Introduction

In 2014, when Lucy Sargisson was promoted to Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations, at the University of Nottingham, she became the first and, so far, only Professor of Utopian Studies. This choice symbolized the centrality of utopianism to her life, thought, and educational practice. In three books, each in their own way groundbreaking, a fourth book co-authored by one of us, and in important articles, her work falls into four primary areas, political theory, feminism, environmentalism, and intentional communities, with much of her work intersecting two, three, or even all four. And in all her work, she brings the lens of utopianism to bear on the subject and, in doing so, illuminates both utopianism and the subject at hand. Sargisson’s work represents an important legacy for the utopian studies community, one that this volume in her honor attests to. Many colleagues and friends, in fact, seized the opportunity to testify to Sargisson’s legacy by contributing with their chapters. Their contributions are divided into four sections, preceded by a “Foreword” by Ruth Levitas and the editors’ “Introduction.” The four sections are: “Utopian Literature,” “Intentional Communities,” “Film and Television,” and “Teaching.” A “Responses” section includes an “Afterword” by Davina Cooper and a response by Sargisson herself concludes the volume.