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Political Theory Colloquium

2023-2024 Schedule

Faculty organizer, Professor Eileen M. Hunt

Graduate student assistant, Shasta Kaul

The Political Theory Colloquium, the Niemeyer Lectures in Political Theory, and the Notre Dame Graduate Conference in Political Theory and Constitutional Studies are open to all students, faculty, and the public.

All are welcome to join us for each session. 

If you would like to be added to the email list for Political Theory Colloquium, please contact Shasta Kaul at skaul2@nd.edu. Papers will be circulated by email prior to each colloquium. Please RSVP to Shasta Kaul if you plan to attend the free lunch before each colloquium. 

The format of the Colloquium is lunch from noon-12:30, followed by a short talk by the guest speaker, and then attendees’ robust engagement of the speaker’s pre-circulated paper until 2pm.

  • Friday, August 25
    • Amy Gais (Washington University in St. Louis, Humanities and Political Science)
    • Noon, B101 JNH
  • Friday, October 6
    • Alex Oprea (University of Buffalo, Philosophy)
    • Noon, B101 JNH
  • Friday, November 17
    • Jill Locke (Gustavus Adolphus, Political Science)
    • Noon, B044 JNH
  • Friday, December 1
    • Amy Shuffelton (Loyola Chicago, Philosophy)
    • Noon, B101 JNH
  • Friday, February 23
    • Jeremy Bailey (Oklahoma, Classics and Letters)
    • Noon, 1030 JNH
  • Friday, March 22
    • Book Manuscript Workshop for Sam Piccolo (Gustavus Adolphus, Political Science). Distinguished guest discussant: David Temin (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Political Science and Native American Studies).
    • Noon, B101 JNH
  • April 10-12, 2024. The Niemeyer Lectures in Political Philosophy—"You Can't Fool Rules: Opera and International Thought."

Featuring David R. Armitage, Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History, Harvard University. Professor David Armitage, a leading scholar of political thought and international law, will give a trio of lectures on the topic of his next book—on the surprising connections between opera and international thought—which will be open to all students, faculty, and the public. All lectures and receptions will be held in the Morris Inn's Smith Ballroom.

  • April 10th, 2024, 3:30pm-5:30pm, reception to follow until 6:30pm. David Armitage (Harvard), "Diplomatic Mozart." Commentator 1: Jennifer Pitts (Political Science, University of Chicago). Commentator 2: Pierpaolo Polzonetti (Music, UC Davis-Arts). Opening performance by the local bass-baritone vocal artist, Ian Williams.
  • April 11th, 2024, 3:30pm-5:30pm, reception to follow until 6:30pm. David Armitage (Harvard), "Death at Sea: Wagner to Klinghoffer." Commentator 1: Eric Nelson (Government, Harvard) & Commentator 2: Christopher Chowrimootoo (Program of Liberal Studies/ Sacred Music, Notre Dame). Opening performance by the soprano vocal artist and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Notre Dame, Deborah Mayer.
  • April 12th, 2024, 12:30-2:30pm, lecture with concluding reception to follow until 3:30pm. David Armitage (Harvard), "Refugee Songs." Commentator 1: Mira Siegelberg (History, Cambridge) & Commentator 2: Martha C. Nussbaum (Law, Philosophy, Classics, Political Science, University of Chicago). Opening performance by the soprano vocal artist and Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor of Voice in the Department of Music at Notre Dame, Anne Slovin.
  • Friday, May 3
    • Notre Dame Graduate Conference in Political Theory and Constitutional Studies, 8:30am-4pm. The entire conference is free and open to the public.
    • 1030 JNH

      8:30–9:00am Breakfast and Welcome

      9:00–9:50am Session I – “Hands of the Body: Aristotle’s Account of the Relationship between the Family and Political Community,” Carol Kowara, University of Chicago

      10:10–11:00am Session II – “A Meteor Amidst the Ruins: Nietzsche on Decadence," Mathis Bitton, Harvard University

      11:20am–12:10pm Session III – “Fugitive Sovereignty: On the Specter of Schmitt in Wolin’s Theory of Democracy,” Quanxin Yang, University of Wisconsin-Madison

      12:15–1:45pm Lunch and Keynote Address – “The Liberalism of Refuge,” Dr. Bryan Garsten, Yale University

      2:00–2:50pm Session IV – “The Chief Magistrate: Executive Power in Light of Hebraic Republicanism,” Daniel Slate, Stanford University

      3:10–4:00pm Session V – “The Constitution Before the Court: Alternatives to ‘Juristocracy’ in the Era of the American Founding,” Angus Brown, University of Cambridge