Emma Planinc

Emma Planinc is an Assistant Professor in the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame, located in O'Shaughnessy Hall. Her work bridges political theory, classical philosophy, and environmental studies. She focuses on figures like Rousseau and Hobbes, exploring themes such as regeneration in political thought, interspecies politics, and the Anthropocene's implications. Her research critically examines sovereignty, humanism, and the intersection of nature and governance.

Planinc's academic contributions include analyses of Rousseau's use of 'orgueil,' Hobbes' linguistic foundations of statehood, and the palingenetic consciousness in right-wing ideologies. She interrogates modern liberalism's identity crises and the figurative foundations of political discourse. Her work also engages with historical texts like Herodotus through an Anthropocene lens, reinterpreting classical thought for contemporary ecological challenges.

Though no formal students or awards are listed, her prolific publications (over 20 since 2011) demonstrate active engagement with cutting-edge debates in political theory. Her writing critiques modern governance models, reimagines human-nature relationships, and challenges assumptions about sovereignty and autonomy. Current research interests include regenerative politics, interspecies ethics, and the philosophical underpinnings of ecological crises.