Henry C. Clark

Henry C. Clark serves as Senior Lecturer and Program Director of the Political Economy Project at Dartmouth College. He teaches courses in the Government Department, focusing on political economy, moral philosophy, and historical economic thought.

• B.A. from Marquette University
• M.A. from Stanford University
• Ph.D. from Stanford University

Professor Clark specializes in early modern European intellectual history with particular expertise in the French and Scottish Enlightenment periods. His research examines the intersection of moral philosophy, political theory, and economic thought, especially regarding the development of market societies and moral economies. He investigates how ordinary people in pre-modern Europe conceptualized economic conduct within social and moral frameworks, challenging established interpretations like E.P. Thompson's concept of 'moral economy.'

His publications reveal a consistent focus on the historical foundations of political economy, with particular attention to French and Scottish thinkers. His work demonstrates how pre-industrial societies developed sophisticated understandings of markets, exchange, and moral responsibility that prepared the ground for modern capitalism. His upcoming book represents a major contribution to rethinking the relationship between morality and economic behavior throughout history.

• Choice magazine Outstanding Academic Title (2012) for translation of Montesquieu's Mes pensées

As Program Director of the Political Economy Project, Clark coordinates interdisciplinary initiatives connecting historical perspectives with contemporary economic questions. His teaching portfolio spans government, sociology, and interdisciplinary studies, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of political economy as a field. His courses consistently examine foundational texts and historical developments that shape modern economic thought and practice.

Professor Clark leads the Political Economy Project at Dartmouth, which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research and teaching on the historical and theoretical foundations of economic systems. The project fosters collaboration between historians, political scientists, economists, and philosophers interested in understanding the evolution of economic thought and practice.