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Political Theory Faculty
Government and Foreign Affairs Faculty
Participating Faculty

Colloquium Paperss

Political Theory Faculty

George Klosko works in the history of political theory, especially Greek political theory, and on contemporary normative issues, notably political obligation. His most recent book, Democratic Procedures and Liberal Consensus (Oxford, 2000), applies empirical work on democratic societies to the study of political liberalism. His current projects involve the political theory of jacobinism and fundamental moral reform, as well as empirical investigation of attitudes towards political obligations.

Colin Bird’s research focuses primarily on liberalism and democratic theory. His book The Myth of Liberal Individualism (Cambridge, 1999) sharply criticizes recent libertarian political theory and challenges several prevailing characterizations of the liberal tradition and its rivals. On leave at Princeton's Center for Human Values for the 2001-02 academic year, Colin is writing a book on the concept of respect, as well as an introductory volume on political philosophy.

Lawrie Balfour's work centers on issues of race, power, and gender. She has just published The Evidence of Things Not Said: James Baldwin and the Promise of American Democracy (Cornell, 2001). Lawrie's current interests include reparations, the political thought of W.E.B. Du Bois, and the politics of civil rights.

Stephen White examines issues in critical social theory and continental political thought. His most recent book, Sustaining Affirmation: The Strengths of Weak Ontology in Political Theory (Princeton, 2000), develops the concept of "weak ontology," which is central to the enterprise of creating constructive political theory without foundations. His current book project tries to develop the idea of The Ethos of Late Modern Citizenship.

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Additional Politics Faculty

Beyond this core faculty, the Politics Department is unusual in the degree to which it is theory-driven. Many other faculty members write and teach in the field. These include James Ceaser, author of numerous books and articles that address liberal theory and the conservative tradition in American political thought, such as his recent work Reconstructing America. James Savage works on American political thought, in addition to his interests in public policy and budgetary politics. Robert Fatton teaches Marxist theory, and applies Gramscian themes to his analysis of African politics. Lynn Sanders is concerned with issues of race and democratic theory and has published an important article criticizing deliberative politics. Steve Rhoads studies theoretical issues in the intersection between politics and economics. Michael Smith heavily emphasize normative analysis in his studies of international relations. This brief list could be extended.

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Participating Faculty In Other Departments

Allied departments also increase the richness of UVA's offerings. In the Philosophy Department, A. John Simmons is widely known for his provocative advocacy of “philosophical anarchism” and has become a leading interpreter of Locke’s political theory. Talbot Brewer is an expert on Kantian political philosophy, while Daniel Devereux is a major scholar of Plato and Aristotle. The History Department’s Allan Megill, author of Prophets of Extremity, is a distinguished historian of modern social and political thought, and an important philosopher of history in his own right. Most recently, he has published Karl Marx: The Burden Of Reason (2002).. and Empire Krishan Kumar, the noted theorist of utopianism, nationalism, is a member of the Sociology Dept, as is James Hunter, author of Culture Wars. Peter Ochs, an authority on pragmatism and Jewish political thought teaches in the Religious Studies Dept. In English, Rita Felski is a leading feminist theorist and authority on the Frankfurt School. UVA also has a noteworthy strength in the field of bioethics with John Arras in Philosophy, and James Childress in Religious Studies. Jody Kraus, who teaches in the Law School, has written on Hobbesian social contract theory and is a respected commentator on Law and Economics. His courses are frequently cross-listed in the Philosophy department.

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Political Theory Colloquium: Spring 2008

 

February 8, 2008

Carmen Pavel

UVa Program in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law

"Two Models of International Institutions"

10:30 AM - 12 PM

226 Cabell Hall

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February 22, 2008

Emile Lester

University of Mary Washington

"Teaching Good Faith: The Role of Public Schools in Promoting Civil Discourse About Religion."

10:30 AM - 12 PM

Garrett Hall Conference Room

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March 14, 2008

Christopher Lebron,

University of Virginia, Miller Center

" Racial Justice: History, Power, and Respect"

10:30 AM - 12 PM

226 Cabell Hall

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March 21, 2008

John Baltes

College of William and Mary

"Locke’s Labor Lost? Discipline, Liberalism, and the Construction of the Modern Subject"

10:30 AM - 12 PM

226 Cabell Hall

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April 4, 2008

Matt Crawford

UVa, Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture

"Technology as Moral Educator"

10:30 AM - 12 PM

226 Cabell Hall

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April 18, 2008

Claire Snyder

George Mason University

"Choice Feminism and the Problem of Desire"

10:30 AM - 12PM

226 Cabell Hall

 

 

 

 

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