Michael Walzer headshot

Michael Walzer

Professor Emeritus
School of Social Science

Affiliation

Social Science

One of America’s foremost political thinkers, Michael Walzer has written about a wide variety of topics in political theory and moral philosophy, including political obligation, just and unjust war, nationalism and ethnicity, economic justice, and the welfare state. He has played a critical role in the revival of a practical, issue-focused ethics and in the development of a pluralist approach to political and moral life. Walzer’s books include Just and Unjust Wars (1977), Spheres of Justice (1983), On Toleration (1997), Arguing About War (2004), and The Paradox of Liberation (2015); he served as co-editor of the political journal Dissent for more than three decades, retiring in 2014. Currently, he is working on issues having to do with international justice and the connection of religion and politics, and also on a collaborative project focused on the history of Jewish political thought.

Dates at IAS

Emeritus
School of Social Science
Faculty
School of Social Science

Degrees

Harvard University
Ph.D.
1961
Brandeis University
B.A.
1956

Honors

Appointments: Brandeis University, Board of Trustees 1983–88; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Board of Governors 1974–
Awards: Spinozalens Award 2008; University of Cambridge, Fulbright Fellowship 1956
Editorships: The New Republic, Contributing Editor 1977–2010; Dissent, Editor 1976–2014
Membership: British Academy, Corresponding Fellow

Appointments

Harvard University
1966–1980
Professor
Princeton University
1962–1966
Assistant Professor