About Alan
Economist, sociologist, writer and painter, living near Cambridge.
Alan Storkey is a British economist, sociologist and artist. He studied economics at Christ’s College, Cambridge, took a sociology masters at the London School of Economics, and wrote his doctorate on the foundations of consumption theory at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, under Bob Goudzwaard.
He has taught economics, sociology, philosophy, politics and biblical studies. He began in sociology at Stirling University, went on to direct the Shaftesbury Project, taught at Worksop College and joined the Research Scholars in Economics team at Calvin College, Michigan. For 20 years, until 2003, he was Director of Studies at Oak Hill Theological College in London.
He has written key texts in Christian social, economic and political thought, and has taken part in politics directly: he chaired the Movement for Christian Democracy and stood as a Christian candidate in UK general elections. His case for a motorway coach network went to government transport inquiries and is cited in George Monbiot’s book Heat.
About 30 years ago he came to see that the usual story of western arms, that we are defending against the bad guys, was badly flawed. Since then he has traced how arms manufacturers shaped western military history, and argued that war is a solvable problem through world disarmament.
Alan is married to Elaine Storkey, the philosopher, sociologist and broadcaster. They have three sons and six grandchildren.
A life in brief
1943
Born in London
Educated at the City of Norwich School, where he was school captain.
1968
Marries Elaine
1979
A Christian Social Perspective
His first book, published by Inter-Varsity Press.
Early 1980s
Calvin College, Michigan
A member of the Research Scholars in Economics team.
Until 2003
Oak Hill Theological College
Director of Studies for 20 years, running the academic programme with Middlesex University.
1990s
Movement for Christian Democracy
Chair of the movement.
1997
Enfield Southgate
Stands at the general election, the night of the “Portillo moment”.
2005
Jesus and Politics
Published by Baker Academic and featured at the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh.
2015
Disarm the World
Founds the campaign and publishes War or Peace? The long failure of western arms.
2023
Militarism Has Failed
We disarm the world.
2024
Fifty Problems for Atheists
Followed by Christianity Is Back, a book of poems.
The painter
Alan paints landscapes and portraits and exhibits regularly. Most of his landscapes are of the country around Cambridge: Grantchester, Coton and the Cam. Others go further afield, to coasts from Achmelvich to Donegal.
Eight of the Grantchester paintings belong together. He calls them the Grantchester Eight.
We can disarm the world
Alan’s current work is a campaign for full world disarmament: every state disarms together, 20% a year for five years, with open inspection. Christians and churches anywhere can add their names to the petition.