Editing London School of Economics (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of the London School of Economics}}
[[File:Beatrice and Sidney Webb, c1895 (9259293969).jpg|thumb|right|[[Beatrice Webb|Beatrice]] and [[Sidney Webb]]]]

=== Origins ===
The London School of Economics and Political Science was founded in 1895<ref name="LSEHistoryAbout">{{cite web|title=Our history|url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/about-lse/our-history|access-date=21 May 2021|publisher=London School of Economics|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517103925/https://www2.lse.ac.uk/about-lse/our-history|url-status=live}}</ref> by [[Beatrice Webb|Beatrice]] and [[Sidney Webb, 1st Baron Passfield|Sidney Webb]],<ref name="LSEHistoryWebbs">{{cite web|last=Donnelly|first=Sue|title=Meet our founders|publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/about-lse/125-anniversary/blogs/meet-our-founders|access-date=25 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525063603/https://www.lse.ac.uk/about-lse/125-anniversary/blogs/meet-our-founders|url-status=live}}</ref> initially funded by a bequest of £20,000<ref name="SpartacusLSE">{{cite web|title=London School of Economics and Political Science|url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/LSEHistory/lse.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805043238/http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/LSEHistory/lse.htm|archive-date=2009-08-05|access-date=25 May 2021|publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science}}</ref><ref name="Statisticians">{{Cite book|author1-link=Chris Heyde|author = C. C. Heyde|author2 = Eugene Seneta|author2-link=Eugene Seneta|title = Statisticians of the Centuries|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=uS3dq_grwr0C&q=Hutchinson+bequest+LSE&pg=PA279|publisher = Springer|year = 2001|page = 279|access-date = 23 July 2009|isbn = 9780387952833|archive-date = 10 July 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230710220720/https://books.google.com/books?id=uS3dq_grwr0C&q=Hutchinson+bequest+LSE&pg=PA279|url-status = live}}</ref> from the [[estate (law)|estate]] of Henry Hunt Hutchinson. Hutchinson, a lawyer<ref name="SpartacusLSE" /> and member of the [[Fabian Society]],<ref name="SmithLSEandEducation">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Mark K. |title=The London School of Economics and informal education |url=http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-lse.htm |date=30 August 2000 |access-date=23 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015065721/http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-lse.htm |archive-date=15 October 2009 }}</ref><ref name="LSEPassfieldArchives">{{cite web|title = London School of Economics and Political Science Archives catalogue|url = http://archives.lse.ac.uk/dserve.exe?dsqServer=lib-4.lse.ac.uk&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=(RefNo=%27passfield%27)|publisher = London School of Economics|year = 2008|access-date = 23 July 2009|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070611143150/http://archives.lse.ac.uk/dserve.exe?dsqServer=lib-4.lse.ac.uk&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqSearch=(RefNo='passfield')&dsqPos=0|archive-date = 11 June 2007|df = dmy-all}}</ref> left the money in trust, to be put "towards advancing its [The Fabian Society's] objects in any way they [the [[trustee]]s] deem advisable".<ref name="LSEPassfieldArchives" /> The five trustees were Sidney Webb, [[Edward R. Pease|Edward Pease]], Constance Hutchinson, [[W. S. de Mattos]] and William Clark.<ref name="SpartacusLSE"/>

LSE records that the proposal to establish the school was conceived during a breakfast meeting on 4 August 1894, between the Webbs, Louis Flood, and [[George Bernard Shaw]].<ref name="LSEHistoryAbout" /> The proposal was accepted by the trustees in February 1895<ref name="LSEPassfieldArchives" /> and LSE held its first classes in October of that year, in rooms at 9 John Street, [[Adelphi, London|Adelphi]],<ref name="LSEHistory1895">{{cite web|title = LSE 1895
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805043238/http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/LSEHistory/lse.htm
|archive-date=5 August 2009|url = http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/LSEHistory/lse.htm|publisher=London School of Economics|year = 2000|access-date =23 July 2009}}</ref> in the [[City of Westminster]].

