by his work with Chantal Mouffe.
Notable academics linked to the department over its history include Brian Barry, Sarah Birch, R. A. W. Rhodes, Jean Blondel, Sir Ivor Crewe, Peter Frank, Robert E Goodin, Anthony King, Ernesto Laclau and Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, current holder of the Regius Professorship in Political Science.
The department has five research centres: the Centre for Criminology, the Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the Centre for Intimate and Sexual Citizenship, the Centre for Research in Economics Sociology and Innovation, and the Centre for Migration Studies.
Other notable academics linked to the department over its history include Joan Busfield, Stan Cohen, BBC presenter and former chair of the Social History Society Pamela Cox, Leonore Davidoff, Diane Elson, Miriam Glucksmann, David Lockwood and Mary McIntosh.
==== Department of Sociology and Criminology ====
The Department of Sociology and Criminology was one of the founding departments of the university. Its founding professor was Peter Townsend with Geoffrey Hawthorn, Herminio Martins and Paul Thompson its first academic appointments in 1964. Dorothy E. Smith was the first female lecturer and was appointed in 1966.
==== East 15 Acting School ====
In September 2000, the East 15 Acting School was acquired by the university. The school is based in Loughton in southwest Essex and has a branch in Southend-on-Sea. East 15 topped The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide's rankings for drama in September 2018 and was ranked first in The Guardian University Guide 2020. In 2017 research by The Stage showed East 15 was the UK's most diverse drama school with a third of students from BAME backgrounds.
==== Edge Hotel School ====
Edge Hotel School is the first hotel school in the UK with a fully commercial four star country house hotel on campus for students to gain practical skills whilst undertaking academic study. The School started events management courses in 2019 and has partnered with the o2 Arena for live projects, …
