David Runciman is Professor of Politics at Cambridge University and until 2020 was Head of the Department of Politics and International Studies [POLIS].

He is the author of many books about politics.
One of the most influential is 'Politics: Ideas in Profile'. This book explores what politics is, why do we need it and where, in these troubling times, is it heading.

Taking the reader across topics such as the gap between rich and poor to the impact of social media on our political climate, it is a useful resource for anyone who is interested in learning about how politics shapes the world.

Other recent books include 'How Democracy Ends' in 2018, and in 2021 'Confronting Leviathan: A History of Ideas' looking at some of the most important thinkers and ideas in modern politics.

From 2016 to 2022, Runciman hosted a podcast called Talking Politics with Professor Helen Thompson for over 300 episodes and 26 million downloads also hosted a spin-off podcast named Talking Politics: History of Ideas. This podcast focused on key thinkers and ideologies from throughout history.

In July 2018, David was elected Fellow of the British Academy and in July 2021, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

In 2023 in partnership with the London Review of Books he launched a weekly podcast 'Past Present Future' to explore the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, from culture to technology, with historians, novelists, scientists and many others.