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Huw Williams

Dr Huw Williams

(he/him)

cymraeg
Welsh speaking
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Huw Williams

Overview

I am a political philosopher, interested in egalitarian and radical traditions of thought, with a particular focus on engaging with activism and the public sphere. My research connects questions of global justice and international political theory more generally with an interest in the local, namely the intellectual history of Wales and its progressive traditions of thought.

I have published a wide variety of writing in both English and Welsh, from books to blogs. This includes a philosophy and current affairs column for the Welsh Literary Review, O’r Pedwar Gwynt and articles for online publications such as The Conversation and OpenDemocracy.

From 2018-2024 I was inaugural Dean for the Welsh Language at Cardiff University, working as a strategic lead across all aspects of our Welsh-language activity, with responsibility for drawing up and implementing our institution-wide strategy. 

Publication

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Articles

Book sections

Books

Monographs

Websites

Research

My research incorporates a variety of interests connected by the unifying themes of egalitarianism and radicalism.  

My first monograph, On Rawls,  Development and Global Justice elaborated Rawls' institution-building approach to international assistance, offering an alternative to the discourse of democracy-building.  I have since expanded my analysis of The Law of Peoples in publications on Democracy Promotion (2021), Just War (2020) and the potential for moral learning in international society (2020). Oft-maligned, and admittedly limited in some regards, Rawls' contribution to international political theory remains for me an insightful starting point for addressing the challenges of international politics. 

In the context of Global Justice I have developed an interest in the presuppositions of the mainstream debate.  I have published on the assumptions around development in the field (2014) and in a book on Global Justice co-authored with Carl Death (2017), we interrogate the interface between theory and practice, reflecting in part on the philosophical grounds for establishing greater global solidarity. I have recently argued for the need to historicize the debate (2023) and to engage on a more multidisciplinary basis, and am currently writing on the intersection with linguistic justice. 

The interest in linguistic justice naturally flows from my position as a minoritized language speaker, and in this context I have published two Welsh-language monographs, Credoau'r Cymry (2016) and Ysbryd Morgan (2020) that bring together my research on intellectual history in Wales, focusing in particular on radical figures such as Pelagius, Richard Price, and JR Jones. These books experiment with form, deploying imaginary dialogues, and reflect my efforts to reimagine Welsh-language philosophy and the associated critical debate. I am currently working on the final part of the trilogy and bringing the associated research into the anglosphere, through writings on Henry Jones (2023), J.R. Jones (2025) and Richard Price (upcoming).

I endeavour to use this research paradigm as a basis for regular contributions to public debate in Wales.  I was heavily involved in the celebrations of Richard Price's tricentenary and have been working on impact in that context.  Public engagement has always been integral to my contribution as an academic, and as far back as 2012 I edited the memoirs of the former Home Office Minister, Lord Elystan Morgan (Lolfa) and more recently co-edited a volume on contemporary politics, The Welsh Way (2021) - books that along with my numerous essays on various platforms reflect my commitment to the study of, and enhancement of politics and the public sphere in Wales' fledgling democracy.

Teaching

Teaching interests

I teach on a variety of philosophy and politics modules, primarily through the medium of Welsh. Their content falls within the following areas:

  • Contemporary (International) Political Philosophy
  • Theories of Global Justice
  • The History of Political Thought
  • Philosophy and Doctrine in Wales

Biography

As an undergraduate I studied philosophy and psychology at the LSE, and received a Diploma from the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, in Central and Eastern European Studies. As a Morrell Scholar I studied political theory at the University of York Politics Graduate School. I received a Ph.D. from the International Politics department at Aberystwyth in 2009,  where I then took up the post of lecturer, before moving to Cardiff in 2012 as a philosophy lecturer with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. In my role as lecturer with the Coleg it is my responsibility to expand the teaching of philosophy through the medium of Welsh across the higher education institutions in Wales.

From 2018-2024 I was inaugural Dean for the Welsh Language at Cardiff University, working as a strategic lead across all aspects of our Welsh-language activity, with responsibility for drawing up and implementing our institution-wide strategy.  I am also the University's representative for the recently established Wales Peace Academy and I am part of the School's group of Philosophy researchers, and a member of Cardiff Law and Global Justice.

Beyond the University I am President of the Urdd Athronyddol (Philosopher's Guild) and was on the Board of Directors of Mudiad Meithrin for ten years, a Wales-wide charity that provides pre-school care. I was the secretary of the TAG campaign that fought successfully to establish a Welsh-medium primary school in South Cardiff, where I am Chair of Governors, and have been involved in various forms of activism at a local and national level.

Supervisions

I have supervised students across a range of subjects in Political Philosophy.  Areas of particular interest are:

  • Global Justice
  • International Political Theory
  • Intellectual History, Philosophy and Politics in Wales
  • Linguistic Justice
  • Philosophy and Activism

Contact Details

Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 29208 74806
Campuses John Percival Building, Room 1.40, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Global Justice
  • Welsh Intellectual History
Conflict, politics and identity among the topics being explored at the National Eisteddfod

Conflict, politics and identity among the topics being explored at the National Eisteddfod

29 July 2025

Experts share their insights on a wide range of topics for the National Eisteddfod

Experts share their insights on a wide range of topics for the National Eisteddfod

31 July 2024

Welsh-language musicians and academics visit Aotearoa (New Zealand) to explore the power of live music for minority languages

Welsh-language musicians and academics visit Aotearoa (New Zealand) to explore the power of live music for minority languages

25 October 2023