The Political Theory field in the Department of Political Studies offers a diverse range of contemporary political theory.

Political Theory is sometimes divided between analytical political philosophy approaches and post-modern critical theory approaches to the study of politics. This department fruitfully combines both types of approaches, and so offers a very broad cross-section of the field. Political theorists at Queen’s are interested in a range of themes, concepts and issues. Among these are: pluralism and toleration; moral conflict and compromise; public reason, perfectionism, and neutrality; marriage and the family; identity politics, feminist theory, critical theory, postmodern theory, Marxist theory, anti-racist theory, psychoanalytic theory, environmental theory, cultural studies, narrative theory, queer theory, race and sexuality studies, feminism, and transgender politics; theories of justice, democratic theory, global justice theory (global redistributive justice and justice as applied to non-ideal situations, e.g. just war theory), ethics of nationalism, and liberal constitutionalism.

Members of the political theory field have secondary interests in feminist philosophy, the philosophy and methodology of the social sciences and the history of Western political thought.

Political theory is a thriving field. Its members hold a significant number of academic grants from various sources, and have a growing reputation, both nationally and internationally.

If you seek a diverse educational experience in political theory, think of graduate studies in Political theory at Queen’s.