University of Oxford Faculty of History - Carlyle Lectures: The Shape of Democracy (2026)

The Carlyle Lectures in the History of Political Thought (2026) are a public lecture series hosted by the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford. The 2026 series, titled "The Shape of Democracy," is delivered by Professor Jill Frank (President White Professor of History & Political Science, Cornell University) and examines uses of order, agreement, power, equality, beauty, and form in the dialogues of Plato to inform contemporary democratic theory and practice.

Lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5pm during Weeks 2-7 of Hilary Term at the Examination Schools. The inaugural lecture (Tues 27th) will be followed by a drinks reception in North School. The series is presented as a set of in-person academic lectures aimed at a general and academic audience.

Attendance is open to all and no booking is required; members of the public and the university community are welcome to attend the lectures and the inaugural reception.