Obituary for
Jonathan Dean
Jonathan Dean
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing on 24 May 2024 of our dear friend and colleague Jonathan Dean, Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds, founder of the Centre for Democratic Engagement, and a cherished member of the Populism Specialist Group community.
Jonathan was not just a scholar known for his critical ethos, but also an approachable person known for his generosity, kindness and enthusiasm. He was particularly warm and supportive towards his students, supervisees and junior scholars in general. Jonathan was outspoken about social, economic and political injustices. He stood with and by his colleagues during the recent waves of cuts and redundancies in the UK Higher Education. He was a feminist, and was not afraid to call out those who had once inspired him when he believed they acted unethically. These rare qualities of his will be profoundly missed.
In September 2023, Jonathan was the keynote speaker at our annual workshop. He delivered a captivating presentation on the relationship between the theories of Ernesto Laclau and Stuart Hall, and the interplay between populism studies and cultural studies. His engaging and rigorous talk was a highlight of the event, showcasing his intellectual curiosity and depth of knowledge.
Jonathan completed his PhD at the University of Essex in 2007. He worked at the London School of Economics before joining the University of Leeds in 2010. His academic journey was marked by a deep commitment to exploring the intersections of gender, race, and popular culture within political practices and identities. His notable contributions include research on left-wing populism and feminism. His monograph on contemporary feminism, along with numerous articles and projects, has left an indelible mark on critical political studies. Recently, Jonathan was writing a book on the politics of bird-watching, reflecting his passion for birding and his belief that all areas of life are inherently political.
We extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's family, friends, colleagues and students during this difficult time. His legacy will continue to inspire and influence us for years to come.
In heartfelt remembrance,
Populism Specialist Group
Tributes by colleagues and friends
Bice Maiguashca, Associate Professor of Politics, University of Exeter
'Jonathan Dean was my academic ‘partner in crime’ for over a decade and he was also a dear friend. As an intellectual companion and co-author – we concocted two grant proposals and 7 articles together – Jonathan was the gift that kept on giving. His razor-sharp intellect, theoretical dexterity and keen grasp of British politics in general and popular culture, in particular, made him a joy to work with. He was, at the same time, humble and intellectually generous in an academic world that is so often marked by hubris and methodological rigidity. Always willing to make space for the ideas of others, he went out of his way to celebrate the work of those lucky enough to be his circle. In fact, I first met Jonathan in 2011 when he enthusiastically waylaid me and Catherine Eschle at a conference lunch, extolling the virtues of a feminist book we had recently published. I was struck by his earnest and effusive show of support and we happily accepted his invitation to present on it at Leeds, an event that marked the start of our long working relationship.
But in addition to being a brilliant colleague and scholar, Jonathan was a profoundly warm and kind-hearted friend who felt deeply about many things from the politics of feminism and the Left to the uplifting beauty of music, Scottish whisky and bird life. And of course, he was also hilarious. His dry wit, self-deprecating humour and general mischievousness made him an absolute pleasure to be around and it certainly enlivened many a conference that we attended together – it was quite simply impossible to listen to him present a paper without smiling. He was an original: I feel very grateful to have known and worked with the one and only Jonathan Dean.'
Emmy Eklundh , Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Law and Politics, Cardiff University
'I always considered Jonathan to be on the right side of history. In our discussions about research, academia, or personal life, his opinions were sound and kind. He was the academic so many of us want to be. Jonathan stood up for what he believed in. He was also incredibly warm and generous. Whether we talked about birding or Taylor Swift, Jonathan always managed to bring people together. His research was excellent, and reading his work often brought a smile to my face. He managed to do what many find difficult, writing with clarity about matters that previously seemed so complicated. My heart goes out to his family and friends in this exceptionally difficult time. For our field, we have lost an essential voice and ally. He will be sorely missed.'
Jason Glynos, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex
'When I received news of Jonathan's untimely death by email from a close friend of his, I found myself staring blankly at the announcement for a long time before very slowly and with great difficulty coming back to my senses, not able to imagine how his partner and young family must be feeling, nor his folks and extended family.
A graduate of the IDA programme at Essex, Jonathan was very popular across many groups and conference circuits, producing also cutting-edge work at the intersection of politics, feminism, culture, and the media. I can only imagine how many have been affected by his death already, feeling this as much as a personal loss as a scholarly loss.
I knew Jonathan quite well for the simple reason that he spent an extended period at the University of Essex from 2002 onwards, as an undergraduate, as a graduate student, as a PhD supervisee, as a research assistant, and as a colleague. An incredibly kind and personable individual, but also intellectually fiercely independent from the start of his academic career, Jonathan was without doubt one of the brightest and most promising scholars our University had seen. He had a phenomenal and enviable facility in expressing himself with ease and panache, yet always in the most modest and understated manner, and not without a good dose of dry humour. It did often feel like he was one of those people who were truly ‘in tune’ with the world.
