Online book launch webinar of ‘The Figure of the Politician in Modern and Contemporary Europe’

You are warmly invited to join the online book launch webinar celebrating the publication of The Figure of the Politician in Modern and Contemporary Europe (Berghahn Books).

About the Book
Although political history has long been central to historical research, surprisingly little attention has been paid to its key concept, the politician. The authors of this book investigate how politicians have described themselves and how others have perceived them, especially in parliamentary contexts. The book highlights the importance of understanding how politicians have been imagined and how they navigate complex roles. The Figure of the Politician in Modern and Contemporary Europe also invites us to rethink our assumptions about politicians. It shows that politicians are not just self-serving actors, but figures navigating competing demands, ideals and expectations. By studying how they have been described and how they describe themselves, we gain deeper insight into the nature and change of representative democracy.

Date: Friday, 6 February 2026
Time:

• 12:00–13:30 GMT
• 13:00–14:30 CET
• 14:00–15:30 EET

To join, please register by completing this form: https://forms.gle/r2upQdH3w2v5QACo9

Programme
13:00–13:10 Welcome and brief introduction to the book – Pasi Ihalainen – University of Jyväskylä
13:10–13:30 Elevator pitches on key findings of the chapters
13:30–13:40 Quick questions from the audience
13:40–13:50 A historian’s comment on the book – Christina Morina – PEVZ, Bielefeld University
13:50–14:00 A political theorist’s comment on the book – Alan Finlayson – University of East Anglia
14:00–14:30 General discussion