Martin Jacobson awarded for best doctoral thesis
Martin Jacobson foto Mikael Wallerstedt
Martin Jacobson's "Land & Liberty: On the Natural Monopoly of Violence" receives the Swedish Political Science Association's prize for best doctoral thesis 2022-2024.
The jury's motivation reads as follows:
Martin Jacobson’s Land & Liberty is an original and analytically rigorous thesis that bridges geoism and libertarian anarchism – two traditions rarely studied together. By reconceptualizing state authority as a form of landownership, Jacobson uncovers deep theoretical connections and develops a novel synthesis: “geo-anarchism.”
The thesis demonstrates exceptional philosophical insight, engaging complex debates with clarity and precision. Its originality, intellectual boldness, and contribution to political theory make it an excellent thesis. Jacobson not only deepens our understanding of liberty and authority but also proposes a compelling new framework deserving of wide recognition.
Beyond the clear contribution to the field of political theory, the thesis also points to issues that are relevant across time and space, such as economic exploitation and inequality, and their linkages to land ownership, state authority and the monopoly on violence. The theoretical analyses address and explore the root causes of many contemporary injustices, making the thesis relevant also to other research fields, such as conflict research.
I am very honored by the award! Especially since I know how much excellent work is produced by my colleagues around the country. The award is also particularly fun, since the thesis explores a rather unusual topic. When I first started the project it felt like a bit of a gamble, but this is a confirmation that I made the right choice!" says Martin Jacobson.
During this spring Martin is a Research Fellow at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, and this summer he will start a three-year postdoc project focused on the political theory "geoism" and political equality. Thus, the postdoc project will draw upon, but broaden, the work he did for his thesis. During the postdoc he will be employed by the Department of Government, but spend the academic year 2025-26 as a Fulbright Scholar at Virginia Tech., and 2026-27 at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, before returning back to Uppsala in the summer of 2027.
SWEPSA
The Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA), is the disciplinary organisation for political scientists in Sweden. SWEPSA, founded in 1970, has both institutional members from the universities and university colleges in Sweden and individual members. The purpose of SWEPSA is to promote critical debate of the aims and means of political science and its function in society at large, to inform about research in the field, to stimulate co-operation between political scientists from different departments in Sweden, and to represent Swedish political science in international co-operations.