David Held is professor of political science at the London School of Economics and an important voice in the field in the areas of globalisation and global governance as well as democracy at transnational and international levels.

Held is the author of numerous books, including Global Covenant: The Social Democratic Alternative to the Washington Consensus (2004), which confronts the failures of international politics in the aftermath of 9/11 and the war against Iraq. He has strong interests in both political theory and the empirical dimensions of political analysis.

Recent articles

"The post-war multilateral order is in trouble. Clear, effective and accountable decision-making is needed across a range of urgent global challenges; and, yet, the collective capacity for addressing these matters is in doubt." David Held maps the pressing needs of global governance in a perilous age.

Britain's new prime minister must use his real but brief opportunity to shift the country's focus and priorities in the global arena, say David Mepham & David Held.

Globalisation needs a new politics and set of institutions. What should they look like? David Held assesses the issues of language and substance underlying Anne-Marie Slaughter & Thomas Hale’s critique of his ideas.

David Held’s argument on openDemocracy that the challenge of globalisation requires a new “global covenant” informed by social democratic political values provoked lively debate and strong disagreement. Here, he responds to his critics, clarifies his vision, and looks ahead.

Washington-led neo-liberalism and unilateralism has failed the world. It is urgent that we find a way beyond its legacy. This calls for a new model of globalisation, that works for humans everywhere. In a brilliant, extended essay, David Held provides a unified critique of the present global order and sketches his alternative.