Stephen Engelman

Stephen Engelman is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). His research focuses on the history of political and social thought, with specializations in British political thought, political economy, and biopolitics. He holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University and has authored major works like Imagining Interest in Political Thought and Economic Rationality, while currently revising a manuscript on Darwin, J.S. Mill, and new naturalisms.

Engelman teaches courses in political theory and contemporary thought. His scholarship bridges classical political economy with modern biopolitical frameworks, examining figures like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. His work critically analyzes the intersections of law, governance, and scientific thought across historical periods.

Recent publications include analyses of Bentham’s legal theory (Bentham on Democracy, 2022) and neoliberal advocacy (Humanism Challenges Materialism, 2017). He co-edited Jeremy Bentham: Selected Writings (2011) and engages with interdisciplinary debates on methodology in the social sciences.

Engelman’s current research explores the history of social sciences and biopolitical paradigms. His work is characterized by rigorous historical analysis paired with contemporary theoretical relevance, spanning from 17th-century political rationality to modern critiques of biopolitical governance.