Paul A Passavant

Paul A Passavant is Professor of Politics at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he has been a faculty member since 1997. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. He is based in the Department of Politics within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, with his office in Stern Hall.

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison
• M.A., University of Wisconsin–Madison
• B.A., University of Michigan

His research lies at the intersection of political theory, law, and society, with a focus on neoliberalism, state sovereignty, protest policing, surveillance, and the ethical and legal boundaries of governance. He critically examines whether a politics or society can exist beyond the law and the modern state. His work engages deeply with theorists such as Giorgio Agamben, Hardt and Negri, and Carl Schmitt, often analyzing the expansion of executive power and the erosion of civil liberties in contemporary democracies.

His recent publications reflect a consistent trend in critiquing the expansion of state power under neoliberal governance, particularly in contexts of protest, emergency, and legal exceptionalism. Articles span topics from freedom of speech paradoxes to the biopolitical control of urban space, indicating a strong interdisciplinary engagement with law, political philosophy, and urban sociology.

• American Political Science Association
• Law and Society Association
• Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities (Organizing Committee Member)

While no explicit information about advising or grants is provided, his editorial and scholarly output suggests active engagement in academic mentorship and research leadership. He has also held a visiting fellowship at Birkbeck College, University of London, indicating international academic collaboration.

There is no mention of a specific lab or research team, but his affiliations with interdisciplinary associations suggest collaborative research networks in law, culture, and political theory.