Kinch Hoekstra

Kinch Hoekstra is Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of California, Berkeley, with affiliations in the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Classics. He previously served as a member of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Oxford (1996–2007) and held fellowships at Balliol College, Princeton University, and the Institute for Advanced Study.

• Education: B.A. from Brown University (1987), D.Phil. from the University of Oxford (1998).

His research focuses on the history of political, moral, and legal thought, particularly in ancient, Renaissance, and early modern periods. He has contributed extensively to studies on Thomas Hobbes, Aristotle, and Thucydides, bridging classical and modern political philosophy.

His publications include analyses of Athenian democracy, popular tyranny, and the rationality of justice in Hobbesian theory. He has also explored mixed government, natural law, and the intersection of historical and contemporary governance challenges.

• Scientific Awards: Excellence in Teaching Award (2018), Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award (2016), Faculty Award for Outstanding Mentorship (2013).

Hoekstra is committed to graduate mentoring and teaching, having received multiple awards for his contributions to education. His affiliations span Berkeley Law, the Department of Political Science, and interdisciplinary programs in Philosophy and Classics.