Michael Walzer

Professor Emeritus, The Institute for Advanced Study

Michael Walzer is one of America's leading political philosophers. He is a professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey and editor of Dissent, a left-wing quarterly of politics and culture. He has written on a wide range of topics, including just and unjust wars, nationalism, ethnicity, economic justice, social criticism, radicalism, tolerance, and political obligation. He is also a contributing editor to The New Republic and a member of the editorial board of Philosophy & Public Affairs. To date he has written 27 books and has published over 300 articles, essays, and book reviews. He is a member of several philosophical organizations including the American Philosophical Society.

Everything Videos

Michael Walzer: The Free Market and Morality

The Princeton professor answers the Big Question “Does the free market corrode moral character?”

Michael Walzer on His Essays

Michael Walzer discusses his “Essays on Political Criticism”

Michael Walzer on Adam Smith

Michael Walzer reminds us that the hero of American capitalism was a complicated philosopher.

Michael Walzer on World’s Potential for Democracy

An optimist, Michael Walzer thinks every person can eventually embrace democracy.

Michael Walzer on Improving Education

Michael Walzer believes public education should be dominant in America.

Michael Walzer on Democracy Promotion

Michael Walzer thinks the U.S. should spread liberal democracy to other parts of the world—mostly, by example.

Michael Walzer: What is the common good?

Michael Walzer tells us why we should care.

Which philosophers have passed the test of time?

The major 20th century American philosopher was John Rawls, and he has had a very significant influence, although he is probably not a household name.

Michael Walzer: Philosophy in a Modern World

Philosophy needs to interact with the more ordinary moral conversation of humankind in order to stay relevant.

Michael Walzer: Has scientific progress changed your understanding of morality?

Walzer says it hasn’t.

Michael Walzer on Identity and Cultural Subjectivity

How does one judge other cultures?

Michael Walzer: Is there a clash of civilizations?

Putting the question thus essentializes cultures, Walzer says.

Michael Walzer: The Global Resurgence of Religious Alliances

The left was expecting mass secularization, Walzer says.

Michael Walzer on Just War and Humanitarian Intervention

Someone has to intervene in Darfur, Michael Walzer says; not necessarily the U.S.

Michael Walzer on Just War and Terrorism

Is terrorism ever justified?

Michael Walzer: U.S. Treatment of Enemy Combatants

President Bush, Walzer says, has created a new category of prisoner.

What is a Just War?

Was 9/11 a declaration of war? Were we justified in invading Afghanistan? Michael Walzer thinks we were.

Michael Walzer on Just War in Iraq

Should citizens feel guilty for not joining the army to end the Iraq war?

Michael Walzer on Just War in the Gulf War

Some of the troubles that we have had in Iraq after ’03 come from the loss of confidence of trust that we produced by our behavior in ’91, Walzer says.

Michael Walzer on Just War Theory

No government will send young men into battle to kill and be killed without offering some justification for what they are doing, Walzer says.

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