=== 20th century ===
The school joined the federal [[University of London]] in 1900 and was recognised as a Faculty of Economics of the university. The University of London degrees of [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]] (Econ) and [[Doctor of Science|DSc]] (Econ) were established in 1901, the first university degrees dedicated to the social sciences.<ref name="LSEHistory1895" /> Expanding rapidly over the following years, the school moved initially to the nearby 10 Adelphi Terrace, then to Clare Market and Houghton Street. The foundation stone of the Old Building, on Houghton Street, was laid by [[George V|King George V]] in 1920;<ref name="LSEHistoryAbout" /> the building was opened in 1922.<ref name="LSEHistory1895" />

The school's arms,<ref name="PlantArms">{{cite web|first = Arnold|last = Plant|author-link = Arnold Plant|title = File:"Coat of arms of the London School of Economics and Political Science"|url = http://beginnings.ioe.ac.uk/1-6%20original.jpg|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100531073327/http://beginnings.ioe.ac.uk/1-6%20original.jpg|url-status = dead|archive-date = 31 May 2010|publisher = Institute of Education|access-date = 23 July 2009}}</ref> including its motto and beaver mascot, were adopted in February 1922,<ref name="IOEBeginnings">{{cite web|title=London School of Economics |url=http://beginnings.ioe.ac.uk/begslse.html |work=Beginnings: The History of Higher Education in Bloomsbury and Westminster |publisher=Institute of Education |access-date=23 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926011322/http://beginnings.ioe.ac.uk/begslse.html |archive-date=26 September 2009 }}</ref> on the recommendation of a committee of twelve, including eight students, which was established to research the matter.<ref name="LSEBeaverClub">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908033808/http://www.alumni.lse.ac.uk/olc/pub/LHE/filemanager/annualfund/giftclubs/beaversclub/default.htm|archive-date=8 September 2009|title = London School of Economics Online Community – Member Services|url = http://www.alumni.lse.ac.uk/olc/pub/LHE/filemanager/annualfund/giftclubs/beaversclub/default.htm|publisher=London School of Economics|access-date =23 July 2009}}</ref> The Latin motto, {{Lang|la|rerum cognoscere causas}}, is taken from [[Virgil]]'s [[Georgics]]. Its English translation is "to Know the Causes of Things"<ref name="IOEBeginnings" /> and it was suggested by Professor [[Edwin Cannan]].<ref name="LSEHistoryAbout" /> The beaver mascot was selected for its associations with "foresight, constructiveness, and industrious behaviour".<ref name="LSEBeaverClub" />
[[File:Friedrich Hayek portrait.jpg|thumb|right|[[Friedrich Hayek]], who taught at LSE during the 1930s and 1940s]]
The economic debate between the LSE and the [[University of Cambridge]] during the 1930s is a well-known chapter in academic circles. The rivalry between academic opinion at LSE and Cambridge goes back to the school's roots when LSE's [[Edwin Cannan]] (1861–1935), Professor of Economics, and Cambridge's Professor of Political Economy, [[Alfred Marshall]] (1842–1924), the leading economist of the day, argued about the bedrock matter of economics and whether the subject should be considered as an organic whole. (Marshall disapproved of LSE's separate listing of pure theory and its insistence on economic history.)<ref>Dahrendorf (1995), p.210-213</ref>

The dispute also concerned the question of the economist's role, and whether this should be as a detached expert or a practical adviser.<ref>Gerard Loot, cited in Dahrendorf (1995), P.212</ref> Despite the traditional view that the LSE and Cambridge were fierce rivals through the 1920s and 30s, they worked together in the 1920s on the London and Cambridge Economic Service.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://academic.oup.com/cje/article-abstract/41/1/307/2625390/The-London-and-Cambridge-Economic-Service-history?redirectedFrom=fulltext|title=The London and Cambridge Economic Service: history and contributions|last=Cord|first=Robert A.|doi=10.1093/cje/bew020|journal=Cambridge Journal of Economics|date=2016|volume=41|issue=1|pages=307–326|access-date=17 January 2017|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215124234/https://academic.oup.com/cje/article-abstract/41/1/307/2625390/The-London-and-Cambridge-Economic-Service-history?redirectedFrom=fulltext|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the 1930s brought a return to disputes as economists at the two universities argued over how best to address the economic problems caused by the [[Great Depression]].<ref name=CambDebate>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline/latest/embed/index.html?source=0Ah9w-9lcqZALdHdTbmF2MS1iYmtVdmlpX3A5N2VPc0E&font=Georgia-Helvetica&maptype=toner&lang=en&hash_bookmark=true&amp%20-%200#33|title=Debate with Cambridge|work=LSE timeline 1895–1995|access-date=17 January 2017|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022145555/https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline/latest/embed/index.html?source=0Ah9w-9lcqZALdHdTbmF2MS1iYmtVdmlpX3A5N2VPc0E&font=Georgia-Helvetica&maptype=toner&lang=en&hash_bookmark=true&amp%20-%200#33|url-status=live}}</ref>

