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The Political Theory Review

Jeffrey Church
Political Theory
Democracy
Liberalism
Democratic Theory
Political Philosophy
Hegel
Philosophy
Economic Inequality
Capitalism
Populism
Marx
Liberal Democracy
American Politics
Dystopia
Christianity
Natural Law
Moral Progress
Culture Wars
American Slavery
Public Policy

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 th... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Political Theory Review

Latest Episodes

A conversation with Jeffrey Howard about his recent book, "Setting Fire to Reason: the Ethics of Free Speech" (Princeton UP).

A conversation with Kristina Lepold about her recent book, "Ambivalent Recognition: The Harmful Social Consequences of an Ethical Good" (Columbia UP).

A conversation with Jonathan Quong about his recent book, "Political Philosophy" (Princeton UP).

A conversation with Burke Hendrix about his recent book, "Contexts of Justice: Native Peoples, Political Theory, and Fair Treatment" (Oxford UP).

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jeffrey Howard
Professor of Political Philosophy and Public Policy at University College London
University College London
Episode: Episode 217: Jeffrey Howard - Setting Fire to Reason
Kristina Lepold
Junior professor of social philosophy and critical theory at Humboldt University, Berlin
Humboldt University, Berlin
Episode: Episode 216: Kristina Lepold - Ambivalent Recognition
Jonathan Quong
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
Episode: Episode 215: Jonathan Quong - Political Philosophy
Burke Hendrix
Professor of Political Science at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
Episode: Episode 214: Burke Hendrix - Contexts of Justice
Paul Stern
Emeritus Professor of Politics at Ursinus College
Ursinus College
Episode: Episode 213: Paul Stern - Dante's Political Philosophy
Marten Björk
Research fellow in the Center for Theology and Religious Studies at Lund University
Lund University
Episode: Episode 212: Mårten Björk and Tormod Johansen - The End of Law
Tormod Johansen
Senior lecturer in the Department of Law at the University of Gothenburg
University of Gothenburg
Episode: Episode 212: Mårten Björk and Tormod Johansen - The End of Law
Paul DeHart
Professor of Political Science at Texas State University
Texas State University
Episode: Episode 211: Paul DeHart - The Social Contract in the Ruins
Jan-Werner Mueller
Professor of politics at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: Episode 210: Jan-Werner Mueller - Street, Palace, Square

Host

Jeffrey Church
Host of scholarly discussions on political theory and related fields.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 110 ratings
  • Great podcasts but….

    Great podcast but routinely hindered by the poor audio of guests. Get a tech guy.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Patrick b dog
    Australia4 months ago
  • Great podcast

    I’ve been listening to this for a while now, and almost every episode is very enlightening. Thank you, Dr. Church (and you normally delightful guests).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dogsberry
    United States2 years ago
  • Thoughtful discussion

    A haven of intellectual and interesting dialogue. Thank goodness

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tonysh58
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Great education in political theory

    As an undergraduate at UW-Madison in the early 1990s Political Theory with Professor Charles Anderson was my favorite class. These discussions continue my education in this domain.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChoffWisco
    United States5 years ago
  • Upgrade microphone

    This could be a great show, but the audio is so poor, that it is difficult to sit through an entire episode. Again, Church is smart and engaging, so pay for his show Houston!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    North Carolina prof
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The conversations stay anchored in theory while connecting to practical policy and education.
Guests are consistently high-caliber and provide deep scholarly insights.
Audio quality has been a frequent critique and could improve with better recording gear.
Structured, rigorous conversations that reward careful listening.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 217: Jeffrey Howard - Setting Fire to Reason
Q: What is the role of social media platforms in regulating incitement and other harmful speech?
Platforms have a duty to defend users from harm, not host wrongdoing, and to mitigate amplification of harmful speech; the discussion emphasizes a balance between moral duties and feasible regulation that avoids overbreadth and protects legitimate expression.
Episode 217: Jeffrey Howard - Setting Fire to Reason
Q: Why focus on incitement as the lens for studying limits to free speech?
Incitement highlights cross-jurisdictional differences (US vs. UK/Europe), poses philosophically rich questions about responsibility, and shows how harms can be regulated differently across legal systems while still revealing normative tensions.
Episode 214: Burke Hendrix - Contexts of Justice
Q: What is ideal theory for you and why?
Ideal theory is about fixing parts of the social world for normative analysis, but Hendrix argues we should focus on nearby, feasible improvements within the current context to better judge and implement justice for indigenous peoples.
Episode 212: Mårten Björk and Tormod Johansen - The End of Law
Q: So could Hart motivate attachment to the law for someone who feels alienated from it?
Hart provides a framework where the loyalty to law and the legitimacy of positive law come from reasons beyond mere personal consent, including social practice, ongoing legislative reform, and a commitment to the rule of law, while recognizing potential disobedience when laws are unjust.
Episode 211: Paul DeHart - The Social Contract in the Ruins
Q: How does Hobbes actually ground obligation if his framework relies on a covenant and the authority of the sovereign?
Hobbes grounds obligation pragmatically through a transfer of rights to ensure peace and self-preservation, but DeHart argues this grounding remains problematic without a deeper oughtness or normative ground beyond mere will, which Hobbes struggles to provide.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Political Theory Review

What is The Political Theory Review about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous, scholarship-forward program that centers on recent political theory and social philosophy books through in-depth interviews with leading academics. Recurring themes include sovereignty and indigenous rights, democracy and public space, law and the rule of law, virtue and moral philosophy, and education as a foundation for democratic life. Guests come from philosophy, political science, law, and theology, often analyzing classical thinkers alongside contemporary debates. The show is notable for its detailed textual readings, cross-disciplinary perspectives, and a consistent emphasis on how theory translates into real-world governance, policy, and institutional design. It likely attracts listeners who want deep, academically groun... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Political Theory Review?

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1. What's Left of Philosophy
2. New Books in Critical Theory
3. Philosophy Bites
4. Past Present Future
5. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

How many episodes of The Political Theory Review are there?

The Political Theory Review launched 9 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Political Theory Review?

Recent guests on The Political Theory Review include:

1. Jeffrey Howard
2. Kristina Lepold
3. Jonathan Quong
4. Burke Hendrix
5. Paul Stern
6. Marten Björk
7. Tormod Johansen
8. Paul DeHart

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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