The ocean sustains life on our planet, from absorbing carbon to regulating temperatures, and, as we exhaust the resources to be found on land, it is becoming central to the global market. But today we are facing two urgent challenges at sea: massive environmental destruction, and spiralling inequality in the ocean economy.

In this special lecture, Professor in Political Theory, Chris Armstrong, will discuss his latest book ‘A blue new deal’ and why we need a new politics for the ocean. He will explore how existing governing institutions are failing to respond and makes the case for a powerful World Ocean Authority, putting equality, democracy, and sustainability at the heart of ocean politics.

Speaker biography

Chris Armstrong is Professor in Political Theory in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Southampton. He is the author of A Blue New Deal: Why We Need A New Politics for the Ocean (Yale University Press, 2022), Why Global Justice Matters (Polity 2019), Justice and Natural Resources (Oxford University Press, 2017), and Global Distributive Justice (Cambridge University Press, 2012). His research ranges across issues of conservation justice, natural resource justice, global justice, climate justice, and territorial rights.

This event will be chaired by Professor of Public Policy and Director of the IPR, Professor Nick Pearce.

This event is part of ‘Our oceans: A deep dive‘ – a public event series seeking to explore the world’s oceans and what climate change, maritime trade and strategic conflict mean for their future.