The main figures in this debate were [[John Maynard Keynes]] from Cambridge and the LSE's [[Friedrich Hayek]]. The LSE economist [[Lionel Robbins]] was also heavily involved. Starting off as a disagreement over whether demand management or deflation was the better solution to the economic problems of the time, it eventually embraced much wider concepts of economics and macroeconomics. Keynes put forward the theories now known as [[Keynesian economics]], involving the active participation of the state and public sector, while Hayek and Robbins followed the [[Austrian School]], which emphasised free trade and opposed state involvement.<ref name=CambDebate/>

During World War II, the school decamped from London to the University of Cambridge, occupying buildings belonging to [[Peterhouse, Cambridge|Peterhouse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/images/display.html?image=album/hostel/hostel_03.jpg |title=Peterhouse Images |publisher=Peterhouse, Cambridge |access-date=23 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529001601/http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/images/display.html?image=album%2Fhostel%2Fhostel_03.jpg |archive-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the decision to establish a modern [[business school]] within the University of London in the mid-1960s, the idea was discussed of setting up a "Joint School of Administration, Economics, and Technology" between the LSE and [[Imperial College]]. However, this avenue was not pursued and instead, the [[London Business School]] was created as a college of the university.<ref name="management history">{{cite web|url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/management/about-us/history|title=History of the department|publisher=LSE Department of Management|access-date=10 September 2023|archive-date=3 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603113730/https://www2.lse.ac.uk/management/about-us/history|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1966, the appointment of Sir [[Walter Adams (historian)|Walter Adams]] as director sparked opposition from the student union and student protests. Adams had previously been principal of the [[University of Zimbabwe|University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]], and the students objected to his failure to oppose [[Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence]] and cooperation with the white minority government. This broadened into wider concerns about links between the LSE and its governors and investments in Rhodesia and South Africa and concerns over LSE's response to student protests. These led to the closure of the school for 25 days in 1969 after a student attempt to dismantle the school gates resulted in the arrest of over 30 students. Injunctions were taken out against 13 students (nine from LSE), with three students ultimately being suspended, two foreign students being deported, and two staff members seen as supporting the protests being fired.<ref name="LSEHistoryAbout" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2019/02/18/the-lse-troubles-opposing-a-director/|last=Donnelly|first=Sue|date=18 February 2019|publisher=London School of Economics|title=Opposing a Director|newspaper=Lse History |access-date=10 September 2023|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901175901/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2019/02/18/the-lse-troubles-opposing-a-director/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2019/03/06/storming-the-gates-and-closing-the-school/|last=Donnelly|first=Sue|date=6 March 2019|title=Storming the gates and closing the School|newspaper=Lse History |publisher=London School of Economics|access-date=10 September 2023|archive-date=16 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316085923/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2019/03/06/storming-the-gates-and-closing-the-school/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1970s, four [[Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences|Nobel Memorial Prizes in Economic Sciences]] were awarded to economists associated with the LSE: [[John Hicks]] (lecturer 1926–36) in 1972, [[Friedrich Hayek]] (lecturer 1931–50) in 1974, [[James Meade]] (lecturer 1947–1957) in 1977 and [[W. Arthur Lewis|Arthur Lewis]] (BSc Econ 1937, and the LSE's first Black academic 1938–44) in 1979.<ref name="LSEHistoryAbout" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/about-lse/lse-people/James-Meade|title=James Meade|publisher=London School of Economics|access-date=10 September 2023|archive-date=21 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921204608/https://www.lse.ac.uk/about-lse/lse-people/James-Meade|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2015/01/23/arthur-lewis-at-lse-one-of-our-best-teachers/|last=Donnelly|first=Sue|date=23 January 2015|title=Arthur Lewis at LSE – one of our best teachers|newspaper=Lse History |publisher=London School of Economics|access-date=10 September 2023|archive-date=10 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610171734/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2015/01/23/arthur-lewis-at-lse-one-of-our-best-teachers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
[[File:lse initials.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Stonework featuring the initials of LSE]]

