I am pleased to announce that beginning next academic year, Frank Lovett, Assistant Professor in Political Science, will be taking over as the director of the political theory workshop for a period of two years. As many of you know, Frank arrived at Wash U in 2005 and has published widely and broadly in areas of contemporary political theory and the history of political thought. Frank's first book, A General Theory of Domination will be published by Oxford University Press.
Continued Strength of WPES
The transition to Lovett as director marks an important turning point for the Political Theory Research Group. When the group began in 2002 with seed money from the Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values ("WPES" originally stood for the Workshop on Politics Ethics and Society), we met half a dozen times a semester and, on occasion, with as many people. Today, our weekly average attendance is 30, drawing faculty and graduate students from poli sci, history, philosophy, English, anthropology, and the schools of Law and Social Work. The number hides the underlying interest in the community: over 100 different individuals have attended workshops during this past year alone.
The workshop has depended on continued financial support from the Dean office of the faculty of A&S, the Ethics Center, Law School, AMCS, departments of Political Science, Philosophy and History, and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (and this year CNISS as well). Thanks to this funding, we have been able to invite outside presenters who have enriched our local community and enhanced Wash U's reputation as a place with a commitment to political theory as an interdisciplinary activity.
The Political Theory Research Group
The workshop can now be viewed as a more permanent institution not wedded to one person's energy or vision alone, but taking its place among the other endeavors of the Political Theory Research Group. With primary sponsorship by the office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, these activities have included:
2007 (Fall): Local Conference on Political Theory (in the form of an academic version of "speed-dating").
2008 (May): Global Justice Conference organized by Frank Lovett (Poli Sci)
2009 (May): Justice and the Metropolis Conference, organized by Clarissa Hayward (Poli Sci, WUSTL) and Todd Swanstrom (UMSL)
2010 (May): Education and Citizenship Conference, organized by Ian MacMullen (Poli Sci) and Anne Newman (Education).
The current economic crisis notwithstanding, given the strength and interest in this community, I hope soon to be able to share other projects and initiatives now in the works.
Your continued support
I am grateful to the Dean's office, and the core departments and programs listed above that have sponsored these initiatives. The community's continued vibrancy is also due to the scores (almost hundreds at this point) of faculty and graduate students who have offered their work for discussion and on individuals willing to serve as discussants. I thank you for your involvement, and for your continued interest in using the workshop as a focal point of your intellectual community here on campus.
Next week, Frank will be circulating a call for papers for the next academic year. I hope you will continue to view the workshop as an outlet for your work. And I hope to see you on May 8-9 for the upcoming PTRG conference on Justice and the Metropolis.
Sincerely,
Andrew Rehfeld
Associate Professor
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Political Science
Washington University in St. Louis
314-935-5812
