Philippe Buc

Philippe Buc is a Professor at the University of Vienna, Department of History, and a faculty member at Leiden University's Instituut voor Geschiedenis. His research bridges Medieval History, Biblical Exegesis, and Political Theory, with a focus on the interplay between religion, warfare, and cultural rituals across Japan and Europe.

• Education
  • Lycée École Active Bilingue (Paris)
  • BA, Swarthmore College
  • Maîtrise, Paris I Sorbonne
  • MA, U.C. Berkeley (Political Science, Medieval Europe, Medieval Japan)
  • PhD, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris)

Philippe's work investigates comparative historical frameworks, analyzing how religious ideologies shaped warfare, oaths, feudal systems, and eschatological narratives. His publications explore topics like holy war in Christian and Islamicate contexts, sectarian violence in Anabaptist and Jōdo Shinshū communities, and the conditions of possibility for medieval conflict through theological lenses. Key themes include treason, ascetic values, and apocalyptic expectations across cultures.

His recent articles (2020–2023) emphasize cross-cultural comparisons between premodern Japan and Europe, examining oaths, sectarian dynamics, and the role of religion in defining 'order' and 'disorder'. These works intersect with broader disciplines like anthropology and historical sociology.