In the early 21st century, the LSE had a wide impact on British politics. ''[[The Guardian]]'' described such influence in 2005 when it stated:
<blockquote>Once again the political clout of the school, which seems to be closely wired into parliament, Whitehall, and the Bank of England, is being felt by ministers. ... The strength of LSE is that it is close to the political process: [[Mervyn King, Baron King of Lothbury|Mervyn King]], was a former LSE professor. The former chairman of the House of Commons education committee, [[Barry Sheerman]], sits on its board of governors, along with Labour peer [[Frank Judd, Baron Judd|Lord (Frank) Judd]]. Also on the board are Tory MPs [[Virginia Bottomley]] and [[Richard Shepherd]], as well as [[Maurice Saatchi, Baron Saatchi|Lord Saatchi]] and [[Elspeth Howe, Baroness Howe of Idlicote|Lady Howe]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |last=MacLeod |first=Donald |url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/columnist/story/0,,1515788,00.html |title=A Time Honoured Tradition |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=27 June 2005 |access-date=4 April 2010 |archive-date=19 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219133041/http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/columnist/story/0,,1515788,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

Commenting in 2001 on the rising status of the LSE, the British magazine ''[[The Economist]]'' stated that "two decades ago the LSE was still the poor relation of the University of London's other colleges. Now... it regularly follows Oxford and Cambridge in league tables of research output and teaching quality and is at least as well-known abroad as Oxbridge". According to the magazine, the school "owes its success to the single-minded, American-style exploitation of its brand name and political connections by the recent directors, particularly Mr [[Anthony Giddens|Giddens]] and his predecessor, [[John Ashworth (biologist)|John Ashworth]]" and raises money from foreign students' high fees, who were drawn to LSE by the prominence of its academic figures, such as [[Richard Sennett]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/node/687641 |title=The brain trade |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=5 July 2001 |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306061735/http://www.economist.com/node/687641 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, the school published a report disputing the costs of [[Identity Cards Act 2006|British government proposals to introduce compulsory ID cards]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4619218.stm |title=Politics ''"Ministers press on with ID cards"'' |date=17 January 2006 |access-date=6 January 2010 |archive-date=27 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627233201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4619218.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Politics/documents/2005/06/27/identityreport.pdf |title=LSE ID Card Report |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=4 April 2010 |archive-date=27 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327092305/http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Politics/documents/2005/06/27/identityreport.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4711178.stm |title=Government staves off ID rebels |work=BBC News |date=14 February 2006 |access-date=6 January 2010 |archive-date=15 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115093939/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4711178.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> LSE academics were also represented on numerous national and international bodies in the early 21st century, including the UK Airports Commission,<ref>{{cite web|title=UK Airports Commission|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ricky-burdett|publisher=UK Government|access-date=9 December 2013|archive-date=30 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030052414/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ricky-burdett|url-status=live}}</ref> Independent Police Commission,<ref>{{cite web|date=25 November 2013|title=Policing for a better Britain|url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/website-archive/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2013/11/PolicingReport.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215175545/http://www.lse.ac.uk/website-archive/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2013/11/PolicingReport.aspx|archive-date=15 December 2018|access-date=9 December 2013|publisher=London School of Economics}}</ref> Migration Advisory Committee,<ref>{{cite web|title=Professor David Metcalf|url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/management/people/emeriti-visiting-staff/dmetcalf|access-date=26 May 2021|publisher=London School of Economics|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526090706/https://www.lse.ac.uk/management/people/emeriti-visiting-staff/dmetcalf|url-status=live}}</ref> UN Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation,<ref>{{cite web|title=Professor Judith Rees|url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/profile/judith-rees/|access-date=26 May 2021|publisher=London School of Economics|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526090910/https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/profile/judith-rees/|url-status=live}}</ref> London Finance Commission,<ref>{{cite web|title=LSE Professor calls for London to have a greater say over its taxes|url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2013/05/LondonFinanceCommission.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215175553/http://www.lse.ac.uk/website-archive/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2013/05/LondonFinanceCommission.aspx|archive-date=15 December 2018|access-date=9 December 2013|publisher=London School of Economics}}</ref> [[High Speed 2|HS2 Limited]],<ref>{{cite web|title=HS2 report overstated benefits by six to eight times, experts say|last=Topham|first=Gwyn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/05/hs2-report-overstated-benefits-expert|work=The Guardian|date=5 November 2013|access-date=9 December 2013|archive-date=10 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710220721/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/05/hs2-report-overstated-benefits-expert|url-status=live}}</ref> the UK government's Infrastructure Commission<ref>{{cite web|date=5 October 2015|title=LSE recommendations behind UK government's new Infrastructure Commission|url=https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/NEWS/abstract.asp?index=5277|access-date=26 May 2021|publisher=Centre for Economic Performance|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526094546/https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/NEWS/abstract.asp?index=5277|url-status=live}}</ref> and advising on architecture and urbanism for the London 2012 Olympics<ref>{{cite web|title=Professor Ricky Burdett – Commissioner A|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ricky-burdett|access-date=9 December 2013|archive-date=30 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030052414/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ricky-burdett|url-status=live}}</ref>

