

The Political Theory Review
Jeffrey Church
Conversations with scholars on recent books in Political Theory and Social and Political Philosophy.This podcast is not affiliated with the University of Wisconsin, and no opinions expressed on this podcast are that of the University of Wisconsin. Image: Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), After a model by Jean Antoine Houdon (French, Versailles 1741–1828 Paris), in the public domain courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of ArtHost contact: Jeffrey Church, jchurch4@wisc.edu
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 7min
Episode 187: Douglas Moggach - Freedom and Perfection
A conversation with Douglas Moggach about his recent book "Freedom and Perfection: German Political Thought from Leibniz to Marx" (Cambridge UP).

Sep 11, 2025 • 37min
Episode 186: William Galston - Anger, Fear, Domination
William Galston, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of 'Anger, Fear, Domination,' delves into the emotional undercurrents affecting liberal democracy. He discusses how anger and fear can threaten democratic values, emphasizing the need for understanding and compromise. Galston highlights the power of rhetoric to combat dark emotions in politics and advocates for persuasive speech as essential in defending democracy. Historical examples illustrate the pitfalls of allowing resentment to shape political dynamics.

Sep 10, 2025 • 50min
Episode 185: Cass Sunstein - On Liberalism
Cass Sunstein, a Harvard University professor and author of 'On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom,' discusses the complexities of liberal thought. He examines diverse interpretations, critiques from both the left and right, and the intersection of freedom and community beliefs. Sunstein shares historical insights and personal anecdotes, highlighting the delicate balance between individual agency and societal norms. He also addresses the future of liberalism, focusing on its resilience amid contemporary challenges and the necessity for inclusive discourse.

Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 21min
Episode 184: John Christman - Reconceiving Freedom from the Shadows of Slavery
A conversation with John Christman about his recent book, "Reconceiving Liberty from the Shadows of Slavery: Liberty in a Nonideal World" (Cambridge UP)

22 snips
Aug 12, 2025 • 56min
Episode 183: Linda Zerilli - A Democratic Theory of Truth
Linda Zerilli, a professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, dives into her book on democratic truth. She discusses the impact of misinformation in politics, particularly during the Trump era. Zerilli critiques fact-checking and the subjective nature of truth, drawing from Foucault and Arendt. The conversation explores the interplay between solitude and social processes in thinking, the importance of diverse voices in deliberative democracy, and challenges the post-truth landscape by advocating a reevaluation of truth through ordinary language.

Jul 23, 2025 • 1h 8min
Episode 182: Alyssa Battistoni - Free Gifts
A conversation with Alyssa Battistoni about her recent book, "Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature" (Princeton UP)

Jul 9, 2025 • 1h 14min
Episode 181: Amit Ron and Abraham Singer - Everyone's Business
A conversation with Amit Ron and Abraham Singer about their recent book, "Everyone's Business: What Companies Owe Society" (U Chicago Press).

Jun 19, 2025 • 58min
Episode 180: Robert Gooding-Williams - Democracy and Beauty
A conversation with Robert Gooding-Williams about his recent book, "Democracy and Beauty: the Political Aesthetics of W.E.B. DuBois" (Columbia UP).

Jun 4, 2025 • 1h 10min
Episode 179: Natasha Piano - Democratic Elitism
A conversation with Natasha Piano about her recent book, "Democratic Elitism: the Founding Myth of American Political Science" (Harvard UP).

May 20, 2025 • 1h 6min
Episode 178: Agustina Paglayan - Raised to Obey
A conversation with Agustina Paglayan about her recent book, "Raised to Obey: The Rise and Spread of Mass Education" (Princeton UP)