Biography

Ian MacMullen is a political theorist whose primary research and teaching interests lie in the politics of education and of religious and cultural pluralism. His current research focuses on the ways in which civic education in a liberal democracy could and should shape children’s character: values, beliefs, preferences, habits, identities, and sentiments.  His first book, Faith in Schools? Autonomy, Citizenship, and Religious Education in the Liberal State (Princeton University Press, 2007), articulates a vision of liberal government in a multireligious society through a consideration of the fundamental principles of public education policy.

Read more about the book here: http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8575.html

MacMullen's teaching interests and experience also include social and distributive justice, history of political thought, political ethics, democratic theory, and rights. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University. He joined the faculty at Washington University in 2007.

Research Interests

Political Theory; Education; Contemporary Liberal and Democratic Thought; Autonomy; Citizenship; Political Obligation; Conservatism; Patriotism; Civic Identity; Religious & Cultural Pluralism

Selected Publications

• "Doing Without Love: Civic Motivation, Affection, & Identification" in Journal of Politics (forthcoming)
• “Educating Children to Comply with Laws” in Journal of Political Philosophy, vol. 21, no. 1 (2013)
• “On Status Quo Bias in Civic Education” in Journal of Politics, vol. 73, no. 3 (2011)
• Faith in Schools? Autonomy, Citizenship, and Religious Education in the Liberal State (Princeton University Press, 2007)

Awards

National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010-2011)

Courses

• Introduction to Political Theory (106)
• History of Political Thought III: Liberty, Democracy, and Revolution (393)
• Politics of Religious and Cultural Pluralism (405)
• Political Theory of Education (4030)