The LSE gained its own degree-awarding powers in 2006 and the first LSE degrees (rather than degrees of the University of London) were awarded in 2008.<ref name=LSEHistoryAbout/>

Following the passage of the University of London Act 2018, the LSE (along with other member institutions of the University of London) announced in early 2019 that they would seek university status in their own right while remaining part of the federal university.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2019/mar/ucl-statement-university-london-act-2018|title=UCL statement on University of London Act 2018|date=11 March 2019|accessdate=2 August 2022|publisher=University College London|archive-date=7 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707024002/https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2019/mar/ucl-statement-university-london-act-2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Approval of university title was received from the Office for Students in May 2022 and updated Articles of Association formally constituting the school as a university were approved by LSE council 5 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/our-community/Update-from-Chair-of-Council-summer-2022|title=Chair's Blog: Summer Term 2022|accessdate=2 August 2022|publisher=London School of Economics|last=Liautaud|first=Susan|archive-date=6 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706135516/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/our-community/Update-from-Chair-of-Council-summer-2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Articles of Association|url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/services/Policies-and-procedures/Assets/Documents/Articles-of-Association.pdf|date=5 July 2022|accessdate=2 August 2022|publisher=London School of Economics|archive-date=2 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802163005/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/services/Policies-and-procedures/Assets/Documents/Articles-of-Association.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Controversies===
{{See also|London School of Economics Gaddafi links}}
In February 2011, LSE had to face the consequences of [[matriculate|matriculating]] one of [[Muammar Gaddafi]]'s sons while accepting a £1.5m donation to the university from his family.<ref>{{cite news | title = LSE embroiled in row over authorship of Gaddafi's son's PhD thesis and a £1.5m gift to university's coffers | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/lse-embroiled-in-row-over-authorship-of-gaddafis-sons-phd-thesis-and-a-15m-gift-to-universitys-coffers-2226894.html | location = London | work = The Independent | first = Jonathan | last = Owen | date = 27 February 2011 | access-date = 4 September 2017 | archive-date = 25 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925083246/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/lse-embroiled-in-row-over-authorship-of-gaddafis-sons-phd-thesis-and-a-15m-gift-to-universitys-coffers-2226894.html | url-status = live }}</ref> LSE director [[Howard Davies (economist)|Howard Davies]] resigned over allegations about the institution's links to the Libyan regime.<ref name=Davies>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/03/lse-director-resigns-gaddafi-scandal | title=LSE head quits over Gaddafi scandal | work=The Guardian | location=UK | first1=Jeevan | last1=Vasagar | first2=Rajeev | last2=Syal | date=4 March 2011 | access-date=12 December 2016 | archive-date=6 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106174229/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/03/lse-director-resigns-gaddafi-scandal | url-status=live }}</ref> The LSE announced in a statement that it had accepted his resignation with "great regret" and that it had set up an external inquiry into the school's relationship with the Libyan regime and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, to be conducted by the former lord chief justice [[Harry Woolf, Baron Woolf|Harry Woolf]].<ref name=Davies/>

