معرفی
Mary (Molly) Scudder is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Courtesy Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University. Her research focuses on democratic theory, political communication, and the role of listening in deliberative democracy. She holds a Ph.D. (2014) and M.A. (2010) from the University of Virginia and a B.S. (2007) from Santa Clara University.
Her work examines how citizens with conflicting views can engage constructively in democratic processes. Key contributions include the Listening Quality Index and theories on democratic listening's ethical and practical dimensions. She has authored two books, including Beyond Empathy and Inclusion (2020) and co-authored The Two Faces of Democracy (2023), which explores tensions between deliberative and agonistic democratic models.
Recent affiliations include visiting roles at Sciences Po Paris (2023) and the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance in Canberra (2019). Her current projects include a co-edited volume on political competence in mass societies and a guest-edited Political Communication special issue on democratic listening.
Dr. Scudder’s research emphasizes the importance of listening as a moral and political act that underpins democratic legitimacy, even in deeply divided societies. Her work bridges theoretical analysis with empirical methods, offering frameworks for improving democratic practices in real-world contexts.
