dedicated staff for project management assistance). The supervisor is a leading expert in political activism.

I have expertise in the key fields (political lesser evil, ideal/nonideal theory), a strong familiarity with the methods, experience in dissemination (international conference and workshop organisation, media appearances), and a network with researchers in influential institutions (UCL, Frankfurt University, Princeton University).

With this Fellowship, I will expand my research network, acquire new research skills and knowledge from LSE researchers (in political activism, democratic theory, and human impacts from climate change), and publish articles in leading journals, increasing my chances of getting a permanent academic position in the European Research Area.

I will transfer to the hosts knowledge (on global poverty, political lesser evil), as well as networking and conference organisation skills.