Theodore Christov

Theodore Christov is an Associate Professor at The George Washington University specializing in early modern intellectual history and modern political/international thought. His research examines political theories of empire, history of international law, and international relations theory, with a focus on Hobbes, Pufendorf, and Vattel. He teaches courses on modern intellectual history, capitalism and Enlightenment, cosmopolitanism, and European intellectual history.

His book Before Anarchy: Hobbes and His Critics in Modern International Thought (2015) critiques anachronistic interpretations of Hobbes in contemporary IR theory. His recent publications and Google Scholar entries explore themes like liberal internationalism, statelessness, just war theory, and the evolution of international legal concepts.

Christov's work bridges political theory, intellectual history, and international relations, emphasizing historical contextualization to challenge modern theoretical assumptions. He has contributed to debates about sovereignty, cosmopolitanism, and the moral foundations of international society through articles in journals like Journal of International Political Theory and The European Legacy.