Blaise Dufal

Blaise Dufal is a Sessional Lecturer and Honorary Associate in the Department of History at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on Medieval Scholasticism, Historiography, and the intersection of Political Theory with Medieval and Early Modern European studies. He holds a BA from the Sorbonne and MA/PhD degrees from the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS).

• Education:
  • Bachelor of Arts, Sorbonne
  • Master of Arts, EHESS
  • Doctor of Philosophy, EHESS (2014)

His work examines the construction of Patristic authority, the role of Classical culture in medieval thought, and the epistemological foundations of Social Sciences. Current projects include rethinking feudalism historiography, the notion of 'civilization' in humanities, and the medieval encyclopedia *City of God*. Recent publications address comparative feudalism in African contexts, Marxist historiography, and the intellectual legacy of figures like Nicholas Trevet and Pierre Bourdieu.

Publications (selected 2023):

• Feudal comparisons in African pre-colonial societies
• Marxist interpretations of medieval feudalism
• Rhetorical analysis of feudal terminology

Research emphasizes interdisciplinary methods, blending historical anthropology with critical theory to challenge traditional historiographical frameworks.