The Tocqueville Program at Furman University: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Western and American Political Thought
The Tocqueville Program at Furman University invites applications for a 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Western and American Political Thought to begin in August 2020.
Housed in the Department of Politics and International Affairs, the Tocqueville Program exists to encourage serious and open engagement with the moral questions at the heart of political life through the study of classic texts of the Western and American political and philosophic tradition. The program encourages applicants whose teaching philosophy and research agenda fit with this mission. The PhD degree (in hand or expected by the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year) is a required qualification.
The teaching load for the Postdoctoral Fellow will be three courses per academic year; courses to be taught include American Political Thought and Introduction to Political Thought, and other courses as needed by the Department of Politics and International Affairs. The Postdoctoral Fellow will also participate actively in the Tocqueville Program’s activities and contribute to its administration as needed.
Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2019 and continue until the position is filled.
Application Instructions
A complete application must include the following:
- a letter of interest;
- a curriculum vitae;
- sample course syllabi and teaching evaluations;
- a copy of graduate transcript(s);
- a sample(s) of professional writing (published work preferred);
- a statement describing how their teaching, scholarship, mentoring and/or service might contribute to a liberal arts college community that includes a commitment to diversity as one of its core values;
- and three recommendation letters. Please have your recommenders submit letters of recommendation using this link.
For more information and to apply, click here >>
For any questions please contact the chairperson of the search committee, Benjamin Storey, at benjamin.storey@furman.edu.
Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2019 and continue until the position is filled.
About the program:
The Tocqueville Program is an intellectual community devoted to seeking the truth about the moral and philosophic questions at the heart of political life. The Program hosts curricular and extracurricular activities designed to help students and faculty to engage seriously with the most powerful arguments behind diverse and competing religious, political and ethical points of view. This work is undertaken in the hope that the practice of shared, disciplined inquiry into disputed questions can help students understand better how to maintain the delicate fabric of our civilization. The Program takes its name from Alexis de Tocqueville, a 19th-century French author, statesman, and traveler who developed a “new science of politics” focused on the study of the modern democratic soul. On the contested, partisan questions of his time, Tocqueville “undertook to see, not differently, but further than the parties.” The Program seeks to follow his example.
Learn more about the Tocqueville Program >>
About the school and its location:
Furman University is a selective private liberal arts and sciences college committed to helping students develop intellectually, personally, and interpersonally and providing the practical skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly-changing world. Furman professors are exceptional teacher-scholars who mentor undergraduate students within a campus community that values and encourages diverse ideas and perspectives. The school’s recently-launched strategic vision, The Furman Advantage, promises students an individualized four-year pathway facilitated by team of mentors and infused with a rich and varied set of high impact experiences outside the classroom that include undergraduate research, study away, internships, community-focused learning, and opportunities to engage across differences.
Furman is located in Greenville, South Carolina, which is one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeast and is ranked among “America’s Ten Best” by Forbes Magazine. The charming downtown features excellent restaurants, in-town parks, shops, museums, galleries, music venues, and theaters. The city also has excellent public and private schools and a vibrant international community. A 20-mile bike and running trail connects the university to Greenville and to Travelers Rest, which was named “one of America’s coolest small towns.” The surrounding area abounds with outdoor recreational activities and has some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers, and mountains in the country. Greenville is within easy reach of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Atlantic Beaches. The newly renovated Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, located just 25 minutes from downtown, runs daily flights to major cities and airline hubs. Greenville is 2 1/2 hours from Atlanta and only one hour from Asheville, North Carolina. It is an ideal place to live and work.
Learn more about Furman University >>
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