The University of Westminster recently hosted the inaugural professorial lecture of Professor Aidan Hehir, Professor of International Relations, celebrating his academic career and his work with the Albanian community in the UK.
Professor Hehir’s lecture, which was titled “Out of the Ash”: How Constructive Scepticism Can Inspire “Good Hope” After Hubris, focused on how embracing scepticism can evoke hope and advance idealistic solutions to achieve global peace.
The lecture comes at a time where wars, mass atrocities, divisive populism and environmental catastrophes dominate the headlines, defying the post-Cold War illusion that a new era of global peace and prosperity had dawned. Professor Hehir proposes that constructive scepticism can navigate between excessive pride and fatalism and ultimately inspire genuine, progressive global change.
Following the lecture, the British Albanian Women's Network presented Professor Hehir with a framed traditional Albanian waistcoat as a gift for his work with the Albanian community in the UK. Attendees then enjoyed a drinks reception.
Professor Hehir’s expertise covers transitional justice, humanitarian intervention and state building in Kosovo. He is the author and editor of thirteen academic books, including the 2019 British International Studies Association (BISA) Working Group on Intervention and R2P-prizewinning Hollow Norms and The Responsibility to Protect. He is also Co-editor of the Routledge Studies in Intervention and Statebuilding book series and was one of the original co-convenors of the BISA Working Group on the Responsibility to Protect.
Outside of academia, Professor Hehir is a novelist. His novel The Flowers of Srebrenica was recently adapted for the stage by Legal Aliens Theatre in collaboration with The Sarajevo War Theatre in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was performed in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Belgrade, London, Oslo and Pisa.
Professor Hehir said about his inaugural lecture: “Being awarded the title of Professor was a huge honour for me and my family. I am very aware that I have had opportunities that historically people in my family were denied, and in my inaugural address I paid tribute to all of those who made it possible for me to achieve this award. It was a very special night and a real joy to celebrate it with my family, friends, colleagues and students. Cuimhnidh ar Luimneach agus ar feall na Sasanach!"
Professor Hehir’s work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10: Reduced Inequalities,16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster.