In 2013, the LSE was featured in a [[BBC]] ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' documentary on North Korea, filmed inside the repressive regime by undercover journalists attached to a trip by the [[LSE Students' Union#Grimshaw Club|LSE's Grimshaw Club]], a [[student society]] of the international relations department. The trip had been sanctioned by high-level North Korean officials.<ref name="NewsAUPanorama">{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/world/bbc-panorama-news-documentary-sent-undercover-reporter-to-north-korea-with-students/story-fndir2ev-1226620052370 |title=BBC Panorama news documentary sent undercover reporter to North Korea with students |website=News.com.au |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610063302/http://www.news.com.au/world/bbc-panorama-news-documentary-sent-undercover-reporter-to-north-korea-with-students/story-fndir2ev-1226620052370 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Conlan">{{cite news |last=Conlan |first=Tara |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/17/bbc-apologise-lse-john-sweeney-north-korea-panorama |title=BBC to apologise to LSE over John Sweeney's North Korea documentary |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=13 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213024413/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/17/bbc-apologise-lse-john-sweeney-north-korea-panorama |url-status=live }}</ref> The trip caused international media attention as a BBC journalist was posing as a part of LSE.<ref>{{cite news|last=Halliday|first=Josh|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/apr/17/north-korea-students-criticise-lse|title=Students say LSE has placed them at 'more risk' from North Korea|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=18 January 2016|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109093739/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/apr/17/north-korea-students-criticise-lse|url-status=live}}</ref> There was debate as to whether this put the students' lives in jeopardy in the repressive regime if a reporter had been exposed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/North-Korea-sends-threats-to-LSE-students/articleshow/19612600.cms|first=Kounteya|last=Sinha|title=North Korea sends threats to LSE students|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 April 2013|access-date=18 January 2016|archive-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703215137/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/North-Korea-sends-threats-to-LSE-students/articleshow/19612600.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The North Korean government made hostile threats towards the students and LSE after the publicity, which forced an apology from the BBC.<ref name="Conlan"/>

In August 2015, it was revealed that the university was paid approximately £40,000 for a "glowing report" for [[Camila Batmanghelidjh]]'s charity, [[Kids Company]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/london-school-economics-was-paid-%C2%A340000-glowing-report-kids-company|title=London School of Economics was paid £40,000 for glowing report on Kids Company|work=Times Higher Education|date=12 August 2015|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=4 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904073918/https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/london-school-economics-was-paid-%C2%A340000-glowing-report-kids-company|url-status=live}}</ref> The study was used by Batmanghelidjh to prove that the charity provided good value for money and was well managed. The university did not disclose that the study was funded by the charity.

In 2023, the LSE formally cut ties with the LGBT charity [[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]], a decision which was sharply criticized as transphobic by the LSE Student Union but praised by gender-critical activists as being conducive to freedom of speech.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/20/university-launched-britains-first-pride-march-cuts-ties-stonewall/ |title=University that launched Britain's first Pride march cuts ties with Stonewall |last1=Somerville |first1=Ewan |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208132358/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/20/university-launched-britains-first-pride-march-cuts-ties-stonewall/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/lse-is-right-to-cut-ties-with-stonewall/ |title=LSE is right to cut ties with Stonewall |last1=Armstrong |first1=John |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208132359/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/lse-is-right-to-cut-ties-with-stonewall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024 emails between LSE senior staff described students wearing [[keffiyeh]] who were protesting the university's investments in [[Israel]] as being "dressed as terrorists".<ref>{{Cite web |title=London university described pro-Palestine protesters as 'dressed as terrorists' |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/london-university-described-pro-palestine-students-being-dressed-terrorists |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref>

