Nick Buccola - Assistant Professor

Pioneer 109
503-883-2246
nbuccol@linfield.edu

Education: Ph.D. University of Southern California, 2007 / M.A. University of Southern California, 2004 B.S. (Poli. Sci.) Santa Clara University, 2001 / B.A. (Philosophy) Santa Clara University, 2001

Academic Interests: Professor Buccola conducts research in the areas of American political thought and constitutional theory. His book on the political thought of Frederick Douglass will be published by New York University Press in April 2012. In addition to his work on Douglass, he has published essays on a wide variety of topics including the debate over same-sex marriage, Friedrich Nietzsche's critique of socialism, and the political philosophies of Judith Shklar and Leo Strauss. He is currently engaged in research on the ideological origins of the Tea Party movement and the idea of natural law in 20th century American political thought. Professor Buccola has received several collaborative research grants that have enabled him to hire students to assist him in his research.

Publications:

The Political Thought of Frederick Douglass: In Pursuit of American Liberty, New York University Press, 2012.

"Responsible Liberalism," an invited contribution to The Political Companion to Frederick Douglass, University of Kentucky Press, 2013. 

"In Defense of Judicial Prudence: What the Cardinal Virtues can teach us about Constitutional Interpretation," (co-authored with Aila Wallace), under review.

"A Life of One's Own: Slavery, Self-Ownership, & the Foundations of Frederick Douglass's Liberalism," Journal of Political Science, Vol. 37 (2009): 173-199.

"The Tyranny of the Least & the Dumbest: Nietzsche's Critique of Socialism," Quarterly Journal of Ideology, Vol. 31, Number 3, (Spring 2009): 1-37.

"Critical Distances: The Principled Skepticism of Leo Strauss & Judith Shklar," The Journal of Contemporary Thought, (Winter 2008): 129-150.

"Each for All & All for Each: The Liberal Statesmanship of Frederick Douglass," Review of Politics, 70 (2008): 400-419.

"Finding Room for Same-Sex Marriage: Toward a More Inclusive Understanding of a Cultural Institution," Journal of Social Philosophy, Vol. 36, Number 3, (2005): 331-343.

Teaching:

COURSES OFFERED BY PROFESSOR BUCCOLA: Great Political Thinkers; American Politics; Study of Law; American Political Thought; U.S. Supreme Court; Law, Rights, & Justice; Rebels, Thugs & Skeptics: 20th Century Political Theory; Politics & the Arts; Liberals, Conservatives, & Contemporary Moral Controversies; Ideas, Individuals & Institutions in U.S. Politics ------ COURSES IN DEVELOPMENT: African-American Political Thought; Picturing Justice: Law in Film; Contemporary American Ideologies