Biography

Eniola Anuoluwapo Soyemi holds a Ph.D. in Political Science (Political Philosophy) from Boston University, and an MSc. from University College London. She is currently working on a book manuscript, which asks how law comes to wield an especial type of legitimacy that secures the general obedience of a given population. Her book project combines political and legal philosophy with experimental fieldwork in Nigeria, and archival research methods in England. By analysing, in particular, the arguments of Aristotle, Rousseau, and H.L.A. Hart, Eniola’s book project argues for an understanding of  law’s moral legitimacy that is separate from the internal morality of law, but that is prior, and accounts for, its legal legitimacy. The project demonstrates a connection between participation, citizens’ perception of the law’s moral legitimacy, and obedience.  The project does not follow the trends of deliberative democratic theory, but in fact acts as a challenge to that sub-field.

Eniola’s research and teaching interests are in Ancient to Early Modern Western Political Philosophy, African Philosophy, Modern Political Theory (Justice, Liberty and Freedom, Political and Moral Obligation), Legal Philosophy, Deliberative Theory, and Experimental Research Methods.