==== Industrial disputes ====
In the summer of 2017, dozens of campus cleaners contracted via Noonan Services went on weekly strikes, protesting outside key buildings and causing significant disruption during end-of-year examinations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/gender/2016/11/14/justice-for-the-lse-cleaners/|title=Justice for the LSE Cleaners!|date=2016-11-14|website=Engenderings|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065634/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/gender/2016/11/14/justice-for-the-lse-cleaners/|url-status=live}}</ref> The dispute organised by the [[United Voices of the World|UVW union]] was originally over unfair dismissals of cleaners, but had escalated into a broad demand for decent employment rights matching those of LSE's in-house employees.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/25/lse-striking-cleaners-outsourced-university-injustice|title=The courage of the LSE's striking cleaners can give us all hope {{!}} Owen Jones|last=Jones|first=Owen|date=2017-05-25|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-02-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225224003/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/25/lse-striking-cleaners-outsourced-university-injustice|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Owen Jones (writer)|Owen Jones]] did not cross the picket line after arriving for a debate on grammar schools with [[Peter Hitchens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/left-wing-columnist-owen-jones-snubs-lse-debate-solidarity-striking-cleaners-1622133|title=Left-wing columnist Owen Jones snubs LSE debate in solidarity with striking cleaners|date=2017-05-18|website=International Business Times UK|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004158/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/left-wing-columnist-owen-jones-snubs-lse-debate-solidarity-striking-cleaners-1622133|url-status=live}}</ref> It was announced in June 2018 that some 200 outsourced workers at the LSE would be offered in-house contracts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://notesfrombelow.org/article/rebellion-lse-cleaning-sector-inquiry|title=Rebellion at the LSE: a cleaning sector inquiry|website=Notes From Below|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226045714/https://notesfrombelow.org/article/rebellion-lse-cleaning-sector-inquiry|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2014/15, levels of academic casualisation have increased at the LSE, with the number of academics on fixed-term contracts increasing from 47% in 2016/2017 to 59% in 2021/2022,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=HESA |date=2023 |title=HE academic staff by HE provider and employment conditions, Academic years 2014/15 to 2021/22 |url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/staff/employment-conditions |access-date=27 July 2023 |website=HESA |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727181844/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/staff/employment-conditions |url-status=live }}</ref> according to Higher Education Statistical Agency data (internal LSE data puts the latest figure at 58.5%).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title="The Crisis of Academic Casualisation at LSE" |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQiPscs_epkMnBdPyp-h8Wosyuw1oWVgsOHnFivDELE/edit#heading=h.6vvsvf1up4kq |access-date=27 July 2023 |website=LSE UCU Report 2023 |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727181834/https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQiPscs_epkMnBdPyp-h8Wosyuw1oWVgsOHnFivDELE/edit#heading=h.6vvsvf1up4kq |url-status=live }}</ref> During this same period, comparable universities such as [[University of Edinburgh]], [[University College London]] and [[Imperial College London|Imperial]] all increased their rates of permanent staff relative to those on fixed term contracts.<ref name=":0" /> Only Oxford had a higher proportion of casual academic work for the 2021/2022 year (66%) although in contrast to LSE, the proportion remained constant rather than rising.<ref name=":0" /> As a result, the student-to-permanent staff ratio at LSE has worsened and had, as of July 2023, the worst student-to-permanent staff ratio among comparable universities in the UK, according to HESA data.<ref name=":0" /> According to research conducted by the LSE UCU Branch into staff well-being, 82% of fixed term academic staff at the LSE experienced regular or constant anxiety about their professional futures.<ref name=":1" /> In the same survey, overwork and mental health issues were reported as endemic among respondents, with 40% of fellows reporting that their teaching hours exceeded LSE's universal teaching limit of 100 hours per academic year for LSE Fellows.<ref name=":1" />