This was reflected partly in his academic record: First class undergraduate degree in Politics and Sociology, attracting the Fuller Bequest Undergraduate Prize; ESRC 1+3 scholarship award; and Distinction in his MA in Ideology and Discourse Analysis (IDA). After completing his MA dissertation on the politics of the British intersex movement, Jonathan embarked upon his PhD research, which explored the radical democratic potential of contemporary UK feminist organizations. After successfully defending his PhD thesis in November 2007 (examiners: Angela McRobbie and Aletta Norval) Jonathan took up the opportunity to teach at the University of Essex, while also writing and publishing articles in respected peer-reviewed journals. Jonathan was an ESRC post-doctoral scholar at the Gender Institute, London School of Economics, for the 2008-9 academic year, during which time he taught and lectured in gender theory and methods, and completed a book manuscript drawing on his PhD thesis in the area of contemporary feminist politics, published by Palgrave. Jonathan also worked as part-time teacher in the Department of Government, acting as temporary replacement for colleagues on leave, covering a wide range of topics including democratic theory, theories of hegemony, and critical theory. Apart from supervising MA students and sitting on PhD boards in the area of political theory at such an early stage of his career, this teaching stint also involved covering demanding MA modules in ideology and political discourse, as well as methods in political theory and analysis.
Jonathan was by all accounts a hugely valuable addition to our community here at the University of Essex where, apart from his graduate level teaching at the Department of Government, he had taught advanced undergraduates at the Department of Sociology, and was active in helping us organize the very successful 6th and 7th editions of the Annual Conference in Political Theory, with keynotes by Bonnie Honnig, David Owen, Linda Zerilli, and Ernesto Laclau (and not without lots of deliberation about whether to cut costs by reducing the number of colours on our posters).
Our paths would therefore cross innumerable times over a period of 8 years while Jonathan was at Essex, forging an attachment that was stronger than I had imagined to be the case, rekindled every time we would run into each other at academic conferences or otherwise. As an ex-PhD supervisor in particular, it is impossible not to feel winded by the shockingly awful news that Jonathan had died so suddenly and unexpectedly. I feel both incredibly privileged and sad to have had the fortune to see how Jonathan cultivated and deepened his unique mix of sensibilities and gifts, becoming a formidable scholar and human being, while also seeing his potential cut short so abruptly.
Apart from his impressive academic-professional record, his never shying away from (always diplomatic) controversy and provocation, as well as his good humour and modest disposition, he also had an infectious enthusiasm for music and birds.
A continuing rising star in left academia since leaving Essex, most recently at Leeds, and with a gift for communicating to broad audiences, and touching so many at a professional-academic and personal level, he had so much more to give'.
Aurelien Mondon, Senior Lecturer, Politics, Languages & International Studies, University of Bath
'There are few academics I respect and admire more than Jonathan. While I didn't know him well on a personal level, whenever we met, whatever I read by him or whatever I heard about him from colleagues - early career ones in particular - made it clear he was an incredibly ethical academic. I witnessed him being brave and speaking up for what's right, even when it was against his own personal gain, a trait sorely lacking in many other academics I have worked with over the years. My thoughts go first to his family and close ones for whom this is an unbearable loss. For his colleagues and our field, this is also a tragic loss and he will leave a massive gap. The way for us to honour his memory is to strive to be better, more ethical academics and challenge injustice wherever we see it as he would have done and would have expected us to'.
Barbara Grut, PhD Candidate, School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds
'Jonathan was my thesis supervisor at the University of Leeds (School of Politics and International Studies) and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside him for five years. We shared an interest in left politics and populism. When he told me he had completed his PhD at the University of Essex, I realised that I was in the presence of Laclauian greatness; Jonathan had the incredible gift of being able to explain the most complicated concepts in a way that made them sound perfectly straightforward. I used to love our supervision meetings, he would always give me sound advice, and we would invariably share a laugh about the little things in life that are sent to try us. He was kind and patient. I can’t quite believe that he is gone. My most heartfelt condolences go to his family at this most difficult time'.
Luke March, Chair of Post-Soviet and Comparative Politics, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh
'I was deeply saddened to hear of Jonathan’s death. He is someone I only met a handful of times, and yet someone I always wished I saw more. He always impressed with his wit, intellectual acuity, and ability to see and think the unexpected. I always followed his work with interest, finding it invariably rich, challenging and thought-provoking. My deepest condolences to his family and close friends for someone who will be gravely missed'.
Andy Knott, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Brighton
'This is devastating news, and my thoughts are with Jonathan's family and close friends. I only met Jonathan on a handful of occasions but those formed a clear impression of someone that was fiercely committed, intelligent, wry and kind. Jonathan has been taken from us too young and had so much more to give and, as the tributes testify, will be sorely missed by so many.'