William Selinger

William Selinger is the Wick Cary Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics and Letters at The University of Oklahoma, specializing in political theory and the history of political thought. His research focuses on the modern history of representative democracy, particularly parliamentary institutions in 18th- and 19th-century Britain and France. He earned his PhD from Harvard University and BA from the University of Chicago, with prior teaching experience at University College London.

Research Interests: Selinger examines the development of liberal thought through key figures like Benjamin Constant, François Guizot, Alexis de Tocqueville, and John Stuart Mill. His work bridges constitutional history with intellectual history, analyzing how parliamentary systems shaped modern liberalism. His book Parliamentarism: From Burke to Weber (2019) won the Montreal Political Theory Manuscript Award, exploring efforts to democratize parliamentary governance.

Recent Work: His current project, a Montesquieu biography under contract with Princeton University Press, expands his exploration of foundational political ideas. Recent articles address topics like French liberalism, populism, and Montesquieu’s theories of sovereignty, reflecting his engagement with both historical texts and contemporary democratic challenges.

• Awards: Quentin Skinner Lectureship in Intellectual History (2024), Montreal Political Theory Award (2019)
• Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Modern Intellectual History and Review of Politics, emphasizing constitutional crises, party systems, and comparative political thought.

Selinger’s scholarship connects historical analysis to modern democratic dilemmas, offering critical insights into representative governance and institutional legitimacy.