In response to industrial action, which included not marking student work, taken by [[University and College Union|UCU]] in the summer of 2023 over pay and casualised working conditions, the LSE management took the decision to not accept partial performance of duties and to impose pay deductions on academic staff participating in the action.<ref name="pay deductions">{{Cite web |last=LSE |date=2023 |title="Industrial Action: marking and assessment boycott – frequently asked questions (FAQs) for staff and managers" |url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Human-Resources/Assets/Documents/Industrial-Action/Industrial-Action-FAQs-for-staff-and-managers-marking-assessment-boycott-May23.pdf |access-date=27 July 2023 |publisher=London School of Economics |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727165444/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Human-Resources/Assets/Documents/Industrial-Action/Industrial-Action-FAQs-for-staff-and-managers-marking-assessment-boycott-May23.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The LSE also introduced an 'Exceptional Degree Classification Schemes' policy,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=LSE Registrar's Division, Student Services |date=June 2023 |title="Marking and Assessment Boycott Summer 2023 Exceptional Degree Classification Schemes for Provisional Classifications" (PDF). |url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/academic-registrars-division/Teaching-Quality-Assurance-and-Review-Office/Assets/Documents/Calendar/MAB-Summer-23-Exceptional-Degree-Classification-Schemes-for-Provisional-Classifications.pdf |access-date=27 July 2023 |publisher=London School of Economics |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727194732/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/academic-registrars-division/Teaching-Quality-Assurance-and-Review-Office/Assets/Documents/Calendar/MAB-Summer-23-Exceptional-Degree-Classification-Schemes-for-Provisional-Classifications.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> allowing undergraduate and taught postgraduate students to be awarded provisional degrees on the basis of fewer grades than normally required. In the event that the final classification (once all marks are available) is lower than the provisional classification, the higher provisional classification will stand as the degree classification.<ref name=":2" />

==== ''The World Turned Upside Down'' ====
[[File:The World Turned Upside Down (sculpture by Mark Wallinger).jpg|thumb|upright|''The World Turned Upside Down'']]

A sculpture by [[Mark Wallinger]], ''[[The World Turned Upside Down (sculpture)|The World Turned Upside Down]]'', which features a globe resting on its north pole, was installed in Sheffield Street on the LSE campus on 26 March 2019. The artwork attracted controversy for showing [[Taiwan]] as a sovereign state rather than as part of [[China]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Martin |date=5 April 2019 |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/mark-wallinger |title=Wallinger's upside-down globe outside LSE angers Chinese students for portraying Taiwan as an independent state |website=[[The Art Newspaper]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802193004/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/mark-wallinger |archive-date=2 August 2019 |url-status=live}}.

</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chung |first1=Lawrence |title=Taipei complains about London university's decision to alter artwork and portray Taiwan as part of China |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3004625/taipei-complains-about-english-universitys-decision-alter |url-access=subscription |date=4 April 2019 |publisher=South China Morning Post |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405114756/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3004625/taipei-complains-about-english-universitys-decision-alter |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Tom |title=China destroys 30,000 world maps showing 'problematic' borders of Taiwan and India |url=https://www.newsweek.com/china-destroys-maps-problem-borders-1375608 |date=26 March 2019 |work=Newsweek |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405075407/https://www.newsweek.com/china-destroys-maps-problem-borders-1375608 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lhasa]] being denoted as a full capital and depicting [[Sino-Indian border dispute|boundaries between India and China]] as recognised internationally. The sculpture also did not depict the [[State of Palestine]] as a separate country from Israel.

After protests and reactions from both Chinese and Taiwanese students,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk_en/post/5075.html |date=2019-04-05 |first1=Joseph |last1=Wu |publisher=Taipei Representative Office in the U.K. |title=Taiwan Foreign Minister writes open letter protesting LSE's decision to change depiction of Taiwan on sculpture|access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407154732/https://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk_en/post/5075.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/edition/news/london-school-of-economics-in-a-world-of-trouble-over-globe-artwork-7lc696x97|title=London School of Economics in a world of trouble over globe artwork|website=[[The Times]]|access-date=April 7, 2019|last1=Parker|first1=Charlie|archive-date=8 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408211430/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/london-school-of-economics-in-a-world-of-trouble-over-globe-artwork-7lc696x97|url-status=live}}</ref> The university decided later that year that it would retain the original design which coloured the People's Republic of China and Taiwan as different entities, consistent with the status quo, but with the addition of an asterisk beside the name of Taiwan and a corresponding placard that clarified the institution's position regarding the controversy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lin Chia-nan |title=Ministry lauds LSE for globe color decision |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/07/11/2003718465 |work=Taipei Times |date=July 11, 2019 |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810001609/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/07/11/2003718465 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Taiwan still distinct from China but given asterisk on LSE art work |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201907100013.aspx |publisher=Focus Taiwan |date=2019-07-10 |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=11 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711125649/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201907100013.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>