معرفی
Lawrie Balfour is the James Hart Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, where she is a core faculty member in the Department of Politics and the American Studies Department. Her work bridges political theory, African American thought, and literary studies, focusing on race, gender, democracy, and freedom. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and has held visiting appointments at Princeton, Oxford, and institutions in Paris and Bologna.
- Ph.D. in Politics, Princeton University
Her research centers on African American political thought, feminist theory, and the intersections of literature and politics. She explores how the legacies of slavery, colonialism, and racial injustice shape democratic theory and practice. Her scholarship reimagines freedom through the works of Toni Morrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and James Baldwin, emphasizing narrative, language, and the experiences of marginalized communities. She is currently working on a book titled Reparations Unbound: Dilemmas of Dismantling Racial Injustice.
Her recent publications reflect a deep engagement with democratic theory, reparative justice, and the political dimensions of literature. Articles such as "Toni Morrison: Imagining Freedom" and "The Politics of Reparations for Black Americans" reveal a consistent focus on racial justice, democratic inclusion, and the transformative potential of narrative in political life. Her work spans disciplines, drawing from philosophy, literature, history, and ethics to interrogate foundational concepts in political thought.
Her scientific honors include:
- Guggenheim Fellow (2020–2021)
- Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Associate Professor, Princeton (2008–2009)
- John G. Winant Visiting Professor, Oxford (2023)
- Fellowships from Harvard, NEH, and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
Balfour has made significant contributions to academic service, serving as Editor of Political Theory (2017–2021) and on editorial boards of American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, and others. She has held leadership roles at UVA, including Director of Fellowships at the Carter G. Woodson Institute and Interim Chair of Politics. She teaches courses on African American political thought, feminist theory, and race and literature, and has received multiple teaching awards. While no direct mention of advising students is made, her leadership in fellowship programs suggests active mentorship.
She is affiliated with the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American and African Studies and has been a core faculty member of UVA’s American Studies Department since 2016, contributing to interdisciplinary research and teaching on race, culture, and democracy.
