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 SCHEDULE

2009-2010

The Political Theory Colloquium provides an informal, interdisciplinary forum for the presentation of work in progress. The Colloquium features papers by UVA faculty members, visiting scholars, and graduate students in the fields of political philosophy, religious studies, ethics, intellectual history, and related disciplines. Papers are distributed in advance and participants come prepared to discuss them in detail.

The Political Theory Workshop meets on selected Fridays from 12-1:30 p.m. at Cabell Hall, Rm. 226. Lunch is provided, although it is on a first come first serve basis.

CONTACTS

Faculty Organizer : Melvin L. Rogers, Assistant Professor, Department of Politics, mlr2d@virginia.edu

Graduate Student Assistant Coordinator : David Novitsky, djn3g@virginia.edu

Tentative Fall Schedule

Papers Forthcoming

September 11: Sahar Akhtar, Philosophy, University of Virginia

October 23: Richard Boyd, Government, Georgetown University

November 6: Patchen Markell, Political Science, University of Chicago

November 13: Ruth Grant, Political Science, Duke University

December 4: Joel Olson, Political Science and International Affairs, Northern

Arizona University (American Political Thought: Institutions and Values: Co-Sponsored with the Miller Center)

Tentative Spring Schedule

Ian Ward, Political Science, University of Maryland, College Park

Jill Frank, Political Science, University of South Carolina

Michael Gillespie, Political Science, Duke University

Eddie Glaude, Religion and African American Studies, Princeton